Aesthetics: The GLOCK or the XD?

[lurkersince03]

What has more aesthetic appeal to it? Or a better, more accurate depiction of my personal feelings, what is uglier? The GLOCK or the XD?

I think the GLOCK is actually more aesthetically appealing than the XD. Though I've heard nothing but good things about the XD, I think it's terribly lacking in the aesthetics department, almost to the point that it's as if those europeans that designed it wanted it to look as butt-ugly as they possibly could with those weird, unexplained contours and overall awkward silhouette. However, as much as the GLOCK may look GLOCK-y (and blocky, and otherwise in harmony with its mid 90's Volvo-ness), it's also showing its age in style (and in some reports, its performance?)

This is purely a light hearted thread, to be sure. I mean nothing but jest, honestly. But I hope that disclaimer doesn't encourage people to get into a "versus" debate in terms of performance and reliability. Strictly aesthetics here, folks.

 

[hankdatank1362]

Form doesn't always follow function. Glocks always looked like a limp turd bent at about 115% to me, and the XD isn't far off. The XD always struck me as the bastard child between a deadbeat dad 1911 and crackhead babymama GLOCK.

I always thought a H&K USP (which I can't afford) or a PT24/7 (which I can afford and bought one yesterday) were very aesthetically pleasing to me.

 

[10-Ring]

Well, let's see, as for which is uglier, Once you get to a certain point, it's all redundant ugliness

 

[History Prof]

If I bought based on looks, I would own a different mini-van than I do. The one I bought is pretty durn ugly IMO, but was the most reliable for the price.

I recently spent about an hour in a gunshop comparing the G22 and the XD40 (and filling out paperwork ).

I chose the XD because of the ergonomics. Yea, it is uglier than the Glock. But when I brought the Glock up to my line of sight, I had to search for the sights (same with my brother's USP40). The XD immediately lined up with my eye. OK, I still haven't had time to go shoot it yet, but hopefully it is the "point and shoot" device that SA says it is. I'm really looking forward to getting out there, but..... such is life.

 

[Euclidean]

I say this as a multiple XD owner... they're both hideously ugly, but a dual tone XD looks a heck of a lot better than the blued ones I think, just for looks. Mine are all blued since I don't really care what these guns look like anyway.

The XD pistol looks like something a Lego man crapped out. I think it is slightly uglier than the Glock, might actually look better if you had one "dehorned" or "melted".

 

[lurkersince03]

"Glocks always looked like a limp turd bent at about 115% to me"

"The XD pistol looks like something a Lego man crapped out."

LOL!!!! That's exactly why I made this thread. People's inventive way to describe things make my day and night.

 

[steelhead]

You all can fight over the 2 ugly sisters but I'm going home with Cinderella

 

[Josh Aston]

The XD is one of the ugliest pistols ever made. Some of the old revolvers and early autoloaders are uglier but there's a reason they aren't made anymore. I would have to say that the XD is definitely the ugliest of all modern pistols.

 

[steelhead]

I disagree: Meet the ugly stepmom

Proof:

 

[History Prof]

meet the ugly stepmom

LOL. I gotta agree with that. My XD is DEFINATELY purty compared to that HiPoint monstrosity.

 

[BamBam-31]

Actually, the height of the XD's slide always reminded me of the Frankenstein-ish Hi-Point profile. The Glock's slide is a bit more aesthetically appealling in its proportions. Call me crazy, but I think the OD Glocks (PAGING LUNDE) and two-tone XD's are good looking.

Must agree with steelhead, however. 1911's are the purtiest guns out there, bar none. The pimpilicious three-tone gold trigger junk's gotta go, however. (Wait...is that your 1911? And Hi-Point? Wood floor is the same....hmm.) Uh, that 1911's trick, yo!

 

[jlh26oo]

Has there ever been a more YMMV topic? This is so much more subjective than even bore-axis, trigger, and grip size.

But I'll vote anyways. GLOCK <sips kool-aid>.


EDITED TO ADD: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

EDITED TO ADD: Ten percent? SWEET! Just on those three handguns, or do requests for stock not on-hand also qualify?

 

[psychophipps]

All about the Glock, I'm afraid. While the XD has some sort of hybrid thing going for it, the uniformity of the Glock and how well all the parts meld together strikes me as being far superior to my, admittedly limited, asthetic sensibilities. The XD looks like it's trying too hard with it's grip safety , trigger safety pretty much stolen from Glocks and it's poking-out slide looking more like an afterthought than a main component of the design, IMO.

Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )

 

[Rangegod]

I am so happy to see and read this thread. For the last several years I’ve seen many (hundreds?) of threads criticizing the Glocks as ugly, while people were standing in line to sing the praises of the XD. This was very confusing, as I personally found the XD to be the ugliest gun currently on the market (Hi-Points exempted as they don’t even register in my market) and would not consider one as a gift. I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me.

To be honest, I have owned Glocks (7 at one time) and found them for the most part to be reliable tools but shall we say “Appearance Challenged”. I think the Glocks are great for their intended role, as issue weapons for large groups/agencies where uniformity is more important than individual taste and performance. The XD may well be the greatest thing since sliced bread but I will never know, because life (especially at my age) is too short to own ugly guns. BTW I feel the same way about slide mounted safeties and/or decockers.

XD lovers don’t take any of this too seriously as these are just the internet ravings of an old and cynical gunner.

JAC

 

[Juna]

In terms of pure aesthetics, the Glock is one of the ugliest semi-autos ever, IMO. XD wins out in the looks department.

 

[azredhawk44]

Blued XD's are fugly and look out of balance to me.

Glocks are boring to look at.

Bi-tone XD's I think are very good looking.

Speaking as an owner of a G21 and an XD9 Bi-tone.

 

[MikeJ]

Rangegod, I love your politically correct "Appearance Challenged" wording.

On to the question at hand: although I don't think the Glock or XD will win any beauty contest I've always felt the Glock in its midsize variants, e.i. 19, 23 etc. didn't offend my aeshtetic sensibilities. I really find the XD extremely unattractive, particularly in its subcompact form.

 

[up_onus]

have you watched the XD video?

Where they do all kinda crazy things to the gun? Literally everything but drop it out of a Jetliner....

Why did springfield armory get the contract with FBI SWAT?
Why have I never EVER seen someone say anything bad abou their springfield? (I like mine a lot, although its a SS and not an XD).

asthetics? I was just reading a forum yesterday.... even glock lovers agree the ergonomics blow! who cares how "cool" it looks, also....whats the price difference?

 

[The Good]

glocks are ugly, but in the same way a humvee is ugly.

XD45 looks like a way more ugly and misshapen glock. its kinda like an h3

 

[bestseller92]

Glocks rock, and they look mega cool. XD's are homely creatures.

 

[crunker]

I don't know if I have an opinion, I'm good with getting either.
Most people prefer XD since it's smaller.

 

[Autolycus]

I like the GLock aesthetics.

For plastic though HKs cannot be beat.

 

[Hazzard]

Well I own an XD, and all I have to say is that after a while, you hit a wall with ugliness. One is not uglier than the other, they're just a different kind of ugly! (love my XD though, there are more things than aethetics that are important)

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'd say they're tied for the Looks Like a Thrombosed Hemmrhoid Award.

 

[kansas45]

I'm with Hazzard. I love my XD45 Tactical. I didn't buy it because it was pretty, I bought it because of what it is. I think's Glock's are uguly & the XD isn't much better looking. Beauty is only skin deep. It's how they work that makes those gun's worth looking at!