I came across this article tonight and thought I'd give my two cents on colored guns, from the female side of the fence as well as the sales person side of the fence.
There are a lot of companies out there right now doing this, and some are even branching out a little more. Charter Arms offers the Undercover in red, the Lavender Lady in purple, the Chic Lady in high polished pink with a pink snake skin carry case, the Santa Fe Sky in a light blue, the Cougar in a splotched pink finish, etc. Walther has a P22 out in black, white, gray, and pink digi-cam. And even Sig Sauer released the Mosquito in a darker shade hot pink. On the rifle side, Ruger has released a 10/22 in various laminate stocks in red, pink, purple, blue, etc.
I have heard everything under the sun about these guns.
They look like toys.
If you need a pink gun to get into shooting, you shouldn't own a gun.
Whatever it takes to get women into shooting.
I want one!
That would be great for my girlfriend!
From the side of female shooter... I'm a little offended. I'll admit, when I saw the Charter Arm's Cougar I was taken aback. Most people who see it ask me what's wrong with it and if it is discounted for having a problem with the finish. No... they meant for it to look that way. Let me explain. The finish is a light pink with dark pink splotches on it. It does look like there was a manufacturing error on a Pink Lady. Or the gun is old and worn out, which I hear a lot of people say. Which... yeah, what is a "cougar" in the eyes of most people who make fun of them? Feels to me like yet another shot at older women who still like to enjoy themselves.
As a sales person... I don't see the great sales a lot of these articles report. I have worked in two gun stores. The first one I worked in had a wide variety of every pink gun known to man. If it was made in pink, we had it in. We also had pink knives, pink gun cases, pink hearing protection, pink eye protection... you get the point. Pink knives and pink hearing protection sold pretty well. Pink guns... every single one had to be discounted and sold through an auction site.
I have, in my career, sold three pink guns. I remember them all clearly. Only one left me feeling confident. The woman bought a revolver with a pink grip. Sure, she liked that it matched everything in her purse. But she did what I expect all gun buyers to do... she didn't just yell, "PINK GUN!" and buy it. She handled several guns over a two day period. Two were pink, the rest were standard gun colors. She chose the pink one based on fit and feel, and shot a counter part to it before buying.
It was the lady who had half the store begging her to find something else that turned me away. She chose a small gun with a pink handle. She could not operate the slide, she refused to shoot it before buying it, etc. The only thing she cared about was how cute it looked in her purse. And the first time the gun jammed, she came back and threw curses at everyone she could reach, as if it was our fault she didn't think it through. The problem was... she couldn't clear the jam... because she couldn't operate the gun.
I am not a fan of factory pink painted guns. Custom order pink or pinked by a gunsmith? I support that 100%. I don't like factory pink because 2/3 of the women who buy them don't think them out first. 100% of those who custom order a factory pink gun or have it painted pink later do think it out.
With all this said, I will admit to you my two girlie purchases... before some girl starts freaking out about how I just hate them because they aren't the norm. I use a set of Caldwell electronic ear muffs... in bright flaming pink. I also own and shoot a Ruger 10/22 with a red laminate stock. And I've found some custom jobs I really did love. One in particular was a Kimber 1911 I saw years ago... high polished stainless steal with pink snake print grips and gold features. Oh! And I lied! I have a third one! I almost forgot! My Springfield Armory 1911 has a set of red hot rod flame grips on it. I'm also considering a Hello Kitty plate for my Glock 21's rear end.
So no, I am not anti girlie gun gear. I don't hate pink guns. I think a gun that suits your tastes is the best thing you could own.
As long as it completely suits your tastes. That means... you tried it out before you bought it, the gun fits your hand, it fits your needs for it, and you can handle it and shoot it well. Now if you bought it the minute you saw it and only based on the fact that it matches your purse, I do take issue with that.
A woman has the same requirements for a gun as a man. Yes, I know, the average woman is 5'4" and a man is 5'8". I understand that, even being a woman of above average height (I'm 5'9" with a large hand). That actually doesn't mean much. You still need to shoot the gun well, it has to feel good in your hand, and you have to be comfortable with it. Pink or purple or blue or black.
Ladies, I have a news flash for you. Love the Walther P22 in pink, but want a larger caliber and a thicker gun? Really want the Walther P99 (it's larger framed and larger caliber counter part)? Great! Buy the P99... and get it painted!!!! Don't just settle on a gun you don't really want based completely on the color. You can get any gun painted almost any color, and many will do various patterns. Hell, get a cartoon character done on the darn thing! I saw an AR15 the other day with a custom laser etching on the lower receiver of Rosie the Riveter! Like a custom paint job on a car, the possibilities are endless!
But you just saw the gun and MUST have it because it's pink, regardless of it fitting you and your needs? Bad move. It's wasted money. If the factory colored gun is the one that honestly suits you, buy it. But be honest with yourself about it. Does it look cute in your purse or can you shoot it really well?
Here are some colored guns for your consideration.
First, the factory guns. All well made and worth buying... if they suit you. (not a complete list)
Charter Arms Pink Lady:
Charter Arms Santa Fe:
Charter Arms Lavender Lady:
Walther P22:
Walther P22:
Walther P22:
Sig Sauer Mosquito:
Some custom paint jobs:
Hello Kitty:
Breast Cancer Awareness AR15:
Pink Glock:
Pink Camo Ruger:
Pink Glock:
Zebra Gun:
Pinkish... greenish... Glock:
Rosie the Riveter:
CADD Graphics - They did Rosie the Riveter
Robar
DuraCoat by Jim's Gun Supply
And many more.
