The Top 5 Coolest-Looking Pistols

This pistol was first presented in 2018, but even 6 years later there is nothing else like it available on the market. The unusual look of the pistol is not purely aesthetics: it has a lot of interesting design features: frame mounted barrel that provides an extremely low bore axis, and non-reciprocating sights located on a quick change rail.

One more unusual feature – Laugo Alien is gas-operated, the mechanism is similar to HK P7 gas delayed blowback action, just flipped upside-down. The pistol uses proprietary magazines which are similar, but not interchangeable with the CZ75.

All this innovation comes with a price tag attached – right now, in the US, Laugo Alien retails for over $3900 (most affordable edition), with some versions priced at over $6000.

Archon B

Compared to Alien, Archon is much more conventional-looking. What makes it different is the action: this striker-fired polymer pistol uses an AF-Speedlock. It adds one more part to the pistol, a special locking block, but the results are pretty evident: the pistol shoots flatter compared to other compact handguns.

The difference might not be drastic, but I noticed it when I shot Archon B and a custom Glock 19 from Salient Arms side-by-side. Archon still has some amount of recoil, but the low bore axis achieved because of AF-Speedlock definitely makes some difference.

Earlier this year, the company showcased its full-size pistol Archon A with grip extensions that allow the shooter to configure the handgun to the mission at hand, turning it into a compact or even subcompact pistol just by replacing grip modules.

If you want to know more about the history and origins of Archon, check out the TFB article titled The Real Story Behind Russian Origins of Strike One STRYK B/ Archon Type B.

Roland Special

People have been modifying their Glocks for the last 20 years, if not longer. Some just do it for the looks and sometimes end up in our Hot Gat, Fudd Crap series, while others care about pure functionality.

The Roland Special, a custom Glock build on G19 frame is probably the best example of an upgrade package that gives you both looks and performance. You can buy one from custom shops like ATEi, or just build one yourself, using the components you think are best. That is what makes it unique – anyone can create his own version of Roland Special.

Generally, modifications of a proper Roland Special include a custom barrel (typically KKM), a set of night sights, mag well, slide serrations, trigger guard undercut, tactical light, compensator, red dot sight, and some stippling.

If you wanna hear the origin story of Roland Special, you can listen to this podcast, where Chuck Pressburg, retired SOF operator, talks about how he built the original version of Roland Special.

Interestingly enough, what motivated him in the beginning, was the fact that the lens of his weapon light got dirty every time he shot the pistol. By adding a compensator, he just wanted to keep the flashlight clean, but later on, one thing led to the other, and the Roland Special was created.

Rex Alpha

SIG 220 variants have always had a special place in my heart. Maybe it was the FBI agent Dana Skully from “X-Files” who chased supernatural creatures with her trusty P228, maybe it was something else. But for years, the P228 was my favorite pistol.

In the late 80s, Yugoslavia developed its own version of P226, called CZ 99, which itself had many derivatives. If you wanna know more, you can read this article: CZ 99 – A Good Pistol Developed in a Bad Time.

Based on the technical data package of CZ99, Slovenian company Arex created something that both looks good and shoots incredibly well.

The unusual shape of the slide makes Rex Alpha stand out, but what really impressed me was the accuracy and ergonomics. This pistol incorporated every little change I wanted to have in a 226: beavertail, bigger magazine release, and a different shape of the pistol grip.

Out of the 10 pistols I shot during that particular training session, Rex Alpha was the only one that just shot one big hole in the target without any extra effort from my side. If you want to know more about this pistol, check out this TFB TV video.

1911

Quite frankly, I think the cool factor is the main reason people buy 1911s these days. Nothing compares to the feeling of “glass rod breaking” when you pull the trigger of a custom 1911, the audible click of the safety, the weight of fine steel in your hand, and the feeling of checkered wooden grips…

For its time, 1911 was extremely innovative. But is this a practical gun for 2024, 113 years later? Well, I think it is. The cool factor can be important. I knew people who hated Glocks and other modern polymer guns to the point when those pistols never left their safe. But when they bought “cool” 1911s they would actually start training and carrying it regularly. So for them, 1911 ended up being more useful and practical than the modern polymer frame 9 mm pistols.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a cool-looking gun, even if it is not very practical. At the end of the day, cool-looking guns are what brought a lot of us into this hobby. However, there is a difference between “collector’s cool” and “cool and practical”. Having a threaded barrel is definitely a must-have for the modern handgun: without it, you can’t use compensators and suppressors.

In many countries, suppressors are banned for civilians, and a pistol with a threaded barrel is a sign of some sort of special forces operator. But not in the US. Here, you can order a suppressor online and enjoy something gun owners in many other countries would never have.

Suppressors with low back pressure technology are my favorites as they decrease the amount of gasses coming back into the action keeping the guns cleaner. A good option for those who want a low back pressure technology 9 mm suppressor is the Huxwrx Cash 9K. It is light, made out of titanium, and weighs only 5.9 ounces. It has a direct thread mount and a 3-lug mount for those who love MP5s, and you can use it with subsonic 300 Blackout, making it both a pistol and rifle suppressor.

Silencer Shop makes getting suppressors easy and you can buy the Huxwrx Cash 9K suppressor from the link below.

If you think I missed something, and other guns should be in this Top 5, please let me know in the comment section below.

TFB is proud to partner with Silencer Shop as our preferred vendor for all of your NFA needs. Whether you are searching for a new suppressor, SBR, or trust, Silencer Shop is here to provide a seamless and fast service for your next NFA purchase. Head over to www.silencershop.com to begin your NFA journey.