Handgun design moved hard toward lighter frames, simpler triggers, and modular accessories. That shift made polymer service pistols feel like the permanent answer. Yet some older sidearms and a few long-established standouts still hold ground for a simple reason: mission use has never been judged by trends alone. Elite...

The Beretta M9 lasted far longer than many service pistols ever do. Adopted in the 1980s and carried for more than three decades, it earned a place as a familiar sidearm across the U.S. military while also collecting a reputation shaped by age, maintenance headaches, and changing expectations. The...