There are many categories of tools in the modern world, from technical tools like computers and cell phones, to less technical tools, like the humble garden rake. The commonality in all tools is that they make life better, safer and allow us to do the things we do.
Firearms are a category of tools that humans can use for both safety and to secure food. And while men and women both use firearms, historically, guns have been designed with man-sized proportions. This means that firearm manufacturers who want to sell to the growing market of female firearm owners need to consider the average woman’s proportions, as well as that of the average man‘s hands. Here are a few reasons making guns “girly” isn’t actually a bad thing.
Smaller, Lighter and More Manageable
While many guns are proportioned for men—large men—it’s not unreasonable to think that even men don’t always need a giant gun. Is a .357 Magnum required to bring down an adversary? Or would a 9 mm with manageable recoil be a better choice? Even men don’t always want or need the biggest gun. Conversely, even women don’t always want or need a smaller gun. Some women prefer a full-size pistol to a subcompact, and that’s OK.
But on average, women have smaller hands and less physical strength. Designing guns that fit their hands so they can reach the controls just makes sense. Think about reaching the safety or magazine release on a pistol especially. And yes, there will be some men who want those same smaller guns. One size does not fit all when it comes to firearms, which is why it’s great there are so many from which to choose! In addition to operating the gun’s safety and mag release without a struggle, a person might also want a gun for which they can work the action, whether that is racking the slide or operating the bolt on a bolt-action. Sometimes strength and hand size play a role in how easy or difficult it can be. Smaller isn’t always better though. Imagine a giant guy trying to manipulate the .22 Cricket. Its miniature bolt could literally be worked with two fingers—but it’s great for teaching kids!
Whatever your size, you should use a firearm that you can manage. You want to manage the controls, the manipulation of the gun (loading and unloading), as well as manage the recoil.
Is it inherently bad to see fashion influence gun design?
Julie Golob had a substack post on the concept of “What do Women Want” when it comes to handguns, which you should go read! And I want to build off her insight onto size and colors and thinking about your choices long-term.
While pink, teal, or purple might be your favorite color, consider the long-term value that a firearm holds. A firearm purchased by your great-grandparents would be something to inherit. If that firearm is Barbie pink, is it going to be valued the same as something more traditional? I try to think about walking into an antique store and seeing items from bygone eras. What will it look like to someone in 100 years to see “the old teal LCP”? Contrast that to the iconic imagery of a wooden stock and lever-action rifle, or a revolver with beautiful grips. (And if you want to see a lot of beautiful examples of the latter, head to the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, Texas.)
Another reason to consider color in a firearm purchase is how it makes the gun stand out. If you are carrying concealed, do you want to have hot pink grips on your firearm? Subtle accents can make for a nice appearance. And I’d argue those engraved and inlaid and beautiful grips on revolvers of a bygone era are the biggest reason I want to have some revolvers. But if your firearm is a utilitarian piece and for personal defense, then subtlety is probably a good goal. Use your extra money and effort to buy more ammo with which to train.
The colors that are fashionable to coat a gun with today might one day look like that afghan blanket crocheted in the greens and oranges of the 1970s. While updating colors with the current market trends is a fact in an industry that wants to stay current, it’s not a reason to turn every tool (that’s what guns are) into a fashion statement. My personal take is that if I want a firearm to be a fashion statement, it’s for the guns I compete with and want people to see. I have done some patriotic Cerakote work on them for that reason. But if I want my carry gun to be a fashion statement, it’s going to be that it’s dependable, and concealable and I have trained with it enough to be confident.
In the end, don’t choose a gun for the color or trendy social media posts you see surrounding it or the brand. Choose a gun based on how it fits you, how you can confidently work with it and master it, and how reliable it is. Then get a flashy gun just for fun. We women should have at least as many guns as pairs of shoes we own.
