Are Looks Important?

[Bennies]

I think glocks look good. There I said it. I know I have issues.

I commend your bravery.

Thanks I have been carrying that around Insidefor a while. I feel better.

[joe817]

Yes. I think looks are important. If a gun doesn't have "curb appeal", I pass it up....97% of the time.

I tend to shy away from the squareish, boxy type looking guns and favor the more gently rolling angled one's. But one persons ugly is another persons beauty. A LOT of people love the way a Glock looks. And a LOT of people think a Ruger P is ugly. I'm the opposite...but that's just me.

It's all good. If YOU like it, that's the only thing that matters.

[cougartex]

If YOU like it, that's the only thing that matters.

Well said.

[The Annoyed Man]

I think glocks look good. There I said it. I know I have issues.

I commend your bravery.

I can recommend a good psychiatrist.

[Bart]

Moderately important for a fun gun. Not very importing for a working gun, including self defense.

[quidni]

Don't even remember the model, now, but I remember seeing a dark blued semi-auto with heavily figured rosewood grips, gold trigger and gold inlay in the engraving, at one of the local gun shops a few years ago. One of the gentlemen behind the counter saw me notice it, and made the comment, "Pretty, isn't it?" I replied maybe, but I wasn't interested in it. "Why not?" he asked.

I said, "When I pull the trigger, I want a gun that goes 'BANG! BANG!' not 'BLING! BLING!'"

Since the other gentleman that worked there was known for a deadpan attitude & almost never smiled, I count it an achievement that he actually had to stifle a snort of laughter.

I do care how a gun looks. I care more how it feels in the hand, and most how well I'm able to use it.

[TDDude]

I don't really care about what a firearm looks like unless of course I'm seeing some rust.

Other than that, I'm more concerned with how well it fits my hand or how well comes to the shoulder.

My carry pistol is a Beretta Cougar and even after 7 years, I still think it's a somewhat non-attractive pistol. However, it was only one of two that I tried (and I tried a bunch) that actually fit my hand with all the controls right where they needed to be. The other was the Walther P99 but since it had just come out, there was very little in the way of accessories and ZERO hi-cap mags available. CDDN was selling hi-cap mags for the Cougar at $9 each all day long and I still use those mags with nary a problem.

[CompVest]

You can always dress up a plain or rather ugly gun!

[aardwolf]

You can always dress up a plain or rather ugly gun!

Companies are making good money selling accessories to people who want to play M4gery dress up.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

You can always dress up a plain or rather ugly gun!

If I read your comment correctly, you are telling us that
you can get PEARL GRIPS for Glocks now!!!

Wow, what a country!!

SIA

[CompVest]

Well maybe not pearl grips but you can paint your Glock to look like pearl grips are on it! Or you can have gem stone inset into the slide or frame or you can have it etched with swirls and scroll work or ... Wait you could get your Glock slid gold plated. The possibilities are endless.

[RiverRat]

I hate to comment, but I can't stand it anymore. Ugly is ugly. Utilitarian art with a purpose is beyond refute. It's like driving a Yugo. Why? A Corvette gets over thirty MPG on the highway (my C5 got 32mpg at 75mph). If you want ugly to prove a point, then so be it. If that were the case, most of us would be using Dixie plates instead of stoneware.

Note I didn't specify my opinion of any brand, but I know what kind of 1911's I like. I suspect I would choose an XD45 if I had to choose only one short gun if I were taking a long hike. The functionality still doesn't make it pretty.

[nitrogen]

How important is the look of a firearm to you? I won't buy a handgun that does not appeal to me in its appearance. A weapon should feel good in hand as far as fit, but it has to look good to me as well.

On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the highest value, where are looks in your initial considerations?

3.5.

I like stainless/chromed look a lot, but my main carry piece is an M&P in black.

[9mmfan]

I like having sexy guns. But then, I am also waiting for the time that the Evil Eastern Euro-Bloc Type Guy gives me cause to pull my weapon, fans start blowing my hair, and the music kicks in. Then, watch out ladies! Must type more quietly now, or I will wake up my old lady, asleep down the hall. Then my goose will be cooked. All kidding aside, dependability is tantamount, but have certainly walked away from something that I found to be less than attractive with money burning a hole in my pocket. Though I happen to find everything I own, from the blocky Mosin revolver my uncle gave me to the slick Springfield 1911 (pesky extractor problems being why my Beretta sleeps in my nightstand and my SP101 rides my hip) to be absolutely gorgeous. If you have the means, own what you want to own. Main thing being have your go-to piece be the one you would bet your life on, as you just might have to someday.

[drjoker]

I concur with austin. When open carry is legalized, I will run out and buy a Kimber 1911 BBQ gun or an antique Colt Single Action Revolver. Now THAT would be cool to carry around in plain sight to Starbucks.

On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the highest value, where are looks in your initial considerations?

For my purposes right now, looks ranks 0 on a 1-5 scale for handguns. I couldn't care less (thus I own a lot of Glocks ). The gun must be concealed anyway, so who cares what it looks like, as long as it is 1. Reliable. 2. Reliable. 3. Reliable 4. Shoots well 5. Reliable. At this point, I have no need whatsoever for a "Barbecue gun" because I wouldn't be able to show it off at a barbecue anyway.

Now, if we ever get Open Carry rights in this state, then certainly a gorgeous shiny 1911 would be a likely purchase, with an equally stunning Tucker Gunleather holster/belt rig. I'd wear it to weddings and big events with my black suit, cowboy boots, and a big belt buckle.

Until then, no one knows just how ugly my Glocks are because they're concealed anyway. So who cares what it looks like?