The firearm or gun industry is a vast world that occasionally evolves. In this ever-changing world, many new guns are introduced, and several old guns are discontinued just because they aren’t selling. With new firearms in the market with the latest features and technologies, the production line of old guns is stopped. So, in this article, we will discuss 36 guns that have disappeared from the market but have always been cult favourites.
Colt Python
The Colt Python was a classic gun that was loved by gun enthusiasts who liked detective movies. It was a double and single-action revolver that was introduced by the Colt Manufacturing Company in 1955. The gun was known around the world for its accuracy, cylinder lock-up, and trigger pull. The maximum firing range of the revolver was 200 yards. With the introduction of new guns in the market, the Colt Python became less known. The production of the gun was discontinued in 1999 due to manufacturing complexities and competition from other semi-automatic handguns. But in 2020, it was reintroduced with the lastest and modern updates. As of now, the gun is in production.
Heckler & Koch P7
The unique Heckler & Koch P7 is a semi-automatic pistol which had a feature where the gun holder had to squeeze it to cock it. It had a gas-delayed blowback system that used gas pressures from the cartridge and fed them through the barrel. Further, the gun was designed by Helmut Weldle and was produced from 1979 until 2008. After this, the gun disappeared from the commercial markets after its production was discontinued in 2008 due to its high production cost.
FN FAL
The FN FAL is a popular battle rifle that was once called by the people as the right arm of the free world. During the ear of the Cold War, it was one of the most used firearms by the NATO countries. It has been used by more than 90 countries in the world. The features of the gun include 7.62*51mm NATO and .280 BRITISH cartridges, 800 meters maximum firing range, 20 or 30 rounds detachable box magazines, and 50-round drum magazines. The old FN FAL was first introduced in 1953 and was produced by the original FN Herstal until 1988. The production of FN FAL Original stopped in 1988, but surplus and variant rifles are still available and used in the world.
Walther PPK
The Walther PPK is a model of the Walther PP series pistols. It is a blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol that was originally produced in Germany by the German manufacturer, Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen. It was a classic gun of the series which was used in many wars including the Chaco War, World War II, Vietnam War, Lebanese Civil War, and many more. The features of the gun include a double-action trigger mechanism, an exposed hammer, a fixed barrel, and a single-column magazine. The PPK model was the first and most successful double-action semi-automatic gun. However, when the 1968 Gun Control Act came, the United States put restrictions on importing some guns and revolvers which included the Walther PPK. In order to bypass these restrictions, the Walther PPK/S model was introduced. As of now, both models are still in production.
Smith & Wesson Model 29
The Smith & Wesson Model 29 was a double-action, 6-shot pistol that was popular around the world because it was capable of hitting with skill. It was originally manufactured in the United States by the Smith & Wesson company and was first introduced in the year 1955. The features and specifications of the revolver include .44 Magnum and .44 Special cartridges, a single-round cylinder feed system along with open and adjustable rear sights. During its time, the Model 29 was the most powerful production revolver. But as time passed, people became interested in lighter guns with more round capacity. Though, the gun saw a reduced popularity but it was reintroduced several times, notably due to its fame from Dirty Harry.
Winchester Model 1894
Another gun that has vanished from the market is the Winchester Model 1894. It is a lever-action repeating rifle which is mostly used around the world for hunting activities. It was originally introduced in 1894 and was designed by John Browning. The features and specifications of this gun include an overall weight of 6.8 lbs, an overall length of 37.8 inches, a notch rear sight, and a post front sight along with peep sights. Also, it was available in many cartridges such as .30-30 Winchester, .32-40 Winchester, .38-55 Winchester, and many more. From 1894 to 1990, it was produced by Winchester Repeating Arms Company. However, after this, it was produced by the US Repeating Arms until the production stopped in 2006. After this, it was reintroduced in 2010 and is still in production.
Beretta 92FS
Many weapons and firearms have had a good run in the United States, but as well know, nothing lasts forever. The Beretta 92FS is a variant of the Beretta 92 series. It is a semi-automatic single and double-action pistol, that features an open slide short-recoil locking-block system which results in faster cycle time. For over a century, this pistol has remained the top choice of the military and law enforcement agencies because of its accuracy and reliability. Other features are a 10-round magazine capacity and a 4.9-inch barrel length. Though the gun has seen a reduction in popularity, but it is used by military and law enforcement agencies and is very much in production.
Luger P08
It is a semi-automatic, recoil-operated, and toggle-locked pistol which has now become history. From 1898 to 1949, the pistol was produced by several nations because it had a very unique design. It is one of those guns which has been used in several wars including the Maji-Maji Rebellion, World War I, the German Revolution, the Chinese Civil War, World War II, and many more. Also, it was the standard pistol of the German armed forces. The features and specifications of this pistol include an overall length of 222mm, an overall weight of 871 g, 8 8-round detachable box magazines, iron sights, and an effective firing range of 50m. As of now, the Luger P08 is not in production because of the introduction of new models in the market.
Sturm Ruger Standard
The Sturm Ruger Standard is a semi-automatic pistol which made the company Ruger, a most well-known gun brand. It was the first firearm that was produced by the company in 1949 and was a cheap .22 caliber rimfire which was perfect was target shooting, plinking, and casual sport. The features and specifications of this gun include a .22 Long Rifle cartridge, blowback action, 9 or 10-round box magazine, and fixed and adjustable open iron sights. Though it was the most well-known gun produced by Sturm, Ruger, and Co. However, with the introduction of new models such as Mark II, III, and IV, the Standard model went out of production.
Ithaca Model 37
The popular Ithaca Model 37 is a shotgun that was mostly used by law enforcement agencies, military, and civilians. The pump-action shotgun has been used in several wars such as World War II, the Korean War, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the 1989 attack on La Tablada barracks, and many more. It was first produced in 1937 by the Ithaca Gun Company but after some time, it suffered many setbacks in its production. After World War II, the Ithaca Model 37 is still being made, but the sales of the gun are not what they used to be. Also, the model was renamed in 1967 as Model 87.
Marlin Model 336
The Marlin Model 336 is a lever-action rifle and long gun which was first produced in the year 1948. The company, Marlin Firearms introduced this firearm several of different barrel lengths and calibers including .35 Remington and .30-30 Winchester. Also, the firearm is a direct development of the Marlin Model 1893, which was produced from 1893 to 1936. Though the production of Marlin Model 336 was put on a halt for some time, after Ruger became the owner of Marlin Firearms, the gun was back in production in March 2023.
Remington Model 8
Another gun that has vanished from the market because of its outdated features and specifications is the Remington Model 8. It is a semi-automatic rifle that was first introduced in the year 1905. Initially, the name of the rifle was Remington Autoloading Rifle but in 1911, it was changed to Remington Model 8. The production of Model 8 was done until 1936 and after this, it was again changed to Remington Model 81. As of now, the gun has vanished from the commercial markets because of its outdated technologies.
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power was once the most-used firearm but with time, it became the least popular. It is a semi-automatic and single-action pistol whose overall weight was 2.2 lbs and overall length was 197 mm. It was one of those guns that was used in several wars including the Chinese Civil War, World War II, the Lebanese Civil War, the Sri Lankan Civil War, and many more. Also, it was available in three different calibers such as 7.65×21mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and 9×19mm Parabellum. However, the Browning Hi-Power disappeared after people started preferring polymer-framed guns.
SIG P210
The SIG P210 is a semi-automatic pistol which was originated in Switzerland. The locked breech self-loading gun is made of steel and was mainly used by the Swiss Army and the Danish Military. The firearm was available in three different cartridges including .22 LR, 7.65×21mm Parabellum, and 9×19mm Parabellum. The gun was first produced in 1949 and went on to rule the markets until 2005. But after this, the SIG P210 went out of production, and its variants started to make rounds.
Madsen M50
The Madsen M50 was a modified version of the M/46 and was first produced in the year 1950. The submachine gun was one of those firearms that was used in several wars including the Korean War, Vietnam War, Colombian Civil War, The Troubles, and many more. The features of the gun include 9×19mm Parabellum caliber, blowback action, 32 rounds magazine capacity, and a muzzle velocity of 380 m/s. As of now, the gun is not in production because after the introduction of tighter gun laws, owning these types of guns has become difficult.
Steyr AUG
The Steyr AUG is a popular assault rifle that originated in Austria and had a 5.56×45mm NATO intermediate cartridge. It was first produced in the year 1977 and was mostly used by the Austrian Army. In 1980, the United States started to import the Steyr AUG but in 1989, the firearm was banned in the American region because of the stricter laws passed by then-President George H. W. Bush. The Steyr AUG has vanished from the markets of the United States since it was banned in 1989. However, in other countries, the assault rifle is still in production and is used throughout the world.
Charter Arms Bulldog
The Charter Arms Bulldog is a traditional revolver that was first introduced in the year 1973 and had two different calibers, .44 Special or .357 Magnum. In the 1980s, it was one of the most loved double-action revolvers and was known as the special product of Charter Arms. However, after the introduction of semi-automatic pistols, this traditional revolver couldn’t meet the needs of the gun owners. As a result, the standard model was discontinued, and new variants including 13520, 14420, 73520, and many more were introduced.
Johnson M1941 Rifle
The Johnson M1941 Rifle is a firearm that uses the energy from its recoil to cycle. It is a semi-automatic rifle that was used in World War II, the Chinese Civil War, the Indonesian National Revolution, and the Bay of Pigs Invasion. It was designed by Melvin Johnson and was produced from 1940 to 1945. After World War II ended, the firearm was used in lesser quantities and eventually faded away. The production was hence stopped because the rifle had issues with its accuracy and reliability.
Beretta ARX 100
The semi-automatic rifle, Beretta ARX 100 is a 5.56mm, magazine-fed, and a direct development of Beretta ARX 160, which was specifically built for the Italian army. The stock of the ARX 100 is made completely from polymer and has a very unique design. Further, the safety of the firearm is for right and left hand both with an M4-style thumb wheel. As of now, the firearm is not in production and has vanished from the commercial markets. Beretta stopped making ARX 100 in 2019 after being 5 years in production.
Remington 600 Rifle
The Remington 600 is a bolt-action and push-feed rifle which was originated in the United States. The features and specifications of the firearm include an overall weight of 5.5 lbs, an overall length of 37.25 inches, a blade ramp front, and a fully adjustable rear. Also, the rifle was available in different cartridges including .222 Remington, .223 Remington, 6mm Remington, .243 Winchester, and many more. As of now, it is not in production because the company stopped it in 1967.
Colt Woodsman
The Colt Woodsman is a semi-automatic pistol which was designed by John Moses Browning. It has an overall weight of 1.87 lbs, barrel lengths of 4.5, 6, or 6.625 inches, and a .22 Long Rifle cartridge. Also, it was developed with no short slide, no hammer, and no grip safety. Though the pistol was first produced in 1915, its production was stopped in 1977.
Ruger Model 44
The Ruger Model 44 is another firearm that has vanished from the market after years of being a cult-favorite. It is a semi-automatic rifle that originated in the United States and was designed by William B. Ruger. The features and specifications of the rifle include a .44 Remington Magnum cartridge, 36.75 inches overall length, 5.75 lbs overall weight, gas-operated and rotating bolt action, and a four-round tubular magazine. The gun was first produced in 1961 and happened until 1985. After this, the Ruger Model 44 disappeared from the market.
Remington Model 7400
The Remington Model 7400 is a series of semi-automatic rifles that originated in the United States and was designed by Remington R&D. The Model 7400 was first introduced in the year 1981 and was a direct replacement of Remington’s 740 rifle. The features and specifications of the firearm include 7.5 lbs overall weight, 42 inches overall length, and 18 and 22 inches barrel length. As of now, the Remington Model 7400 is not in production because, in 2006, it was replaced by the Model 750.
Smith & Wesson Model 28
The Smith & Wesson Model 28 is a popular N-frame revolver that was mostly used by police and military departments including the California Highway Patrol, Georgia State Patrol, New York State Police, U.S. Border Patrol, and many more. It was chambered in a .357 Magnum cartridge and had a 6-round cylinder along with adjustable rear sights and Baughman front sight. It was first produced in the year 1954 but went out of production in 1986 because of its outdated features and technologies.
Walther P99
The Walther P99 is a semi-automatic pistol that was specially designed for security forces, law enforcement, and civilian shooting. Also, it was a replacement for Walther’s P88 and P5 models. It was first produced in the year 1997 by the German company, Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffe. However, the production was stopped in 2023 because the company discontinued the line. Since then, the firearm has vanished from the market because of its outdated design and features.
AK-47
The AK-47 is an assault rifle that was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and is available in a 7.62×39mm cartridge. It originated in the Soviet Union in 1946 and was introduced into the service in 1949. The features of the weapon include 715 m/s muzzle velocity and 350 m effective firing range. The rifle offers 20, 30, and 50 rounds detachable box magazines along with 40 and 75 rounds drum magazines. As of now, the original AK-47 is not produced in Russia but is still being made by other countries including China and India.
AKM
The AKM is a popular assault rifle which was designed by the small arms designer, Mikhail Kalashnikov. It originated in the Soviet Union and was a lighter version of the AK-47. In 1959, it was first produced by manufacturers named, Izhmash and Tula Arms Plant, and in the same year, the Soviet Army introduced it into their service. As of now, the most-used rifle is not in production because it was stopped in 1977. However, some variants of the firearm are still in production in several countries.
Lee-Enfield
The Lee-Enfield is a magazine-fed, bolt-action rifle that was originally used by the military forces of the British Empire. Also, it was the standard firearm of the British Armed Forces until 1957. It was designed by James Paris Lee and was chambered in a .303 British cartridge. It offers a 2441 ft/s muzzle velocity, 550 yards effective firing range, and 3000 yards maximum firing range. As of now, the original Lee-Enfield rifles are not in production but these are now surplus rifles, not newly manufactured.
M16A1
The M16A1 assault rifle is a member of the M16 family which originated in the United States. It was adapted for the military forces of the United States from the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle and offered a 20-round magazine capacity. The M16A1 assault rifle was introduced in 1967, replaced the M14 rifle, and became the standard weapon of the American military. It had a chrome-plated bore, and flash hider and had a barrel length of 38.81 inches. As of now, the M16A1 is not in production because it was stopped in 1982.
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is another firearm that has vanished from the market. It is a bolt-action rifle that was designed by Paul Mauser in 1895. From 1898 to 1935, it was a standard rifle for the German Empire because it offered a magazine capacity of 5 rounds. Also, it offered an effective firing range of 500 and 1000 meters along with 5-round stripper clips in an internal box magazine. As of now, the original Gewehr 98 has disappeared but its variants are still being made.
M14 Rifle
Another popular firearm whose production stopped a long time ago is the M14 Rifle. It is an American battle rifle that was used by the US Army, Navy, and Marine Corps from the mid-1960s to 1970s, as their standard rifle. The production of this rifle began in 1957 and was stopped in 1980. Before this, in 1967, the M16 assault rifle replaced the M14 model as the standard weapon of the US Armed Forces.
The Pattern 1853 Enfield
Pattern 1853 Enfield is a rifled musket by the Royal Small Arms Factory developed in the 1850s. It is a muzzle-loading firearm that was used by the British Empire as their standard weapon until 1867. The firearm was used in several wars including the Crimean War, the American Civil War, the New Zealand Wars, the Red River Rebellion, and many more. However, the firearm has vanished from the market after its production ended in 1867.
Cei-Rigotti
The Cei-Rigotti is a very old automatic rifle that was created in the last years of the 19th century. It was designed by an officer in the Royal Italian Army who was named, Amerigo Cei-Rigotti. Though the rifle was never adopted by any military, but it was tested by the Italian Army. The selective-fire rifle had weighed 9.5 lbs, had a length of 39 inches, and a barrel length of 19 inches. After the 19th century, the firearm is not in production anymore, but it exists in historical collections.
Lewis Gun
The Lewis Gun is a popular light machine gun that was privately designed in the American region. Also, the production of the gun happened in the United Kingdom and it was heavily used in wars by the British Empire. It was first produced in the year 1913 by the Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd. The demand for this gun was increased when World War I was approaching. However, the production of the gun was stopped in 1942 and as now of, the Lewis Gun has disappeared from the market.
Fedorov Avtomat
The Fedorov Avtomat is another firearm that has vanished from the market. The selective-fire infantry rifle was first produced in the year 1915 and was designed by Vladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov. It was used in several wars including World War I, the Russian Civil War, the Winter War, World War II, and many more. However, in 1925 the production of this gun was stopped by the Russian Empire because they thought that the gun was difficult to maintain, clean, and repair.
M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
The M1918 Browning automatic rifle is a variant of the Browning automatic rifle series that was first produced in 1917. It was designed by John Browning and was used in several wars including the Korean War, Cuban Revolution, Vietnam War, Myanmar Civil War, Spanish Civil War, and many more. However, the firearm vanished from the commercial markets after the production was stopped in 1945. As of now, the semi-automatic versions of this firearm are in production.
