Why Are New Guns Ugly?

[Billy Shears]

Perhaps we'll see beautiful guns again one day. They won't be beautiful in the same way, since the age of all steel, and of highly polished blue and nickel finishes is probably gone for good. But design trends change. I've already made reference to the non-functional contours, added as styling elements, in designs like the Beretta Storm and the S&W M&P. Eventually the trend will probably go away from that and toward something else.

As I said, design trends change. Think of automobiles, for example. Cars were beautiful things, right from their birth, up to the late sixties/early seventies (though chrome and tailfins did go overboard on many cars in the fifties). But about the mid-sixties, cars started to become bland looking, both inside and out. By the mid seventies, they were bloody awful, and stayed that way all through the eighties and into the nineties. There are exceptions, of course, but think of the dreary boxes most cars were in the eighties. And even if they're not the works of art they were before the mid-sixties, they have improved immeasurably over what were in showrooms just a few years ago.

Maybe guns will get better looking eventually as well.

 

[mustang_steve]

I found some of the 80s cars quite beautiful...the 81 Buick Regal Limited was a rather attractive car, as was it's alter-ego, the Grand National....same could be said for the Monte Carlo SS, as well as the Nissan 300ZX and Toyota Supra. the Corvette of that era was gorgeous as well...and we can't forget the Trans-Am (I still want one with a giant golden bird logo on the hood, wanted one since I was two years old and had a toy one that I refused to go anywhere without).

The thing was, cars of that era went through what firearms are now, a phase of utilitarian design. Function was the name of the game back then, and it showed. A handful of cars got some flavor, but the rest were in fact pretty bland. We did have the 40MPG k-cars, and other econo-boxes (1st gen Honda CRX for example) which some of us probably wish we had right about now.

Notice they've been making a great return to form lately.....firearms will too, of course it will be different as well, since the tastes have changed in that amount of time.

 

[archigos]

Not gonna lie - I only buy guns that I find attractive (aside from that Hi-Point, but that was for price alone). Ironically, most of my guns are polymer. I *love* the looks of both my Px4 Storm and my S&W M&P.
Though, to argue with the beauty of a nice 1911 is futile.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

The problem also has found its way into car designs. I've been car shopping lately and the designers have made the cars so low to the ground that I can't wait until the next snow storm hits.

Hmmm, and here I am unhappy with how TALL every car is anymore. Not the truck/suv/crossovers, but the "sedans" that are nearly as tall as my g/f's S10. Most sedans are at/over 5 feet tall and even the Corvette has grown to over 4 feet tall. The new Corvettes are only four or so inches lower than a classic Cadillac I own.

I think you are speaking of ground clearance though. My daily driver has been lowered and the front air dam is ~3.5" off the ground. Sure, I will get in trouble with over 6" of snow on the ground but three Mi winters hasn't given me much trouble. Just FWD and good all season tires.


Oh, back to the real topic... There are plenty of traditionally styled guns still available. Yes, the wood and blued rifles cost more so maybe the gun shops around you don't stock them as often? They are going to stock what sells and if most of the gun buyers want black plastic, then they will get what they want. This is why I love going to a antique and milsurp gun show in my area. Almost no plastic to be seen. Lots of blued steel, brass, wood. Lever guns, revolvers, muzzleloaders, flintlocks, etc. Not much there newer than WWII era. I agree that the average gun show has more plastic than I like to see though.

 

[sonick808]

it's one thing to have a preference, it's entirely another to be myopic about the whole thing. Stalwarts: loosen up

I'm a Glockster AND a Cruffler. Yes you can do both.

 

[CSA 357]

i think they are in a contest to see who can make the uglyest one! and still sell it?

 

[Tacbandit]

Actually...all guns are ugly...!!! OK...wait...before you all start flaming me for that, remember this.. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There's always somebody that will find any particular gun "ugly". Just their opinion, but they're entitled to it, just as you are with yours. What we really have to remember is that a gun is a tool, in design, whether it's for defense, or for food(hunting), or whatever. We go overboard with perception...While we may be concerned about how our gun "looks", let's try looking at this from another perspective... Example...for the purpose of self defense, regardless of the caliber we choose, the important thing is that when we pull the trigger, the bullet needs to be headed down range toward target, correct...??? The fired round has become "all important"...Do you really think that round gives a rats pa-tooty about about what the gun looks like that just fired it...??? Or the BG that you just shot...??? Does he care whether your gun is "ugly" or not... As for me, I don't want to be shot with an "ugly" gun...or any other gun, for that matter. Why do we put so much emphasis on "steel" vs "plastic", "ugly" vs "pretty". Why don't we just buy what we're happy with, and not worry about whether somebody else buys an "ugly" gun, or thinks our gun is ugly... So what's my point to this rant...??? Be happy with your gun...and let others be happy with theirs, whether it's a Glock or a Kimber...I've bought both, and I don't regret it...By the way...that's an ugly gun you've got.... LOL
Let's not take ourselves too seriously...Me included...!!! Laugh a little,
Tac

 

[Tacbandit]

Quote:
"I'm a Glockster AND a Cruffler. Yes you can do both."

lol....That's great!

 

[bob.a]

Goes right along with the Decline of the West. Pretty much everything is getting uglier these days: we're going to have to drive little electric roller-skate cars, our lakes and streams are invaded by non-native species that are wrecking ecosystems, the water supply (and lakes and rivers) are polluted with prescription-drug residues, most jobs are exported to slave-labor camps masquerading as nations.

Just too many people around. We need war, famine, plague and pestilence to get things back in shape again. The good news is that we'll be getting there.

Maybe I'm too pessimistic. It's entirely possible that the times were always ugly. But they sure made some pretty firearms in the first half of the 20tth century. (IMO, of course).

 

[BikerNut]

Man some of you old fuddy-duddies need to step into the new millenium!

Styles change, do you still wear skinny ties and John Deere ball caps?

I like the look of some of the new designs.

I'm an artist first and a shooter second, so the first thing I consider in a gun is the form and visual balance and congruence of line and shape.

I realize that prizing form over function can be a stupid determinant factor when it comes to guns, but there it is.

That said, I've never met a Walther -- old or new-- that I didn't like. Many have bitten and bled me, but I still liked them.

 

[mcdonl]

Personally, I do not apply labels such as pretty or ugly to my guns... I am all ready married, and have no intention of getting intimate with any of them...

I like them to be reliable, accurate and affordable. I guess I am a guy who likes guns, not a gun guy.

I purchase everything FOR ME that way. If buying for my wife or daughters, I take their sensibilities into account and purchase accordingly, but me... I do not consider what something looks like if it is not something I am buying just to look at.

I have other passions, such as motorcycles... I ride a goldwing because after 30 years of trying everything, I found the one that is reliable, powerful and affordable... well.. affordable is up for debate but you can keep all of your chrome, and crap like that... aesthetics are just not that important to me.

And, as far as what everyone else thinks of my guns and motorcycles... don't much care about that either.

Maybe it is because of my chiseled good looks. I can make a TT-33 look good but anyway... silly if you ask me... Maybe I just have better things to worry about.

I do however like my fire truck to look good. Other than fighting fires, it is also a piece of town equipment that is shown in parades, etc... so.. therefor it matters that it looks good.

And, as far as the materials go... is it possible that the new materials are simply BETTER then good old fashion steel? Is it even a little possible?

 

[easyg]

Some folks have the silly notion that wood scales and blued steel make an weapon beautiful.

Heck, I had a Poly-Tech AKS with wood and blued steel.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I let Hogue give my Sig a little help:

 

[Oyeboten]

A lot of this is superficial style trends, which have very little to do with function.

Electric Power Tools pretty well all became absurd looking over the last couple decades, where, at one time, they were earnest, clean lines, and in many cases virtually elegent in their way.

The golden era of these in my opinion, was when they were still made of Sand Castings for the Bodys, and well machined internals, Hand wound Armatures when Electric, etc.

So, this happened with Guns also, superficial style gimmicks for the times, or for the guided tastes of the times.


.40 S&W is not even a warmed over 38-40 WFC of 1874 far as power or reach, yet everyone is all gaga over it...and is there a reason the Guns for it have to look as they do?

No reason at all, other than superficial gimmicks of transient style, in lieu of respectable earnest.


As for me, the things I like in any catagories, tend to fall of fast after FDR...


I like the Internet...and after that, I can't think of more one thing to add for making a list, as far as 2010 goes.


Prior to FDR, virtually everything one would see or use in every day Life, to me, seem very tasteful, well thought out, well made, and in many cases 'beautiful'.

Guns particularly...

 

[Weevil]

You mean those old classics like the Astra?






Or perhaps that art deco classic from the '30s the Nambu 94.

Yeah today's pistols don't hold a candle to the classics!

 

[Oyeboten]

...as a generality...not as an absolute.

Nor do I recall the 'Astra' having been an American Arm...and, if mistakenly, I was thinking of our Culture, not Europe or anywhere else, whose Artefacts of the time, generally were far less appealing to Americans of the time, than now.

 

[easyg]

A lot of this is superficial style trends, which have very little to do with function.

So, this happened with Guns also, superficial style gimmicks for the times, or for the guided tastes of the times.

.40 S&W is not even a warmed over 38-40 WFC of 1874 far as power or reach, yet everyone is all gaga over it...and is there a reason the Guns for it have to look as they do?

No reason at all, other than superficial gimmicks of transient style, in lieu of respectable earnest.

You make a very good point.
And this is why I think that Glocks actually look good.
They don't have any superficial gimmicks, just everything you need, and nothing that you don't need.

 

[Fastcast]

And this is why I think that Glocks actually look good.
They don't have any superficial gimmicks, just everything you need, and nothing that you don't need.

LMAO...... ......Some people have no taste!

 

[easyg]

LMAO.....Some people have no taste!

Now that's just jealousy talking.

 

[Fastcast]

LOL

Now that's just jealousy talking.

PRETTY ARTISTIC



PRETTY UGLY

 

[Confederate]

Thanks for the many replies. And though I fully acknowledgethe reliability (and soulless nature) of Glocks, as Fiv3r noted, I believe the entire handgun industry is headed for "soulless" for pure economic reasons.

It seems as though the only fine steel autos being produced these days are 1911 clones. Just about all others are plastic. S&W no longer produces their fine 3rd generation autos because they'd have to charge over a grand for each of them. And the retail price of their 686s already is close to a grand, and that's after they've cut enough corners to make the bloody things round! They're still forged, but they've got unattractive MIM parts, tacked on front sights, obtrsive locks and the stainless models look like they've been finished with sandpaper! And two years from now they'll cost you over a grand to add one to your collection.

To younger shooters, this most likely will be just the way things are. Pundits say inflation in the U.S. and Europe is still low, but this just isn't the case for products not made in China. In truth, inflation for non-Chinese made items seems to be rising precipitously.

There's no craftsmanship coming out of China, and Chinese toys and pottery would be laced with lead and other toxins if we weren't watching them like hawks!

I fear the next generation will be quite different than that of the "boomers." Good quality handguns I suppose will be fuctional, but...er...soulless. And I suspect they'll be expensive, too.

 

[.378 Wby]

Yeah, well -- that "sandpaper finish" on stainless is "matte" and non glare. They're coming up with stainless in matte black now. I like it.

I like a steel frame, stainless but blued or Parkerized works too. I just purchased a rifle in stainless w/ a synthetic stock. Much more practical than wood and blued steel.

If you want "traditional design," get into trap shooting. But even the trap guns are going high-tech.

EasyG --
You make a very good point.
And this is why I think that Glocks actually look good.
They don't have any superficial gimmicks, just everything you need, and nothing that you don't need.

Never mind, fat, blocky, top heavy, front heavy, and a squishy trigger . . . I'd really like to be able to get a pinky grip on the G27.

I'd NEVER wear a tie with a John Deer cap!

 

[devildog32713]

there's too much focus on ergonomics and fancy doo-dads that take away from the beauty of it IMHO

 

[devildog32713]

Glocks are beautiful

 

[easyg]

Never mind, fat, blocky, top heavy, front heavy,...

You just described a 1911 and most Sigs, and a few HKs too.

Besides, Glocks are not top heavy nor front heavy when they have a loaded magazine in side them.

...and a squishy trigger . . .

Yeah, it's a little squishy, but it makes for fast and accurate shooting.

I'd really like to be able to get a pinky grip on the G27.

You can always get an extended magazine, but then you sacrifice a little "ease of concealment".