Are many people more interested in how their gun looks than how it functions

[Phaedrus/69]

I sure don't see the harm in making your firearms look nice. Personally I admire the looks of a lot of guns but I care more about performance. Nothing in my collection is fancy and one two are even made of steel (an old Ruger MkI and my BHP). I own more HKs than any other brand and while I think they're pretty sexy most people wouldn't say they're much to look at.

 

[Tanshanomi]

True Confession:

I want a Savage 1917 — not because I really want a .32 auto, or because I think it will do anything any better than any of the guns I already own, but just because they're such pretty little pieces of metal sculpture.

 

[OilyPablo]

There is something oddly cool about that. I find SBR AR-15s and most anything with a walnut stock pleasing to the eye so what do I know? I just keep striving for both function and form.

 

[Officers'Wife]

I think the Webley 455 revolver is way way way uglier. The Scott has a Teutonic manly aesthetic in its boxiness.

I realize there is no questioning a matter of taste but have you ever fired a 455? One of Dad's employees was a true master of that particular flavor of handgun. When he and Dad were at the range with their revolvers everybody with any kind of ego boxed their weapons and went home!

 

[Thermactor]

I realize there is no questioning a matter of taste but have you ever fired a 455? One of Dad's employees was a true master of that particular flavor of handgun. When he and Dad were at the range with their revolvers everybody with any kind of ego boxed their weapons and went home!

Alas, I've never laid eyes on one in person, much less fired one. So I take it, that it's a sweet-shooting gun? Perhaps that goes a ways in redeeming it!

 

[NoVA Shooter]

IMO, most people, new, old, people on this board, etc... care about the way a good looks at some level. As many people have said, in this day and age, you can find such a variety that fit the 'function' part of the equation, that it comes down to other factors such as looks and cost (even if it at a very basic level of stainless vs blued or walnut vs cherry grips).

Now, as to the OP, from my experience, I would say no, most new shooter are not enamored more by what the firearm looks like rather than what it's capability's are. It may play a bigger role for a new shoot that a 'old' shoot, but I still don't think it carries more weight that function.

We were all new to guns at one point. Can any of us really say at that point in our lives (whenever that was) looks did not play a part?

And for the record, I've bought a couple guns simply because of their looks. They weren't for defense (home or carry), or because they shot well, but simply for the 'neat' factor.

 

[Tanshanomi]

I jokingly tell people that I'm a gun collector who likes to get out his collection and play with it, rather than a shooting enthusiast who has lots of guns.

 

[Sol]

You wouldn't mind if your wife or girlfriend wore a skirt and high heels on a rough winter day to go to a resteraunt.

But you may care if she chose to wear those things if you are going to take a camping trip or a nature hike.

It's ok to have a shiny engraved piece of garbage that doesn't function as long as you don't carry it going somewhere you may actually need it.

I guess what I'm saying is; have a backup that works.

That 1911 that looks like the bees knees is cool to have at the neighborhood barbeque, your neighbors don't know that it has feeding problems and there is almost a 100% chance you won't need it.

On the other hand, you wouldn't want to bring that same gun to a rough or unfamiliar neighborhood, you would bring your trusty Glock*.


*Not endorsing Glock or saying that they all are guaranteed to work. In fact I don't own any Glock products.

 

[M-Cameron]

That 1911 that looks like the bees knees is cool to have at the neighborhood barbeque, your neighbors don't know that it has feeding problems and there is almost a 100% chance you won't need it.

On the other hand, you wouldn't want to bring that same gun to a rough or unfamiliar neighborhood, you would bring your trusty Glock*.

see....ide just fix the 1911 and carry a nice gun that is reliable....

but i like to keep things simple....so i carry a revolver.....which is nicer to look at, and more reliable than your 'trusty' glock......

 

[george burns]

There are those who do that kind of thing in order to evoke a reaction. "The scantily dressed girlfriend, or the tricked out 1911". Just for the attention that it brings. And sometimes the problems that come along with doing that.
Not to get too esthetical, but some just acquire things for their beauty.
Again, there is nothing wrong with doing so if you are able and are just into it for the looks or art as it were, Some guns are works of art, and the functional part is secondary to them.
I am just thinking out loud here, as many people collect watches cars etc, that may in fact never even use them, just collect, now that I think about them in that perspective.
Kind of like when you met that pretty girl, you didn't ask her if she cooked well in the beginning or could sew that hole in your pocket, in a sense why should this be any different.
Ideally it would be nice if she did everything as good as she looked. Maybe a better question would have been, what do you consider a good looking gun? Next time.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Kind of like when you met that pretty girl, you didn't ask her if she cooked well in the beginning or could sew that hole in your pocket, in a sense why should this be any different.
Ideally it would be nice if she did everything as good as she looked. Maybe a better question would have been, what do you consider a good looking gun? Next time.

I don't know, once when I was trying to study in a nice sunny patch of grass this clumsy oaf was paying more attention to a stupid football than where he was going and tripped over me. He immediately asked if I carried any deadly weapons.

 

[Officers'Wife]

While there are some that may want to buy the beauty queens, it would appear there are also ppl out that will pay big big bucks for the true ugly ducklings. They don't get much uglier than this!

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/9137610#

 

[larryh1108]

I think that new, "un-gun educated" buyers may drift towards the cute or pocket-sized guns due to how they look versus their practical application. Many others gravitate towards the guns they "use" on their video games because they are cool or tacticool. Many also buy guns they see their favorite characters use in the movies. All the wrong reasons to buy, IMO.

A 1911 can be perfectly reliable, no matter what many think. I know, I have several. They are also beautiful guns as well.

I don't think very many people think a Browning Hi Power is not a great looking gun but they are usually dead-on reliable as well.

S&W revolvers are as beautiful as they come and I don't hear many knock their reliability. The same with Colt revolvers. Guns don't have to cost thousands to be both beautiful and 100% reliable. I think most of our "non-tool" guns are purchased because we like how they look. Looks and reliability do not have to be mutually exclusive.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

That sir, is sig line worthy.

Personally, I'm not an aesthetics guy. I prefer functionality over appearances, especially in my carry and HD guns. Even my knock around hunting guns are pretty plain.

I don't have any guns I'd consider pretty, or pimpin'

I was laughing while I typed it. I don't know why, it just made me chuckle.

 

[valnar]

I love pretty guns. Why not? Makes me want to take care of them more, as a matter of pride. If a gun looked like a shovel (cough.. Glock), I'd probably treat it that way. No different than somebody owning a Mustang or Harley. You'll want to take care of a piece of Art.

That being said, all the pretty guns I have are functional. I wouldn't buy one otherwise. And I'd venture to say most of the well made "pretty" guns are at the top of their food chains. I think most of the bad guns out there aren't very pretty anyway.

 

[MIL-DOT]

... more interested in how their gun looks than how it functions ?

Not an hour ago, I ordered a set of some very nice looking rosewood grips, that I didn't at all need, or need to blow good money on.
But, they're going on a CZ75BD, so I guess my answer is..........BOTH ?

 

[wojownik]

When I was a new shooter, I honestly was looking at both form and function. I wanted reliability and accuracy in handguns that had the right ergonomics, and frankly also looked nice. 30+ years later, I still look for all those attributes.

I think the Webley 455 revolver is way way way uglier. The Scott has a Teutonic manly aesthetic in its boxiness.

yeah, if you mean the aesthetic of the iron age Teutons ...

 

[Ignition Override]

Yes- In the case of the Special Service Grade M-1. Have not put any grease on it, or used it.

It was bought only in case my grown son one day gets bitten by the gun bug. But also because it's nice to own more than a single Garand.

Now that much reading has revealed that the new, collector-grade Makarov is an E. German, it will be admired more than used, with a DA trigger as smooth as my new Sig 232.

 

[ranger56528]

I don't realy care what the weapon looks like as long as it does the job I got it for then looks comes second.

 

[CajunBass]

I hate to see a "beat up" gun. Not a well used one. A beat up one. I watched a U-tube video that showed a fellow tossing a new bolt action rifle onto the ground over and over. I suppose that he was trying to show how tough the rifle was. IMHO, well, I won't say what I thought. It's his property and he can do as he pleases with it. I just wouldn't buy it from him.

I've owned a lot of old revolvers that were well worn. They have a certain beauty all their own. I still have a couple.

This one, an old Model 19, shows a lot of wear and tear.



But if I can spend a few hours with some stuff and a rag, and it looks like this.



Well, I don't see anything wrong with that. It shoots just fine either way.

And to tell you the truth, I look at my guns a lot more than I shoot them.

 

[mikey98e]

I don't collect any firearms. I buy tools that I feel I need. I don't baby any but I also don't beat the heck out of them.
The handguns that I have are for carrying or target shooting. Only one is a safe queen. It's a 1935 Luger that my Dad brought back as a war trophy. I shot 2 boxes of bullets through it when I got it from him 40 years ago and haven't shot it since.
I use the rifles and shotguns for hunting. They may have a few nicks in the stocks but that gives them character.
-mike

 

[JAB]

I guess Im middle of the road here. I want my carry gun to be all about function. But I like guns and certainly lust over some that are strictly for there looks. I have been shooting since I was a kid, so cant really speak of my first gun, but my first pistol purchase as an adualt was based on price and looks. At the time I was looking for a black poly lower, stainless upper looking modern pistol. For whatever reason thats what I was into. I did not really know what function I was looking for as I had no idea of the options. Found a taurus pt111 milpro for a steal and it was the first defensive style pistol I purchased myself....After that I started shooting, training, researching, educating myself on trigger options(da/da/sa etc), striker or hammer, etc etc and learned what was really important to me based on the purpose of the gun, and bought others. Some for the sa trigger at the range, some strictly for sd functionality(no safety, da, small and lightweight with hi cap....), and some, just because they are so darn pretty!!

 

[SArcher]

Give me reliability coughGLOCKcough over a 1911 any day of the week. Any day of this last century and forward.

 

[SArcher]

.....double post

 

[scythefwd]

most beautiful gun ever to me.. and my favorite in my meager collection



Its been 100% reliable, accurate enough that I cant outshoot it (thats really not saying much..). I have guns many would consider prettier, but this is a thing of beauty. The pic is poor, and its dark.. the finish on it is roughly 60%.