The Guns & Ammo Network

Ugliest Pistol Ever?—Bonus Edition

by Robert W. Hunnicutt • September 28, 2011 • 8 comments

The previous edition of this question got lots of comment on the SGN Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ShotgunNews), with Hi-Point taking a beating from detractors and getting plenty of support from fans. As I thought about it, I recalled some other notably unattractive guns, none of them revolvers this time.

1. Japanese Type 97: someone here said “how could you forget that one?” and he was right.

2. Semmerling LM-4: well-made and expensive, but it was hand-operated, not semi-auto.

3. Walther P38-K: if you’re looking for a way to make a classic into an abortion, here it is.

4. HK VP70Z: One of the first plastic-framed pistols, it looked more like a dart gun than a firearm.

5. MS Safari Arms Matchmaster: some might say you canít make an ugly 1911. They’re wrong.

6. Auto-Mag: notice the resemblance to the Type 97?

7. Norinco Model 77B: if you’re the one-armed man from The Fugitive, this is your gun. Otherwise, no more than an odd-looking curiosity item.

8. Grendel P-10: the designer of this one went on to much bigger and better things at Kel-Tec.

9. Ruger P-85: the current Ruger autos are smooth as silk, but the firm’s first centerfire self-loader was rough and angular. It took a few years until the much nicer P-90.

10. Colt All-American 2000: one gun writer called it “the 1911 of the 21st century.” Didn’t work out that way.

In Handguns, Uncategorized
  • exexpat11

    Any pistol out of South Africa or Bosnia if you have seen those eye sores. Mainstream US Pistol the P85 series of lumps of Stainless and Aluminium.

    I have a Safari Arms Cohort with standard round trigger guard but with single finger front groove. The Safari is nicer looking in person than the pic you issued.

  • Steve

    I'm pretty sure the first pictured gun is a Type 94.

  • john W.

    without a doubt the ugly award goes to the charter arms explorer II pistol. I disagree with most of the ones listed above, their are much uglier guns made. High point pistols come quickly to mind.

  • anthonyjorgensen

    hi as a subscriber to shotgun news i missed an article on the cz model 82 as a conceal carry weapon. any info on how toget a copy of article would be appreciated. thank you. tj

  • Gunnut Ed

    Bad picture of the Automag. It is a thing of beauty in your hands. It does not belongin this list!

  • Bill

    Steve is correct the Japanese pistol is a Type 94, check it out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nambu_Type_94_pistol

  • http://www.facebook.com/jerry.ericsson2 Jerry Ericsson

    Absolutely the Automag was one of the finest firearms in it's day, or any day for that matter, I have drooled over them for years. Almost had one back in the early 90's but couldn't come up with the needed scratch before someone else at the gun show scarffed it up.

  • Guest

    Hey i own a ruger p90 and it looks identical to that picture of the p85 you got posted… i went and compared my p90 to a buddy's p85 a few days later and we found that they were identical to each other other than the caliber difference.. so i dont know how you are saying that the p90 is "much nicer", i mean other than its a .45.. but i didnt buy the gun for looks either, i bought it cuz it makes fools run when they see it…