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Old February 17, 2013, 11:02 PM   #1
farmboy
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Can a polymer framed gun equal the beauty of steel?

The beautiful pictures of the stainless Beretta 92 in a previous post got me to thinking: Can anyone provide an example of a polymer framed gun that has the style and grace that a fine steel framed gun has?

How can cast plastic capture the heart and soul as well as the beauty of polished blue or stainless?

(Disclaimer- I carry a Ruger LCR and a Kahr CW45, so don't hold this against me.)
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Old February 18, 2013, 12:10 AM   #2
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes only a momma can see beauty in her baby's eyes. My hk's purrty. My m&p's not bad either.
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Old February 18, 2013, 12:26 AM   #3
Eric M.
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Plastic guns shoot just fine. They are just butt ugly, and don't feel like a real pistol.

Never owned one, and most likely never will.

Its just a matter of preference I guess.

Nice and new idea for a post by the way.

Eric

PS-- My carry gun is a Kel-Tec PF9. I'll take the extra weight.
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Old February 18, 2013, 12:37 AM   #4
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I'd like to think my FNS is an attractive piece of plastic. Maybe that's because its new to me.

I'll get a picture up here when I get out of work.

It is possible that polymer gun makers just try to go more for function while the metal gun makers try to implement both.
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Old February 18, 2013, 12:43 AM   #5
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Quote:
I'd like to think my FNS is an attractive piece of plastic.
I love the look of the FNS. Did you get two-tone?
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Old February 18, 2013, 01:56 AM   #6
Sheriff Gotcha
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915A: I did not get the 2 toned FNS. Unfortunately, they were only in the 40 version and I wanted 9mm.

Here's a couple of pictures.





(Just regular plain Jane pictures. I'm no photographer . I couldn't get the pen to stay in either so there is no 3D propped up pics either.)
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Old February 18, 2013, 02:02 AM   #7
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Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
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Old February 18, 2013, 02:55 AM   #8
915A
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Sheriff; still looks good to me!
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Old February 18, 2013, 04:47 AM   #9
gc70
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Quote:
Originally Posted by farmboy
Can anyone provide an example of a polymer framed gun that has the style and grace that a fine steel framed gun has?

How can cast plastic capture the heart and soul as well as the beauty of polished blue or stainless?
What is style and grace? I have always associated those attributes with smooth, flowing lines and an uncluttered appearance. Even the designs of classic steel guns have been adulterated by the addition of rails and other "tactical" modifications. And highly polished blued guns are nearly a thing of the past; most steel framed guns that are not stainless have some sort of highly durable but drab coating these days.

Styles in gun development have shifted from aesthetics to functionality. Polymer guns largely mirror the characteristics of steel framed guns developed during the same period. Compare a current, railed Beretta 92A1 to a Beretta PX-4. Does either one have much more "heart and soul" than the other?

Can a polymer gun be stylish and graceful? I think so, but even the design of the gun pictured below has subsequently succumbed to the addition of a boxy picatinny rail and squared trigger guard.

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Old February 18, 2013, 05:43 AM   #10
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I don't own one, but I think the Caracal has some pretty nice lines for a polymer.

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Old February 18, 2013, 06:48 AM   #11
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I doubt it, if for no other reason that I don't believe you can polish polymer like you can metal.

If you can, I've never seen it.
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Old February 18, 2013, 09:47 AM   #12
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No way
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Old February 18, 2013, 09:57 AM   #13
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My Beretta PX4 storm is a handsome gun and shoots great too.
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Old February 18, 2013, 10:01 AM   #14
David13
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I say no.
I can never believe that it will have the durability of steel either.
I also prefer, or will only settle for wood in terms of rifle stocks, also.
Once upon a time I believed (and possibly others) that plastic was a thing that would last forever.
But I know now it won't. I have seen some plastic on these RVs deteriorate in 5 years.
From the suns rays, the ultra violet or whatever is in the rays.
Much of the steel and the beautiful wood stocks have lasted 100 years already.
dc
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Old February 18, 2013, 10:05 AM   #15
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Short answer... no.

Long answer... no.
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Old February 18, 2013, 10:11 AM   #16
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Yes, beautiful polymer-framed pistols do exist:

Walther P99:



Last edited by Fishbed77; February 18, 2013 at 10:41 AM.
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Old February 18, 2013, 11:58 AM   #17
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Quote:
Yes, beautiful polymer-framed pistols do exist:
Umm, no.
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Old February 18, 2013, 12:03 PM   #18
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I find items that fit my purposes perfectly beautiful. Given that I prefer to carry a lighter polymer handgun, and there are a number of those that fit the size and shape I find perfect, there are a number of polymer pistols I find beautiful.
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Old February 18, 2013, 12:48 PM   #19
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I haven't seen it happen yet. I have a couple of polys, an M&P40c & an
M&P 40 Shield, & neither of them compare beauty wise to any of my 3rd
Gens, let alone my 686 or my old Hi-Power.
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Old February 18, 2013, 01:06 PM   #20
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different strokes for different folks. my SR9 and XDM are quite atractive to me, just as aesthetically pleasing as a 1911 or CZ75... I don't buy guns that are pretty, I buy guns that work and which I can afford to feed, otherwise I would have bought a gold anodized desert eagle by now...
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Old February 18, 2013, 01:21 PM   #21
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No, because no matter how many designs you put on plastic, it can't match metal. Plastic 1911 or metal 1911?
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Old February 18, 2013, 01:23 PM   #22
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Plastic 1911 or metal 1911?
plastic... maybe then I'll be able to afford one

EDIT: in the recent thread that I am assuming that you are referring to, several of the pictures are the metal guns in question posed alongside a ruger 10/22 stuffed inside an Archangel plastic stock. it still looks tacticool, intimidating and...well... beautiful. given the right lighting conditions anything can be made to look outstanding or a pile of crap.
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Old February 18, 2013, 01:48 PM   #23
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Depends on your perspective... if you're looking down the business end of my Glock 19 or 34, it's beauty or lack thereof will probably be the last thing you will be thinking about. Now, if I'm looking down the sights of my Glock 19 or 34 at someone who is seeking to do me or my family harm... that is beautiful... as Gaston intended it to be.

Poly framed pistols were not necessarily intended to make you weep because they're pretty. There intent is to keep you alive because you have it with you... because their lighter and more comfortable to carry than the 40+ ounces of 1911 or 5906 I would typically leave at home due to the incredible fact that my pants are sagging and my spine is out of alignment.

As has been said... beauty is in the eye of the beholder... and perspective is key.
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Old February 18, 2013, 01:59 PM   #24
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Personally I like the looks of polymer guns. I think there's a certain beauty in something so purpose driven.
However, since most polymer guns are recent designs, and most recent designs focus on function over form, you're not likely to get quite the same level of aesthetics. But I don't think it has to do with materials so much as design.
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Old February 18, 2013, 02:09 PM   #25
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I like the way he STI GP6 looks.
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