So far the poll shows just about what I figured.
JMB was a genius at firearm design, be they single shot, lever action, pump, semi auto, full auto, rifle, smoothbore or handgun.
GG bankrolled a pretty good European team of designers and marketing guys (Jack Anderson helping out a little as well) for his one trick pony show w/ minor variations, shower curtain rods not withstanding.
Now if you're limiting design to a sole object, i.e., 1911 (an evolutionary process unto itself if the patent dates mean anything) vs. G17 format... I'd still have to vote JMB. Even tho' Colt's designers played some part (not to mention the US Army Ordnance Bd.), they looked to him to solve the problem at hand and sell his design against the traditional revolving cylinder handgun design that Sam Colt made famous; something GG never came up against. Not to mention cartridge design for the handguns in question (various acp rds. vs a sole GAP cartridge to date).
Nothing wrong with either design. Each broke with (a) tradition or two and marketed their product as well as possible. Each passed stringent military acceptance testing.
One paved the way for the other(s) in a manner of thinking.
But maybe GG's designers aren't done yet. They MIGHT come up with some revolutionary concepts yet. I'm not holding my breath waiting tho'.
You might compare John Moses to Paul Mauser... but then again, you might not.
Bu whadda I know?
