The color of the Glock FDE (Flat Dark Earth) pistol has been a topic of discussion among gun enthusiasts for years. This popular Glock finish elicits strong opinions regarding its exact shade and tone. In this article, we’ll examine the various descriptions and comparisons of the Glock FDE color that have been offered over time. We’ll also analyze some of the factors that can cause variation in how this color is perceived. By the end, you should have a solid understanding of what color the Glock FDE truly is.
Examining Common Descriptions of Glock FDE
Here are some of the most common ways the Glock FDE color has been described:
- Tan or tannish brown
- Bronze or bronze brown
- Flat dark earth (as the name suggests)
- Coyote brown
- Desert sand
- Taupe
As you can see, most descriptions characterize it as a shade of brown, often with a grayish, bronze, or olive undertone. Terms like “flat” and “dark” underscore its matte, muted appearance compared to shinier browns.
How Glock FDE Compares to Other Colors
Here are some key ways Glock FDE has been compared to other colors:
- Similar to magpul FDE but slightly darker/grimier
- More brown than tungsten gray
- Less red/pink than burnt bronze
- Not as light as sand or desert tan
- More subdued than bronze or copper
You can see there’s consensus around Glock FDE being a neutral, military-style brown that sits in between more vivid browns and tans.
Factors That Impact Perceived Color
Why can the exact shade of Glock FDE look slightly different to different people? Here are some key factors that play a role:
Lighting Conditions
The lighting where the pistol is seen – such as outdoors, under fluorescent lights, or in a photo studio – alters the way the eye perceives the color.
Different Pistol Batches
There may be subtle variations between different batches of Glock pistols coated in FDE over the years.
Age/Wear
As the FDE pistol finish wears over time, it can fade and discolor slightly.
Monitor/Screen Differences
When people look at photos of Glock FDE guns online, variations in monitor color calibration and screen technology impact how the color is reproduced.
Individual Perception
The way we each perceive colors is influenced by the quirks of our individual vision and psychology.
Conclusions
In summary, while opinions vary slightly, the consensus is that Glock Flat Dark Earth has a brownish-bronze, military-style tone. It sits somewhere between tan and gray on the color spectrum. Variations in how the color is perceived result from differences in lighting, product batches, age/wear, screens, and individual vision. But most describe it as a matte, muddy, neutral brown – not too light, not too reddish or pink. Now that you understand the key factors involved, you can more knowledgeably discuss, compare and identify the precise shade of this popular pistol color.
| Color | RGB Values | Hex Code |
|---|---|---|
| Glock FDE | R: 101 G: 75 B: 47 | #654F2F |
| Coyote Brown | R: 129 G: 112 B: 63 | #81703F |
| Magpul FDE | R: 115 G: 108 B: 75 | #736C4B |
| Bronze | R: 205 G: 127 B: 50 | #CD7F32 |
This table provides the RGB color values and hex codes for Glock FDE alongside some other similar colors. As you can see, Glock FDE is a relatively dark, muted brown with low values for red, green, and blue. It’s slightly more subdued than Coyote Brown and a good deal darker than the warmer, more vivid bronze tone.
Understanding the precise RGB values and hex codes for these colors removes some of the subjectivity and guesswork involved in color comparisons. While individual perception factors still apply, these specifications provide objective data on how Glock FDE and related colors compare numerically.