How much does aesthetics matter to you in buying a gun?

[MadTownPrepper]

Of course quality, reliability, accuracy, comfortable grip, etc are all very important when choosing a firearm. But how much weight do you put into looks? I have to admit, it's a big factor with me. I've passed on some Ruger and all Glock models because I don't like the way they look. Is that a bad thing? I still go for quality, reliability, accuracy, comfortable grip and have that in my Springfield and Smith and Wesson semiautos. I have to admit looks did factor into my decision. Does it matter to you?

[LDBennett]

MadTownPrepper:

When buying one of your first guns it often is price that determines the choice. But once I had a couple, the looks was the thing after the quality, fit & finish, expected reliability, and caliber. I have never bought an ugly gun or a pot metal gun or a plastic pistol. A few of my guns might be unusual in appearance but most caught my eye for their good appearance.

My collection of shooters has few repeats in caliber. I have strived to have and shoot a good cross section of all the caliber available so it has been choosing a caliber that started the gun selection process, usually. Then there are guns that just happened along, caught my eye and I bought, like my S&W Model 52 and the new 7/8 scaled Browning 1911 in 22LR as well as my Winchester pump 22 and a refinished Winchester 1892 in 357Mag (made from 32-20 barreled gun some time in the 1950's by a previous owner). Looks are important to me!

LDBennett

[todd51]

Prepper,

When the gun bug first bit me years ago it was probably "looks" that was the major determining factor in what I bought. I have always liked "bling". Almost all my "fun" guns I have purchased because their "look" was very pleasing to me. When it comes to carry/defense guns I have changed over the years and now all three of my guns in that category fall into the ugly/plastic group. My Glock 19 is butt ugly but it is light weight and I still say it is the easiest to shoot well pistol I ever picked up, but ugly it is. My Ruger LCR in .38 spl. is again light weight but it sure won't win any beauty contest. I just added a tiny Ruger LCR in .380 acp. and again an ugly/plastic gun.
But if you will look in the safe you will see the beautiful Smith revolvers and semi autos of a few years back when they made very nice looking pistols. I have a Ruger MK III Hunter and I must admit that "looks" was the only reason I got that one. I am a complete sucker when it comes to a nickle plated Smith and Wesson revolver with nice wood grips.

[flboots]

Looks are good. I look first at cost. what I'm using it for. Than reviews of the weapon from others who bought that type of gun. Besides if I do get into something where I have to turn in my gun for evidence. I rather turn in a $300 gun vice a $1200 gun.

[al45lc]

I rate aesthetics about third overall, reliability and performance take 1st and 2nd.
My friend had a Weatherby that was simply beautiful, but couldn't hold 3" at 100 yards no matter the load. Worthless.
Kinda like a lovely wife that doesn't like you, can't cook, and is lazy.

[LDBennett]

Where I am today (with many, many guns) it seems that only the $1000+ guns are interesting anymore. I seem to recoil at the cheapy guns and just love the finer guns. But I am not into custom guns, engraved, or extremely highly finished guns. The most expensive gun I have ever bought was about $1200 and I have only a couple of those. But many of the guns I bought years ago today would be in that class even though I did not pay near that for them back then. I have upper cost limits, it seems, even though I could afford a couple of the guns in the excess of $2000 class I choose to avoid them and find it hard to see the value in those at that price point and above. But we all get to choose!

LDBennett

[Alpo]

Life's too short to shoot an ugly gun.

A Rhino, for example. Might be the best thing that has ever happened to guns. But God that thing's ugly. I won't have one.

Plastic guns are ugly. Blocky guns are ugly.

Now, some guns are so ugly they're cute. A Webley, for example. But they are "cugly" - cute ugly.

Rhinos and Glocks and Ruger centerfire semiautos and just about all HKs and ARs and... - they're fugly.

[carver]

I'm in the same camp as al45lc. I don't buy anything because it looks good. First thing I do is to determine what I want that caliber for. Then look at the reliability, and performance of the firearm. It does not have to be the most accurate firearm I own, it just has to do it's job when called upon. I have three of the AK style weapons, and not a single one of them will turn in groups under 3", they weren't meant to. But they shoot everytime I pull the trigger, and no malfunctions! My desire one day is to own a S&W in .44spcl, a good used one will cost me $600 - $700, but they are beautiful guns. The old Bull Dog from Charter Arms in .44spcl, that I do own, will do any thing the S&W will do, it's just no where near as purty!

[MSGT-R]

Originally Posted by Alpo

Life's too short to shoot an ugly gun.

A Rhino, for example. Might be the best thing that has ever happened to guns. But God that thing's ugly. I won't have one.

Plastic guns are ugly. Blocky guns are ugly.

Now, some guns are so ugly they're cute. A Webley, for example. But they are "cugly" - cute ugly.

Rhinos and Glocks and Ruger centerfire semiautos and just about all HKs and ARs and... - they're fugly.

Yup, it's pretty bad that my 1911 is less bulky and ugly than a Glock.

[Zane71464]

I've bought and have rifles, handguns and etc.. I consider price when looking and name brands that have stood the test of time.
Number 1 for me, it has to "feel" right weather it's holding in my hand or shouldered.
And if "it" isnt reasonably accurate from the factory, somethings gottta give weather I make it happen or it wont do the "trick or it's gotta go.

My carry gun, it has to feel spot on and it has to shoot equally as well...aint no exceptions and dont really care what it looks like. (plastic or metal)
Has to fit the "bill" for me.

[pickenup]

Over the years, I have bought some firearms "because" of their looks. Some just look good hanging on the wall.

But for shooters, I go with fit and function. If it doesn't do what I want it to do, I don't care how good it looks.

[Airborneguy]

For me it's:

1. Function
2. Need
3. Looks
4. Tactical considerations
5. Price

I care a lot about the looks of a firearm, although I must admit that I cannot really explain why. I suppose I'm just like that. But that said, the function it will provide me and the need come first. I don't buy guns "just because" because I've always looked at my guns as tools.

[soundguy]

new guns? i want them to be new looking.

nowthen.. I'ma C&R collector.. and when I'm going after a specific piece.. if the units available are scarce.. you take what you can get.

i will say that I'd prefer an un-refinished piece over one that has worn original finish..e tc. I especially despise noe or non aresenal re-painted metal.. and poly-u on stocks.

I'm also not a fan of defacing a military arm by sporterizing it.


for a shooter.. I like good intat metal and wood. can have some dings.. but i'd rather not have a boat oar.

[Fast Forward]

There are some Guns out there that have that (Skank) beauty to them ,,Nagants,,CZ52s and some that Have that Marilyn Monroe Appeal, Form and Function ,,Model 29s ,,Pythons my S&W 1911,,I think my favorites are the ones I own that needed that trip to the salon to bring out their beauty

[nmckenzie]

I've bought several firearms because of their aesthetics as well as function; Ruger .416 Rigby, Whitworth .375 H&H, original series (faux case hardened) Ruger .45 Colt Vaqueros, and so forth, but one of my primary interests is WW1 arms, some of which are simply gawd-awful ugly, but they still look great in their own way - sort of the Shar-Peis (ugly dogs) of the arms world I suppose. In between the ugly and beautiful are the average; WW1 Lugers & Mausers, Mosins, Enfields, Winchesters, Savage 1899s, USGIs, etc. Other firearms have been purchased primarily to fill a specific niche - HBAR, 870 Police Gun, and so forth.

[howlnmad]

I own a Hi-Point.


Nuff said

[nmckenzie]

Originally Posted by MSGT-R

Yup, it's pretty bad that my 1911 is less bulky and ugly than a Glock.

1911s are things of beauty. We have five nesting in our safe. I know there are folks who love 'em, but to me a Glock kinda looks like it sounds - GLOCK!

[WHSmithIV]

All my guns have to look good AND be excellent with function. I agree that I do not want an ugly gun and I also stay away from polymer pistols - and pot metal. I'm just old fashioned though - I think guns should be made of metal. I don't mind composite stocks on rifles though and I don't even mind plastics on AR's or AK's. I don't consider an AK to be ugly though either. My absolute favorite is my .45 and it always will be. In the long guns I'm going to have a problem choosing between my Marlin lever action 30/30 and the .303 sporterized 1945 Enfield I just bought as my favorite.

[nmckenzie]

Originally Posted by WHSmithIV

My absolute favorite is my .45 and it always will be. In the long guns I'm going to have a problem choosing between my Marlin lever action 30/30 and the .303 sporterized 1945 Enfield I just bought as my favorite.

As far as handguns go, it's my 1911 - period. My deer rifle's an Enfield .303, and my better half's is a Marlin lever action. She's an Idaho girl, by the way.

[vytoland]

looks = little to none

[WHSmithIV]

Originally Posted by nmckenzie

As far as handguns go, it's my 1911 - period. My deer rifle's an Enfield .303, and my better half's is a Marlin lever action. She's an Idaho girl, by the way.

Guess you and I would get along just great!

Do you two come back to Idaho to visit periodically? If you do, my wife and I will invite you to a BBQ. We're in the Lost River Valley.

[nmckenzie]

Originally Posted by WHSmithIV

Guess you and I would get along just great!

Do you two come back to Idaho to visit periodically? If you do, my wife and I will invite you to a BBQ. We're in the Lost River Valley.

Her family's at two extremes of the state, part up north in Kootenai County, the rest down in the Meridian area. Might be heading to Idaho come August for a family reunion, so will let you know. Many thanks for the invite!

[WHSmithIV]

Originally Posted by nmckenzie

Her family's at two extremes of the state, part up north in Kootenai County, the rest down in the Meridian area. Might be heading to Idaho come August for a family reunion, so will let you know. Many thanks for the invite!

You're more than welcome. If neither of you have ever been to Craters of the Moon it's worth the trip. Craters is 18 miles from us.

[nmckenzie]

Originally Posted by WHSmithIV

You're more than welcome. If neither of you have ever been to Craters of the Moon it's worth the trip. Craters is 18 miles from us.

Just Googled Craters. Wow! I've never been there, but she has - says she was caught in the Mother of All Thunderstorms while there. Must've been quite an experience considering the terrain. It'll definitely be on our to-do schedule if we make it to Idaho come August. Will keep you advised.

[WHSmithIV]

Originally Posted by nmckenzie

Just Googled Craters. Wow! I've never been there, but she has - says she was caught in the Mother of All Thunderstorms while there. Must've been quite an experience considering the terrain. It'll definitely be on our to-do schedule if we make it to Idaho come August. Will keep you advised.

Well, you will be most welcome and we can all go out shooting also. The 'de'facto' range is just about a mile from our home. Granted, we can shoot in our front yard if we want to - We have a nice tree stump I use for testing

Do you have anything that fires 7.62 x 39? I traded my SKS for a Citadel 1911 .45 a year ago then I got some armor piercing 7.62 ammo that will punch a clear hole through 1/4" steel plate. I'd love to test it. I can get some steel plate also

You know, when my wife and I moved here from Finland 18 months ago we had actually started by looking in Alaska for a home. It didn't really matter where we went. My wife simply wanted to live in the mountains. Wherever we went I was simply going to start a new business - I fix computers. She is terrified of the heights though. When her kids came last summer I took the truck up to the King's Mountain hang glider launch point. Kat held onto the door for dear life figuring she would fall off the mountain!

We also looked at New Zealand and Switzerland as options. I'm a US Citizen and a Navy vet so her green card was automatic (it did cost over $1000 though - embassy fees, medical exams, chest x-rays). We brought our two Finnish Lapphunds with us and importing them cost less than Kat's green card! We chose the Rockies because it was the logical and most viable choice.