There is function, and there is beauty. Sometimes they coexist, sometimes they don't.
Beauty is subjective. Each person has his own idea of what is attractive. Some guys love a nickel plated handgun (count me in) while others can't stand the shiny guns. Some shooters love the look of modern tactical pistols made of synthetic materials, but others may gag at the sight of such guns. Some men actually prefer the look of the plain, working man's Model 28 to the more deluxe, high end Model 27. I have never understood such thinking but there you go.
I have very definite tastes in handguns and I admit that perhaps I put too much stock in the aesthetics. I like pretty guns and tend to disdain those that don't visually appeal to me. However, I do appreciate a gun that is functional, that serves a specific purpose, and is designed to accomplish its mission without regards to outward appearances.
For example, I hate the look of stainless. To me, the dull finish on a stainless handgun looks cheap, almost like plastic. But I readily admit to its advantage on a working gun as it resists wear and corrosion much better than do blued or nickel guns. Plastic on a handgun is nearly an abomination in my mind as I find them incredibly ugly. But again, as a service pistol the practicality of a plastic frame is hard to deny.
So, my three most commonly used self-defense handguns are a S&W Model 659, a 2" S&W Model 64 and a Taurus TCP. The fact that both of the S&Ws are ex-cop guns showing a lot of wear from carry and use doesn't improve their looks, any. I confess that at some point I couldn't stand the look of the 659 and the 64 any longer and polished them shiny. Now they almost look nickel plated. The plastic TCP can't be fixed. It is modern, mass produced ugly down to the bone. But since it's my deep concealment piece, I don't have to look at it very often and any other man who sees it will likely be blinded by the muzzle flash and will be unable to get a good look at it.
My pretty guns go to the range, and into the field. My ugly guns go to work...and maybe that makes them beautiful.
Beauty is subjective. Each person has his own idea of what is attractive. Some guys love a nickel plated handgun (count me in) while others can't stand the shiny guns. Some shooters love the look of modern tactical pistols made of synthetic materials, but others may gag at the sight of such guns. Some men actually prefer the look of the plain, working man's Model 28 to the more deluxe, high end Model 27. I have never understood such thinking but there you go.
I have very definite tastes in handguns and I admit that perhaps I put too much stock in the aesthetics. I like pretty guns and tend to disdain those that don't visually appeal to me. However, I do appreciate a gun that is functional, that serves a specific purpose, and is designed to accomplish its mission without regards to outward appearances.
For example, I hate the look of stainless. To me, the dull finish on a stainless handgun looks cheap, almost like plastic. But I readily admit to its advantage on a working gun as it resists wear and corrosion much better than do blued or nickel guns. Plastic on a handgun is nearly an abomination in my mind as I find them incredibly ugly. But again, as a service pistol the practicality of a plastic frame is hard to deny.
So, my three most commonly used self-defense handguns are a S&W Model 659, a 2" S&W Model 64 and a Taurus TCP. The fact that both of the S&Ws are ex-cop guns showing a lot of wear from carry and use doesn't improve their looks, any. I confess that at some point I couldn't stand the look of the 659 and the 64 any longer and polished them shiny. Now they almost look nickel plated. The plastic TCP can't be fixed. It is modern, mass produced ugly down to the bone. But since it's my deep concealment piece, I don't have to look at it very often and any other man who sees it will likely be blinded by the muzzle flash and will be unable to get a good look at it.
My pretty guns go to the range, and into the field. My ugly guns go to work...and maybe that makes them beautiful.