Just for Her: The History Behind Pink Guns

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If you’re a woman that’s ever been in a gun shop, it’s likely you’ve at least seen, if not been recommended, a little pink revolver (sometimes it’s a semi-auto, but pink revolvers seem to be the favorite). There’s also a high chance you may have been gifted one in your lifetime, potentially paired with vibrant gear.

There are many lovers and dissenters of pink guns. On one hand, there really is nothing wrong with enjoying a colorful gun. It’s not uncommon for enthusiasts to dye polymer parts in various hues for fun, or to use things like nail polish to add accents by color filling. I’ve even seen some literally bedazzle their rifle stocks for fun (don’t get me wrong, it does look pretty cool).

On the other hand, critics of the trend can come from several perspectives. Some believe it makes guns, which should be seen as tools, out to be toys. The idea of a bright bubblegum pink gun seems to take away from the seriousness of your classic matte or glossy black finish. Others are blatantly tired of the ‘pink it and shrink it’ trend that has already bled into just about any product on the market (not to mention effects like the ‘pink tax’ that women–knowingly or not–have to pay for many basic necessities).

pink pistol in box by mother's day card, "ugh, all the cool moms got ARs this year" — A story as old as time… [Photo Credit: Grace Stevens]

Women easily take the gift of a pink handgun as an insult. I, too, have found myself appalled in the past by pink guns, just praying I’m never gifted one. The giver may not think twice either, really just wanting to protect instead of insulting the women in their lives. Plus, these guns are advertised to be better for women due to the smaller size, smaller caliber, and fashionable look, so if you go asking for a handgun for your wife without doing research, that may be a quick recommendation (don’t do it).

Yes, some women have smaller hands and less grip strength but the actual solution should be finding the right gun in general for them. More often than not, many women realize later that their pink pistol isn’t the easiest to handle in comparison to a handgun that may fit their preferences and physique. The true solution should be doing some research and going to a reputable gun store to handle several kinds yourself. Even better, if you have a gun owner in your life, going to test fire them can help you understand what caliber, style, or size may be best for you. Maybe that pink pistol really is the best fit, or maybe it’s not.

Where It All Began

vintage savage pistol ad showing tiny gun next to finger gun — This quick read from a 1914 Savage ad shows early attitudes toward armed women. [Photo credit: Hearst’s Magazine]

Initially, guns advertised to women were typically tiny, accompanied by borderline fear-mongering statements about rapists, criminals, and the boogeyman under the bed. In a 1914 edition of Hearst’s Magazine, Savage advertised a handgun that “aims as easy as pointing your finger,” said to be a great option for so-called helpless housewives. Colt also advertised their Match Target Woodsman pistol in 1951, depicting a man helping a woman shoot it, his hand holding up her one arm wielding the Colt, stating “Double your fun with a Colt.”

smith and wesson ladysmith revolver on red purse — This gun may not be pink, but the slim design and rosewood grip inspired all to come. [Photo credit: Smith & Wesson]

The big boom of women’s firearms happened in 1989, however, when Smith & Wesson released their Lady Smith revolver. It was accented by a rosewood grip and accompanied by the Lady Smith program. That program was dedicated to properly educating women about firearms with a toll-free line and offered to send more information by mail. This started an instant spiral in the industry as companies began making firearms specifically targeted toward women, eventually leading to lots of bright pink accents. One famous early example of this came from Lorcin in the ‘90s, advertising three slim handguns with pink grips stating: “3 Little Ladies That Get The Job Done.”

vintage ad with three pistols — Both the Lady Smith and Lorcin’s pistols are seen advertised side by side. It may be black and white, but Lorcin’s pistols had pink grips. [Photo Credit: Lorcin, Smith & Wesson]

This came with early criticism of course, one major piece of media being “Neither Pink Nor Cute: Pistols for the Women of America” by Letty Cottin Pogrebin published in The Nation a month after S&W released their Lady Smith. Pogrebin denounced S&W for their campaign pointing out how their fears were preyed on, even if they may be legitimate. She herself even acknowledged a feeling of empowerment by imagining a feminist ideal where all women are armed and protected, but chose to point out the perceived dangers that came with it.

Modern Day

Twenty years later every manufacturer has their own version of a pink pistol. Most gun stores have at least one on display, waiting for a hasty shopper buying for the women in their lives or for the women themselves who (in theory) want it just because of the color.

Rifles and Shotguns are commonly decorated with some form of pink camouflage for female hunters and outdoorsmen. This is paired with an array of other pink camo merchandise that can be found at most stores (especially around Mother’s Day).

Little girls get the same treatment too as there’s a pink Daisy Red Ryder air rifle routinely advertised around Christmas accompanying the boys’ classic wood grain, and little pink revolver cap guns that even I had growing up.

ar-15 colored vibrant pink with hello kitty on it — This gun took the internet by storm, still appearing every few years in one way or another. [Photo Credit: David C]

Infamous extremes such as the Hello Kitty AR-15 have appeared as well. David C of blog.riflegear.com created this pink firearm as a protest against California’s assault weapon ban, explaining:

This rifle is 100% legal in California because it is based on an “off-list” lower receiver made by Stag Arms and has no evil features at all, instead featuring a fixed stock instead of the evil collapsible stock, a muzzle brake in place of the vile flash-hider, and a MonsterMan Grip instead of the heinous and malicious plastic pistol grip.

Some updates have been made to the rifle to try and keep it legal, such as converting it to a fixed magazine. However, this article was last updated in 2007, so sadly this novelty is most likely no longer legal in the state of California — given he still resides there and has it.

Conclusion

Overall, what really matters here is safety and enjoying what you want. If you want a colorful gun, be my guest. If you want a matte black finish, that’s fine too. It is interesting to see how marketing towards women has developed since the early 1910s, and exactly how we got to the point pink is a common modification to firearms throughout the industry. And, the moral of the story: if you’re buying a handgun for anyone it may be best just to ask what they want. And if you’re buying for personal defense, do some research to find a gun that works for you, regardless of if it’s pink or not.