[Dwight55]

So it appears to be narrowed down to:
1. Well built 1911's
2. Glocks and H&K polymer handguns
3. Ruger and S&W Revolvers

Ok...maybe it's not really that narrow. But I do appreciate everyone's input and opinions as this is a very interesting topic. I never expected for us to narrow it down to one MOST RUGGED handgun...that is impossible.

Personally I like the revolvers. But here's a question:

Aren't revolvers more fragile against drops and physical abuse as the cylinders can go out-of-timing? If true, do you think that this fact alone will take the revolvers out of the running as of the most rugged handgun?

If a revolver goes belly up, . . . it most usually is a "gunsmith required" situation, . . . whereas a 1911 or polymer semi auto can usually come back to life with a tap & rack and/or mag change.

I chose the 1911 over the polymer simply because it is a known and proven category, . . . 100 solid years of service, . . . and there are many, many examples out there (that sell for big $$$$ ) of the turn of the century semi autos.

Anecdotal experience with all plastics is that given a bit of time, . . . they tend to go south, . . . that would be really bad in a world where replacements and/or replacement parts were not readily available.

By attrition, . . . I still vote for the 1911 as the most rugged.

May God bless,
Dwight