Are European handguns rubbish?

[Caradhras]

Just a quick question from one who has no idea.

I was reading Debt of Honour (Tom Clancy) and a CIA agent needed a handgun and could only get one from a Russian. It was some low calibre affair (22 or less?) which his was not happy with..fair enough. But the charachter makes some statement to his friend in the realms of 'the europeans dont know how to make handguns'. I find this hard to believe and thought - I know some people who will know for sure