20 Discontinued Handguns That Are Becoming Harder to Find

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You do not notice a handgun is “gone” until you go looking for one. Maybe it’s a pistol you sold to fund a scope, or a revolver you passed on because it felt a little heavy at the counter. Then you walk into a shop a few years later and it’s all striker-fired black polymer, the used case is thin, and the clerk tells you, “Haven’t seen one of those in a while.” That’s when it hits.

Some of these discontinued handguns are collectible, sure. But most of them are getting scarce for a simpler reason: they were actually useful, got carried, got shot, and got kept. Here are 20 models that are showing up less and less—and why you might want to snag one if you find a clean example with mags and a box.

1. Smith & Wesson 3913 (3rd Gen)

The 3913 is one of those slim 9mms that just makes sense the moment it’s in your hand. Single-stack, metal frame, real double-action/single-action trigger—no gimmicks. It carries flatter than a lot of “modern” compacts that somehow got thicker over the years.

The downside is parts and magazines aren’t stacked to the ceiling like Glock stuff. When you find one with factory mags and a decent set of grips, it’s worth a hard look. These got carried a lot, so pristine ones are drying up.

2. Smith & Wesson 5906 (3rd Gen)

This is the other end of the 3rd Gen vibe: stainless, full-size, heavy enough to feel like an anchor in a belt holster. On the range, though, it’s easy shooting and forgiving, especially for folks who don’t love snappy compacts.

They were police guns, they were duty guns, and they got used. That means you’ll see holster wear and dead tritium constantly. The clean ones disappear fast, and the beaters can turn into a “project” if you’re missing springs or small parts.

3. Ruger P95

The P95 is not pretty. It’s chunky, kind of agricultural, and the trigger won’t win any awards. Still, it’s one of those pistols that just runs, even when somebody’s idea of maintenance is blowing dust out of it once a year.

As a glovebox or camp pistol, it was a great fit. Now they’re not impossible to find, but the days of cheap, clean P95s sitting around are fading—especially with extra mags.

4. Ruger P89

The P89 feels like a brick that learned to shoot. Big controls, big slide, and it points in a very “service pistol” way. If you grew up around metal DA/SA guns, it’s familiar and comfortable.

Collectors haven’t driven prices into the clouds, but good examples are getting thin because they were never “safe queens.” If you want a rugged 9mm that doesn’t mind being treated like ranch gear, this one still makes sense.

5. Ruger Security-Six (original series)

Before the GP100, Ruger had the Security-Six family, and a lot of them lived hard lives on belts and in pickup consoles. The balance is excellent, and the lockup is usually tight even on guns that look rough outside.

Finding one that hasn’t been abused by bad screws, home gunsmithing, or a steady diet of hot loads is the challenge. When you spot a clean one with a good bore, don’t assume it’ll still be there next week.

6. Colt Detective Special (older production)

This is the classic snub that feels like it belongs in a coat pocket, tackle bag, or nightstand drawer. The old Colt action can be butter-smooth when it’s right, and it points naturally.

But “when it’s right” is doing a lot of work. Timing matters on these, and not every local shop has someone who truly knows old Colts. Good ones are getting scarcer because folks who own them tend to hang on once they learn what they’ve got.

7. Colt Cobra (original, not the new reissue)

The original Cobra gives you that Detective Special shape with a lighter carry. That’s the appeal. It’s a practical revolver for somebody who actually carries a wheelgun and doesn’t want a boat anchor.

They’ve climbed in price and dropped in availability, partly because so many were carried and worn. If you’re shopping, check for honest mechanical health before you fall in love with the name.

8. Browning Hi-Power (FN/Browning)

The Hi-Power is one of those pistols everybody “means to own” and somehow never gets around to. It’s slim, it points great, and it has an old-school feel that’s hard to fake with modern designs.

Since production stopped and the market got flooded with clones and updated takes, original FN/Browning guns have gotten harder to snag at sane prices. Magazines are still around, but the nicer the pistol, the faster it walks out the door.

9. Heckler & Koch P7 (PSP/P7M8)

The first time you pick up a P7, you either grin or you put it down like it’s a weird tool. Squeeze-cocker, low bore axis, and accuracy that makes you look better than you are. It’s a special pistol.

It’s also not cheap, and it’s not getting cheaper. Parts and mags can be their own hunt. If you find one that’s mechanically sound with original mags, that’s one of those “buy it or regret it” moments.

10. SIG Sauer P225 (West German/early)

The P225 has that classic SIG feel without the bulk of the double-stack guns. It’s a simple, slim service pistol that carries easy and shoots like a bigger gun than it is.

Early guns—especially the West German-marked ones—are showing up less. A lot of folks bought them as police trade-ins and then decided they actually liked them. That tends to shrink the supply quickly.

11. SIG Sauer P239

If you carried in the early 2000s, you saw P239s everywhere. Single-stack, solid build, reliable, and boring in the best way. It’s the kind of pistol you stop thinking about once you trust it, because it just does the job.

Now, slim polymer compacts dominate, and the P239 is the “heavy for the capacity” option. Still, it’s getting harder to find clean with the right mags, especially in .357 SIG and .40 where folks bought them and then shot them a lot.

12. Walther P99 (original)

The P99 had ergonomics nailed down before interchangeable backstraps were a marketing checklist item. The grip fits a lot of hands, the pistol points naturally, and the trigger system is different enough to be interesting without being complicated.

They’re still out there, but you don’t see stacks of them. If you like the feel of the P99, don’t assume the used market will always have one waiting, especially in nicer condition with factory mags.

13. Smith & Wesson 1006 (3rd Gen 10mm)

The 1006 is a full-size stainless 10mm that feels like it could survive being used as a tent stake. If you spend time in the woods and like the idea of a semi-auto with real power, it scratches that itch.

The problem is weight, and the bigger problem is supply. These were never as common as 9mm duty pistols, and the 10mm crowd tends to keep them. When one pops up, it usually doesn’t sit long.

14. Colt Delta Elite (early production)

The Delta Elite is 10mm in a 1911 package, which sounds perfect until you remember that “perfect” usually means “tinkering.” Still, when you get a good one, it’s a blast—flat-shooting and authoritative.

Early guns and clean examples are getting tougher to find because they’re both nostalgic and genuinely useful. If you’re shopping, be honest with yourself about whether you want a shooter or a collectible, because the prices can reflect both.

15. Beretta 92G Brigadier (factory G decocker)

The Brigadier slide adds a little mass up top, and it changes the feel in recoil in a good way. A true factory “G” decocker-only setup is what a lot of Beretta fans really want for a practical carry or duty-style gun.

The issue is that the exact configuration is what’s getting scarce. Plenty of 92 variants exist, but the specific combos that folks prefer—especially factory-correct—are not always easy to locate without paying a premium.

16. Beretta 9000S

This one is a bit of a time capsule. The 9000S was Beretta trying to do a compact carry pistol in an era when designs were changing fast. It has a distinctive look and feel, and it’s not for everybody.

But here’s why it’s on the list: you don’t see them often anymore, and when you do, it’s usually someone who kept it because it fit their hand. If you find one, pay attention to magazine availability before you commit.

17. CZ 2075 RAMI

The RAMI is a compact CZ that packs a lot into a small footprint. It shoots bigger than it looks, and it has that CZ “settles into the hand” thing that fans talk about.

It’s also the kind of pistol that gets carried hard. Holster wear is common, and spare mags aren’t always sitting at every gun counter. If you want a small metal-framed 9mm that’s actually pleasant to practice with, the RAMI is worth hunting.

18. Springfield Armory XD-S (first generation)

The XD-S was one of the early slim single-stacks that a lot of folks actually carried every day. It’s not exciting, but it’s handy, and it points naturally for many shooters.

Because so many were bought as working carry guns, used examples can be pretty worn. Also, the market moved on to higher-capacity micro-compacts, so the XD-S doesn’t get talked about much—meaning clean ones can slip by if you’re paying attention.

19. Remington R51 (Gen 1 and Gen 2)

I’m going to say it: the R51 is on this list because it’s weird, not because it’s perfect. The whole story around it left a bad taste, and I get why folks don’t trust it.

Still, it’s discontinued and already harder to find than you’d expect, mostly because many people avoided them. If you stumble onto one, treat it like any used gun purchase: verify function, inspect it closely, and don’t assume spare parts will be easy later.

20. Kahr K9 (all-steel)

The all-steel K9 is one of the more underrated carry pistols ever made. It’s slim, it’s smooth, and it doesn’t beat you up at the range like some ultra-light guns do. The trigger is long, but it’s consistent, and that matters.

What’s getting harder is finding them in nice shape with multiple factory mags. Plenty were carried a lot, and the ones that weren’t carried tend to be kept. If you want a practical, no-nonsense 9mm that still feels like a “real gun” in the hand, this is one to grab.

Discontinued doesn’t automatically mean “better,” and it definitely doesn’t mean “investment.” But there’s a pattern here: the guns that vanish first are the ones that fit real life—carry comfort, shootability, and reliability without needing a bunch of aftermarket fixes. If you run across any of these in good condition, with magazines you can actually replace, it might be worth acting before they get even thinner on the ground.