It seems to me that the manufacturers of firearms are making a deliberate effort to produce as ugly and crude-looking products as it is possible to make. Looking at the new SR-22 from Ruger got me started on this rant, but Walthers are at least as bad. They think they have to cut notches in every surface and fit odd angles to trigger guards, grips, etc. I know....they are efficient and relatively cheap to manufacture but do they really have to be so ugly? I think Glock did more to popularize ugly guns than any other company. Compare a Colt Woodman or a Luger to the SR-22 and tell me how lucky we are to be living in this time of design progress.
ugly guns
- Thread starter ldhulk
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Cutting corners to keep manufacturing costs as low as possible results in crude, boxy looking guns.
Trying to look "tacticool" results in boxy looking guns.
Sometimes practical results in plain or even ugly.
Sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I find all Ruger DA revolvers to be grotesque looking. But many shooters like them fine. Go figure.
Trying to look "tacticool" results in boxy looking guns.
Sometimes practical results in plain or even ugly.
Sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I find all Ruger DA revolvers to be grotesque looking. But many shooters like them fine. Go figure.
Ghost Tracker
Member
I enjoy the fine lines of a classic firearm (FN P35, Browning Superposed, Colt Python, etc.). But my GLOCK G19 is as ugly as an Irish Wolfhound. And Irish Wolfhound owners are quick to point out that there's one VERY important thing that makes their dog quite beautiful - there are no longer wolves...in Ireland!
Glocks aren't so bad, they have a very no nonsense practical look to them. Of course, that makes a Glock about exciting to me as a hammer or a socket wrench. But they do their job, and that's why Glocks have stuck around.
It's Berettas recent stuff that I hate. The PX4 Storms, the 90-Two, the CX4, the new Nano, and especially the Neos! Beretta has made some great looking guns over the years (even if they aren't my cup of tea), and it seems like they gave that up to build guns that look like they came from a cheap sci-fi flick.
It's Berettas recent stuff that I hate. The PX4 Storms, the 90-Two, the CX4, the new Nano, and especially the Neos! Beretta has made some great looking guns over the years (even if they aren't my cup of tea), and it seems like they gave that up to build guns that look like they came from a cheap sci-fi flick.
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Rail Driver
Member
Ooh... American Wolfhound... Is there one?
Back to the OP, personally while I like the more "classic" styling in guns (I carry a Colt 1911), I don't mind ugly either... It's a gun... It doesn't have to be pretty when you think about the fact that it's purpose is somewhat ugly.
My long guns are AK pattern guns (12ga and 7.62x39) and a Mosin Nagant M44... Those guns have never been accused of being pretty, and they're by no means a new design. The Glock was introduced ~30 years ago... Wanna talk about ugly? Look up pictures of a Mateba or a Webley revolver. There are many examples of ugly guns, and they're definitely NOT all newer designs.
For whatever reason, the fad for the last few years has been for mall-ninja-high-speed-low-drag-tactical-SWAT-let's-pretend-we're-all-Delta-Force ugly. There is some practical use in being able to attach a light and/or laser, but a quick look at the advertising in the gun publications (not to mention the proliferation of SWAT/M&P/Combat/etc. titles among them) shows what is this decade's Rubik's cubes and lava lamps.
Personally, I don't need a mounting rail, vertical foregrip, or combination flashlight/red dot/scope/laser/cappuccino maker on my pistols.
YMMV...
Personally, I don't need a mounting rail, vertical foregrip, or combination flashlight/red dot/scope/laser/cappuccino maker on my pistols.
YMMV...
earthworm
Member
Glocks,Springfield XDs & the S&W M-38 Bodyguard (the old camelback shrouded hammer model) are all ugly. AND THEY ALL WORK!!!
fatcat4620
Member
When the latest and greatest is ugly and you start talking about the classics... whats that saying again- if the music is to loud your to old.
Ghost Tracker
Member
Steely Dan & Carlos Santana can NOT be played too loud. P. Diddy & Snoop Dog can't be played...quiet enough!
Plan2Live
Member
Maybe it's a result of function over form philosophy. It's a tool so as long it works great for the intended purpose then that's fine for me. I just wish the market would swing back to DA/SA exposed hammers.
Captains1911
Member
I'll take an ugly gun that works over a pretty one that doesn't any day. People need to spend more time shooting and less time debating the aesthetics of firearms.
FIVETWOSEVEN
Member
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- Aug 28, 2009
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- 5,146
Different strokes for different folks. I've for the most part just see guns as guns and don't bother debating ugliness unless it REALLY stands out. That's my take on things. I know my XD can't compete with the looks of a 1911 but I don't see it as ugly.
wildehond
Member
I like the look of a Glock.
1. Form follows function.
2. Make it as simple as possible and no simpler.
1. Form follows function.
2. Make it as simple as possible and no simpler.
NinjaFeint
Member
I like the look of Glocks, clean and no nonsense. I don't like the look of xd's or some of the other polymer pistols that have a bit more going on.
I still like the look of a 1911 better but I think a simple black gun has a nice look to it as well.
I still like the look of a 1911 better but I think a simple black gun has a nice look to it as well.
GunnyUSMC
Member
Ugly guns are nothing new, even all black ugly guns. I have two of these.
1942 Enfield No 2 Mk 1**
1942 Enfield No 2 Mk 1**
Fatcat4620 hit the bullseye. I'm too old, and don't I lnow it. That's why I look at the guns more than shoot them. There are some compensations....The 18 year old cuties look as good as they ever did, and now the fifty somethings are beginning to look pretty good too. And they don't need any accessory rails or flash hiders either.
Fishslayer
Member
Every now & again somebody comes along & raises (lowers?) the bar...
My Webley is just about as ugly as that hammerless Enfield up there - the birdshead grip doesn't help it much. I personally think the Tokarev takes the cake though, to me it looks like something a 5th grader would draw. Anything with colored paint (pink camo Rugers come to mind) is pretty bad too.
BCRider
Member
There's ugly and then there's purposely simple. A Glock, while I don't care for them, is purposely simple. And that simplicity of line does have a certain appeal to it. There's nothing there that doesn't have to be or that serves no function.
On the other hand the confused collection of angles, cuts and surface changes on the Walter P22 and on the new Ruger SR22 are not there for any sort of purpose.
Such styling seems more suggestive of the Transformer toys. I'd almost expect to be able to take them out of the box and with a few twists to make a walk around handgun size mini robot.
My limit on useless ostentation of this sort is when they put gripping areas on the front areas of 1911 slides or change from straight line serrations to fish scale things. Even those make me gag a little..... AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON RAILS FOR HANDGUNS ! ! ! !
On the other hand the confused collection of angles, cuts and surface changes on the Walter P22 and on the new Ruger SR22 are not there for any sort of purpose.
Such styling seems more suggestive of the Transformer toys. I'd almost expect to be able to take them out of the box and with a few twists to make a walk around handgun size mini robot.
My limit on useless ostentation of this sort is when they put gripping areas on the front areas of 1911 slides or change from straight line serrations to fish scale things. Even those make me gag a little..... AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON RAILS FOR HANDGUNS ! ! ! !
Fishslayer
Member
The new Ruger actually has serrations on the back of the trigger...
Don357
Member
The 3 ugliest guns ever are #1 Glock, #2 Highpoint pistols ( I could live with a carbine) and #3 The one pointing at me!
Krogen
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- Dec 29, 2010
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- 318
It needs an ACOG.....Every now & again somebody comes along & raises (lowers?) the bar...
mdThanatos
Member
With the rails I imagine someone adding much more than an ACOG
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