Let's just up front eliminate the low hanging fruit, and say no Hipoint, and no Glocks. And of course, not ugly as in "stored in a damp basement, used as a hammer, run over by a truck" beat up ugly, just a design that struggles visually.
I found a few in the safe. Yeah, all three of these are what I like to call "experienced condition" but that's because I have no budget! I still think they might all qualify, even if I had 99% condition fresh from the factory examples.
Colt New Service.
Great revolver, I really love it. But... They have always seemed to me to be designed for "heavy duty" over looks. The cylinder release looks unfinished, the ejector rod just hanging out there, the weird front sight profile...
Webly MK VI
Another revolver I just love, but.... It's very "Victorian", and about as far from sexy as it gets.
Colt 1902 Military
I think it's my least sexy looking automatic. (Apart from the plastic stuff). At least the Military is a little better proportioned, the 1902 Sporting Model with it's short grip is even tougher on the eyes. Just an awful lot of barrel on this guy, and the T Square proportions just seem clunky today.
Bill R.
May 12, 2023, 02:25 PM
SW_Sig
May 12, 2023, 03:49 PM
MacGyver
A lot of those older guns tend to have crude and unsophisticated features sometimes just because of how old they are (technology of the time made it impractical to simultaneously be aesthetically pleasing). So I sometimes cut them slack. Even though I agree they don’t look great. I agree with the Hi-Point too.
I’d add most of the current lineup of polymer Rugers. Very tough-looking (and Ruger’s quality and reliability is definitely beyond question), but quite ugly IMO.
Formerly known as tigerbloodwinning
May 12, 2023, 04:47 PM
stylophiles
quote:
Originally posted by tigerbloodwinning: A lot of those older guns tend to have crude and unsophisticated features sometimes just because of how old they are (technology of the time made it impractical to simultaneously be aesthetically pleasing).
Definitely a time frame thing for the automatics. I was going to add in the C 96 Mauser, but I only had time to edit three shots this morning.
And I wish I could afford a C 93 Borchardt. Talk about "less than attractive"! Cool, but not a hot looking pistola...
Really, when it comes to cutting slack, the thing about the early Browning designs is, yeah, they look awkward and ill proportioned, but at the same time, they "look like guns". All the stuff any Glock shooter would need to run the gun is there and in the same places, more or less. (Not so much the magazine release) Thats pretty impressive for something that early on in the process!
Bill R
May 12, 2023, 05:22 PM
patw
I am not keen on the new Henry revolver they are putting out. For the price, you would think it would look the part.
May 12, 2023, 06:05 PM
92fstech
Personally, I kind of like that 1902 in the OP, ...it's god the long-slide and full-length dustcover going on, and I think it works for it.
There are a ton of ugly guns out there...if I limit the selection to the ugliest one I actually own, it's probably gotta go to my Beretta PX4. I know in the other thread I made clear my appreciation for the 92...but dang if the Beretta design people in charge of aesthetics weren't out to lunch on the day they rolled out the PX4! It does shoot pretty good, though.
May 12, 2023, 06:13 PM
Scooter123
I would add in the large frame Ruger Revolvers, they are darned close to a Bulldozer in terms of looks. On the plus side I find the 101 rather pretty.
For Semi's I would nominate the P-38, it's got a lot of ugly to it and the magazine release is horrible.
PS; excluding the Glock is a bit unfair, because every single one of them has the styling of a 2x4.
I've stopped counting.
May 12, 2023, 06:16 PM
dsiets
quote:
Let's just up front eliminate the low hanging fruit, and say no Hipoint, and no Glocks.
Dang. I was going to look for the pic of the gangsta glock w/ trigger guard removed. That just looked awful.
May 12, 2023, 08:21 PM
sigarms229
I'm going with the old school Steyr
Sometimes, you gotta roll the hard six
May 12, 2023, 08:34 PM
MacGyver
quote:
Originally posted by 92fstech: Personally, I kind of like that 1902 in the OP, ...it's god the long-slide and full-length dustcover going on, and I think it works for it.
There are a ton of ugly guns out there...if I limit the selection to the ugliest one I actually own, it's probably gotta go to my Beretta PX4. I know in the other thread I made clear my appreciation for the 92...but dang if the Beretta design people in charge of aesthetics weren't out to lunch on the day they rolled out the PX4! It does shoot pretty good, though.
Today I found a hard cover book on Remington firearms history at the Library. Back in the 19th century, Remington made several different models of Derringers. Probably the best one was what we think of as a traditional stack barrel, round butt Derringer. But the prior models had the worst damn looking grip to them. I don't know what to compare them to but they were fully ugly. Mr Remington probably didn't take much pride in putting his brand on them. Some how the little Smoot revolvers came out quite pleasing to see.
May 12, 2023, 10:38 PM
YooperSigs
The Draco. A "large format" 9mm version of an AK. Heavy. Ugly. Hard to screw up the AK, but its been done.
End of Earth: 2 Miles Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
May 12, 2023, 10:52 PM
stylophiles
quote:
Originally posted by David Lee: Today I found a hard cover book on Remington firearms history at the Library. Back in the 19th century, Remington made several different models of Derringers. Probably the best one was what we think of as a traditional stack barrel, round butt Derringer. But the prior models had the worst damn looking grip to them. I don't know what to compare them to but they were fully ugly. Mr Remington probably didn't take much pride in putting his brand on them. Some how the little Smoot revolvers came out quite pleasing to see.
Or the Remington Magazine pistol doesn’t really look much better, but a cool mechanism…
Neither one my photos, I haven’t yet found either in my price range yet!
Bill R
May 12, 2023, 10:53 PM
monoblok
For more recent designs the Chiappa Rhino is not what I'd call a looker. Going back a few decades the Nambu Type 94 is pretty fugly. But there was a handgun from the 1950s (I think) called the Dardick that's got to be one of the awkward looking pistols that I've ever seen.
-MG
May 12, 2023, 10:54 PM
stylophiles
quote:
Originally posted by stylophiles:
quote:
Originally posted by David Lee: Today I found a hard cover book on Remington firearms history at the Library. Back in the 19th century, Remington made several different models of Derringers. Probably the best one was what we think of as a traditional stack barrel, round butt Derringer. But the prior models had the worst damn looking grip to them. I don't know what to compare them to but they were fully ugly. Mr Remington probably didn't take much pride in putting his brand on them. Some how the little Smoot revolvers came out quite pleasing to see.
The Remington Rider Derringer?
Or the Remington Magazine pistol doesn’t really look much better, but a cool mechanism…
Neither one my photos, I haven’t yet found either in my price range yet!
Bill R
May 12, 2023, 11:06 PM
64dodge
[QUOTE]Originally posted by monoblok: For more recent designs the Chiappa Rhino is not what I'd call a looker.
My first thought as well. The Chippa Rhino is absolutely hideous.
May 12, 2023, 11:17 PM
David Lee
quote:
Originally posted by stylophiles:
quote:
Originally posted by stylophiles:
quote:
Originally posted by David Lee: Today I found a hard cover book on Remington firearms history at the Library. Back in the 19th century, Remington made several different models of Derringers. Probably the best one was what we think of as a traditional stack barrel, round butt Derringer. But the prior models had the worst damn looking grip to them. I don't know what to compare them to but they were fully ugly. Mr Remington probably didn't take much pride in putting his brand on them. Some how the little Smoot revolvers came out quite pleasing to see.
The Remington Rider Derringer?
Or the Remington Magazine pistol doesn’t really look much better, but a cool mechanism…
Neither one my photos, I haven’t yet found either in my price range yet!
Bill R
Worse yet, the Remington Vest Pocket Derringer. Looks like a gang bangers zip gun. I cannot imagine, back in the day, who would carry one. And yes, that Dardick tround gun was a beauty too.
May 13, 2023, 12:45 AM
arfmel
Clerke made some ugly pieces of shit
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May 13, 2023, 02:01 AM
egregore
Webley automatic, the reason James Bond never used British handguns.
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