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Lena wrote:

puma guy wrote:

Lena wrote:Back in my day RG was the king, we had one in the property room that you could cur slivers off it with a pocket knife the metal was so soft. No one would shoot it.

I don't blame them. They made a model that was just two pot metal frame and barrels sides with a sleeved barrel stuck in the shroud formed by the casting of the barrel. Fitted together with a couple of screws. We had one returned when the barrel shot out with the projectile! II tried my best to steer buyers away but for $10.88 back in the 60's and 70's some folks bought them. I'd be surprised if they all didn't shave lead when fired.

That is exactly the one we had I mentioned,

You were wise not to try it out!

Lena wrote:Back in my day RG was the king, we had one in the property room that you could cur slivers off it with a pocket knife the metal was so soft. No one would shoot it.

I don't blame them. They made a model that was just two pot metal frame and barrels sides with a sleeved barrel stuck in the shroud formed by the casting of the barrel. Fitted together with a couple of screws. We had one returned when the barrel shot out with the projectile! II tried my best to steer buyers away but for $10.88 back in the 60's and 70's some folks bought them. I'd be surprised if they all didn't shave lead when fired.

Many here probably do not know, but many quality pistols were considered "Saturday Night Specials" when the GCA of 1968 was being written and passed. Beretta small pocket automatics come to mind, Jet Fire, Bob Cat, Lynx,Jaguar because they lacked features required to meet the new standards. Berettas were and are well made, quality pistols. Beretta made the required changes and Wah! Lah! they were no longer in the SNS category. Other manufactures/importers got around the law by importing parts and assembling them in the US. Many are still around and the names are far too many for me to mention/remember. They were junk before the GCA/68 and junk afterwards.

mrvmax wrote:Sorry to say it but be skeptical with Taurus. I like some of their guns but their quality control is lacking and out of everything I have sold or transferred I have seen more problems with Taurus than with any other gun.

That's too bad. Back in the day their guns were decent quality and I don't recall ever having any complaints. Early on if I remember correctly their revolvers were made on S&W equipment.

Abraham wrote:So, the top handguns are fairly well listed, but a list of handguns to avoid may be helpful to the novice.

Some of my choices are: Lorcin / Jimenez / Highpoint

Please add your choices.

Thanks!

The first two you list plus RG/Rohm, Jennings (Jimenez predecessor) and many more certainly qualify for poor quality as Saturday Night Specials. I'm conflicted on Hi-points. There are far worse firearms quality and reliability wise than theirs. I've handled a couple, but I've never fired one! From what I read they go bang when the trigger is pulled and they fill a niche for those with a limited budget wanting the ability to defend themselves. JMHO