Why the Bling?

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TimM

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After hearing about the 50th Anniversary Ruger Blackhawk I was seriously considering purchasing one (or two). That is until I saw the gold stamped lettering on the gun. I love good engraving but just as soon as someone pimps a gun with gold it makes me want to puke.

What is it that makes this bling so appealing to people? I think it really cheapens the look of a gun. This one also makes me angry because a revolver that I would otherwise love, now I can't stand to look at it.

Am I the only one that feels this way?
 
No, you're not. I feel the same way. To me a gun is a finely tuned machine, not a billboard. It is a tool. A type of tool I happen to really, really enjoy, but a tool nonetheless. Just as most do not like to see warnings stamped on the side of their gun, I don't like ANYTHING written or stamped, inlayed in gold, etc. on my guns. I agree with you that it cheapens their look. It detracts from their ultimate function and usefulness. Each to their own, and there is some craftsmanship involved, but I wont have it on my guns.
 
I know a guy who owns what I like to call the pimpgun. It's a Taurus knockoff of the 92FS, which is stainless with gold mag release, decocker, disassembly latch, etc. with a pearl handled grip and an inlay of Jesus on the cross on one side, and Virgin Mary with the heart on the other (he's just a little Catholic). I personally find it absurd, but my favorite pistol is a black, stock Glock.

I'm not against some amount of styling. I enjoy two tone pistols for instance, but going much past that is disturbing to me. To me, styling is accomplished in construction, not inlays and engraving. But, it's all secondary to how well it works.

The pimpgun is an extreme example, but every time he puts that thing on the range, I laugh.
 
I just HATE it when someone scratches a gun all up!
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its solely to give a weapon commerative or other collector status and thus allow the gun company to add on 3-900 extra dollars tot he base price.
 
Pimptastic

This is NOT my gun!!!


I wouldn't be caught dead with this gun, but it is hilarious. This is just like the gun I saw in a pawn shop a few years ago that a bunch of people were drooling over. Meanwhile, just across from the gold tiger striped "deagle" was a S&W Model 14-4 in like-new condition for $330 that the owner said had been ignored for 6+ months; I did give it a home :).

Well, you know what they say about beauty being in the eyes of the beholder. No offense to those on THR that might own a gun like this, but my eyes tell me that this thing is fugly! The only thing missing is the pearl grip panels.


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Ditto......I don't like no ugly gun. If I am too afraid to shoot it for fear of messing up it's "good" looks then I don't have any use for it.
 
Well the good news is no one is making you buy a gun with engraving or gold inlay. But plenty of other people like it so they offer them. If a gun is just a tool to you, like a shovel, then go buy a plastic fantastic and you can be happy.

Here's my CZ 75 barbeque gun, I quite like it 'cause I feel pretty when I'm wearing it. Now keep in mind I only wear it for fancy dress occasions like barbeques or formal dinners.

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Well, I am glad I am not the only one. But like I said, I do like engraving... it is the blingedy bling bling that makes me barf.

jad0110, I love the disclaimer. LOL
 
Ruger put out a small commemorative issue of .357 and .44 Magnum "flat top" Blackhawks - mostly intended for collectors. Many of them won't shoot them and couldn't care less about what "it's just a tool" shooters think.

I suspect that if the two models are well received thay will make additional ones without the markings, and for a lower price. They already have made a run of the .357 size guns chambered in .44 Special - and no special markings.

At this point CDNN Sports (www.cdnnsports.com) is offering the commemorative revolvers at a reduced (and attractive) price. A potential buyer that doesn't like the lettering can wait until (or if) the plain-jane version comes out, or get the fancy one and use a solvent to wipe the gold paint out of the markings. Hopefully both collectors and shooters will be satisfied in the long run. ;)
 
I bought one of the anniversary commerative Ruger offerings for the Bearcat model and am delighted to have it. IMO, it's a terrific addition to the Ruger line. Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the gun-holder.
 
A gun with a lot of bling isn't about shooting it but about posing with it. Its a symbol of your social status in the gun world. A waste of money if you ask me and a sign of being shallow if you like posing with it.
 
Different strokes I guess. Compared to some, the inlay on the Blackhawks isn't too bad. This gawdy, aweful, shiney, tacky look isn't too far removed from some of the AR's sporting more tactical bling than can be found on any modern day Naval Gun ship. Way overboard. But hey, if we don't like it, we don't buy it. I'm glad that people can "accessorize" any way they want...
 
I can't stand engraving on guns, inlaid or not. Try finding a good over under without someone scribbling stuff all over it. Sheesh.
 
I'm glad we live in a country where there's something for everybody. I like my guns "discreet" but I can appreciate the workmanship, ingenuity, labor and time put into good engraving, tasteful carving and fine checkering that can be found on some custom firearms.
Whatever floats your boat-even if it's a submarine.
 
Okay, I guess it's where you are at in life. I understand a matte black, or parkerized combat 1911. I used to use one on duty. Later, I got ragged by no less than Carlos Hathcock for having a birdseye maple grips & matte hard chrome on my 1911 when taking a police sniper course from him and his crew. He was right; even though it didn't reflect any light, it was easier to spot when everything else was camo'd (I just wrapped my pistol grip with friction tape, as that was all you could see). I kidded him about wearing a white feather in his hat, and he admitted that was a kind of "in your face" thing to the VC and NVA, and probably was not bright (but I could tell he was confident that he was that good, he could STILL outsmart and evade them, even with a high profile "feather"). I have an OD green 1911 for tactical use, and several pretty 1911's with ivory for concealed carry and BBQ's. I don't think guns HAVE to be JUST tools; they can, and often are, works of art, and deserve to be displayed AND carried. Life is too short to make the pretty ones all safe queens. I have nothing against the "tactical" guys with the plain guns, but I hope there is room for all points of view on this. I would never insist that my choices be theirs.
 
There's a place for ornate firearms...and that's collections (as in the curio type collector)...and for those that still do, the dress/BBQ firearm.

Given, I have sort of pimped out my SCCY, mirror polishing the exposed breech end of the barrel and I'm talking to a few machine shops to make a one off stainless slide release, magazine release and safety lever assembly for it. Why so much work on a such a cheap pistol? Because I like the gun and feel it's worth it. Given the safety and releases are more for reliability reasons (or me just being super picky like I usually am)....plastic shouldn't be in those places.
 
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