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The Evolution of the Standard-Issue US Army Sidearm Over Nearly 250 Years

Samuel Stebbins

Published: December 18, 2023 11:23 am

The American military has issued a variety of sidearms since the Revolutionary War. Guns were chosen for their reliability, durability, and lethality. These early weapons were, quite often, privately owned. As the officers were typically more affluent, they were able to afford the pricier sidearms while the enlisted men made do with what they could get. In an attempt to get the same firearm to the Continental Army, Congress opted for an imitation of the British Model 1760 flintlock pistol, known as the Model 1775. This model is considered the first handgun issued by the US Army. 

Sidearms of the U.S. Army are a direct reflection of the evolution of firearm technology. These flintlock pistols of the late 18th and early 19th centuries were eventually replaced by percussion cap firearms, which ignited gunpowder with an explosive chemical compound rather than a piece of flint-striking steel. These guns were easier to load, more reliable, and more weather-resistant than the flintlock design. 

Revolvers then became the standard issue military pistol from the mid-19th century through the early 20th century, which marked a significant upgrade from percussion cap guns. These newer revolvers were loaded with self-contained cartridges and capable of firing multiple rounds before being reloaded.

In January 2017, the U.S. Army announced plans to switch to a new standard-issue pistol – the Sig Sauer M17 and M18, based on the company’s P320 pistol. The decision marked the end of over 30 years of service for the Beretta M9 pistol and is only the latest in a long series of upgrades in the last two and a half centuries. (Here is a look at 17 prototype guns rejected by the U.S. military.)

To determine which sidearms were used by the U.S. Army since the 18th century, 24/7 Wall St. used data from the Army report Survey of U.S. Army: Uniforms, Weapons, and Accoutrements. For earlier weapons, we listed the era in which they were primarily used, but for more modern handguns, the exact years of use are noted. This list includes flintlock pistols from the earliest days of American independence to modern-day semi-automatics. 

Since World War II, the U.S. Army has relied almost exclusively on semi-automatic pistols, which offer greater magazine capacity and faster reload times than revolvers. Semi-automatics are also easier to functionally maintain in muddy conditions than revolvers. In service for multiple decades before being replaced by the Beretta M9, the Colt 1911 semi-automatic pistol was used by the U.S. military in nearly every conflict the U.S. was involved in during the 20th century – from World War I through Vietnam. (Here is a look at America’s top pistol companies.)

Here is the evolution of standard US Army sidearms across centuries

19. British Light Dragoon Saddle Pistol

English Horse Pistol (CC BY-SA 4.0) by 53zodiac

• Primary era of use: Late 18th century
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: American Revolution
• Firearm type: Flintlock
• Chambered in: .70 caliber

18. North Model 1819 Pistol

Source: Public Domain ./ Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 1786-1833
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: War of 1812
• Firearm type: Flintlock
• Chambered in: .54 caliber

17. Johnson Model 1836 Pistol

Source: Courtesy of Civil War Arms Collectors via Facebook

• Primary era of use: 1786-1833
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: War of 1812
• Firearm type: Flintlock
• Chambered in: .54 caliber

16. Model 1842 Percussion Pistol

Source: Courtesy of John B Henry Fine Antigue Firearms & Rare Collectibles, LLC via Facebook

• Primary era of use: 1786-1833
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: War of 1812
• Firearm type: Cap lock
• Chambered in: .54 caliber

15. Colt M1851 Navy Model

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 1851-1872
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: Civil War
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .36 caliber

14. Colt M1860 New Army Model

Colt Army Mod 1860 Fluted Cylinder (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Hmaag

• Primary era of use: 1851-1872
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: Civil War
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .44 caliber

13. Remington Army Model

New model Army IMG 3544 (CC BY-SA 2.0 FR) by Rama

• Primary era of use: 1851-1872
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: Civil War
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .44 caliber

12. Colt New Army Model

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 1872-1902
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: Spanish-American War
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .44 caliber

11. Remington Army

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 1872-1902
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: Spanish-American War
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .44 caliber

10. Colt Single-Action Army

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 1872-1902
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: Spanish-American War
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .45 caliber

9. Smith & Wesson No. 3

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 1872-1902
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: Spanish-American War
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .45 caliber

8. Double-Action Army

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 1872-1902
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: Spanish-American War
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .38 caliber

7. Colt Model 1901

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 1902-1926
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: World War I
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .38 caliber

6. Colt Model 1909

Colt Shooting Master (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Hmaag

• Primary era of use: 1902-1926
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: World War I
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .45 caliber

5. Colt/Smith & Wesson Model 1917

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 1902-1945
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: World War I
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .45 caliber

4. Smith & Wesson Victory Model

M&Prevolver (CC BY 2.5) by Olegvolk

• Primary era of use: 1926-1956
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: World War II
• Firearm type: Revolver
• Chambered in: .38 caliber

3. Colt Model 1911

Colt M1911A1 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Falconu00c3u0082u00c2u00ae Photography

• Primary era of use: 1912-1985
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: World War I, World War II, Vietnam War
• Firearm type: Semi-automatic
• Chambered in: .45 caliber

2. Beretta M9/92 FS

Source: Tivoly / iStock via Getty Images

• Primary era of use: 1985-2017
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Firearm type: Semi-automatic
• Chambered in: 9mm

1. Sig Sauer M17 & M18

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Primary era of use: 2017-present
• Notable conflict(s) of the period: War in Afghanistan
• Firearm type: Semi-automatic
• Chambered in: 9mm