Whats the rarest firearm you own?

[teratos]

Not rare per se but kinda cool..

View attachment 334837

That's a 1 of 1.

 

[JoeRinMD]

Back in the early 2000s, when the CMP was dispositioning .22 match rifles, I was one of many, many people who put in an order for a Winchester 52 C or D. I was lucky enough to be one of the few who received a Winchester 52C, the last of the bolt-action repeaters, featuring the Micro-Motion trigger. Although many 52C rifles were produced, relatively few were used by the military for match use and have the electro-penciled "US Property" marking. And a bonus for me is that the serial number traces the rifle's manufacture to 1958...the year I was born. It came without sights, but the CMP was also selling off the stock of Redfield match "Olympic" aperture sights, both front and rear. Now the rifle has been put back together into the condition when it was actively being used for matches. And, of course, I've kept all CMP paperwork for provenance.

The rifle's original stock was pretty beat up from being banged up in a crate with other rifles. The original barrel-mounted scope bases had very sharp edges and put nice creases in all the guns in the crate. In that era, Reese Surplus had an inventory of 52C stocks. I picked up a stock which needed a slight repair, then refinished that stock to a nice satin sheen. For appearance, the barreled action spends most of the time in that stock, although I've kept the other stock for originality.

I've used mine for NRL22 matches at AAF&G. It's far more accurate than this shooter. The downside is that LOOOONG barrel (28 inches to be precise). Trying to move it into props like the treads of a stepladder is really tough. Years ago, I outfitted the rifle with a Vianni scope that mounts to the original aperture sight mounting holes, along with the scope Unertl-style scope mounting holes.

JoeR

 

[calicojack]

This a fantastic thread.

 

[teratos]

Back in the early 2000s, when the CMP was dispositioning .22 match rifles, I was one of many, many people who put in an order for a Winchester 52 C or D. I was lucky enough to be one of the few who received a Winchester 52C, the last of the bolt-action repeaters, featuring the Micro-Motion trigger. Although many 52C rifles were produced, relatively few were used by the military for match use and have the electro-penciled "US Property" marking. And a bonus for me is that the serial number traces the rifle's manufacture to 1958...the year I was born. It came without sights, but the CMP was also selling off the stock of Redfield match "Olympic" aperture sights, both front and rear. Now the rifle has been put back together into the condition when it was actively being used for matches. And, of course, I've kept all CMP paperwork for provenance.

The rifle's original stock was pretty beat up from being banged up in a crate with other rifles. The original barrel-mounted scope bases had very sharp edges and put nice creases in all the guns in the crate. In that era, Reese Surplus had an inventory of 52C stocks. I picked up a stock which needed a slight repair, then refinished that stock to a nice satin sheen. For appearance, the barreled action spends most of the time in that stock, although I've kept the other stock for originality.

I've used mine for NRL22 matches at AAF&G. It's far more accurate than this shooter. The downside is that LOOOONG barrel (28 inches to be precise). Trying to move it into props like the treads of a stepladder is really tough. Years ago, I outfitted the rifle with a Vianni scope that mounts to the original aperture sight mounting holes, along with the scope Unertl-style scope mounting holes.

JoeR

Sounds like a cool rifle. Definitely a cool story!

 

[somd_mustangs]

Not rare per se but kinda cool..

View attachment 334837

If the grip isn't chipped on the right front (it looks intact on the left), then it's pretty rare

 

[tallen702]

Concentric Circle marked Type 38. Other than mine, there are only 15 or so that are published as known to be intact out there at the moment. I've seen some examples online but can't verify serials vs what has been published to see if they are like mine and "new" examples.

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?p=6236273

Not rare per se, but the BYF 41 Luger that my grandfather brought back. The fact that it's all matching plus holster, tool, spare mag, and papers is pretty cool.

 

[BrianS]

If the grip isn't chipped on the right front (it looks intact on the left), then it's pretty rare

More pics added. The grip looks to be in great shape.

 

[LKGMADMAX]

This Savage 1907 .45 Trial Pistol serial# 78 this was 1 of 288 made and comes from the Bailey Brower's collection who is the author of the book Savage Pistols and recognized as the authoritarian of Savage pistols. After the trials were over Savage purchased the pistols back from the government, they refinished a few in house and then the balance were sent to Tryon in Philadelphia where they were reworked and sold to the general public. Savage took the overall design of the 45 and shrunk it down and produced the commercial
.32 and .380 pistols starting production in 1908 finishing up around 1920. the idea of producing the smaller pistol in 32 Caliber in 1908 was to help fund the trial pistol production. This one was restored a few years ago by a gentleman by the name of Steve Moeller, Steve passed away in 2015 but he left his thumb print on a lot of firearms particularly 1911's & 1911A1's. According to the books there were components that broke in the Savage 45 during the trials including grip panels, I can only speculate that these smooth Walnut grips were replacement stocks put on the pistol during the trial or either during the rework process, these stocks would have been the type that would have been used on the model 1910 Savage trial pistol and there were only 10 of those pistols provided to the military for the trials. Either way it is what it is as they say, the majority of the parts of marked 78 the magazine in this pistol is marked number 200. There are a couple of Savage pistols listed out on GB right now with a mixture of serial numbered components one indeed has my number 78 magazine which is rather ironic. during the trials in the records it was noted that they had issues with magazine function and cross compatibility.

This particular pistol was 1 of 64 pieces that went to the trials in NM Apache and Navajo country:

Troop I
3rd U.S. Cavalry
Fort Wingate
New Mexico

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[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

Beautiful and historic piece to own. Congrats!

 

[rsideout]

This Savage 1907 .45 Trial Pistol serial# 78 this was 1 of 288 made and comes from the Bailey Brower's collection who is the author of the book Savage Pistols and recognized as the authoritarian of Savage pistols. After the trials were over Savage purchased the pistols back from the government, they refinished a few in house and then the balance were sent to Tryon in Philadelphia where they were reworked and sold to the general public. Savage took the overall design of the 45 and shrunk it down and produced the commercial
.32 and .380 pistols starting production in 1908 finishing up around 1920. the idea of producing the smaller pistol in 32 Caliber in 1908 was to help fund the trial pistol production. This one was restored a few years ago by a gentleman by the name of Steve Moeller, Steve passed away in 2015 but he left his thumb print on a lot of firearms particularly 1911's & 1911A1's. According to the books there were components that broke in the Savage 45 during the trials including grip panels, I can only speculate that these smooth Walnut grips were replacement stocks put on the pistol during the trial or either during the rework process, these stocks would have been the type that would have been used on the model 1910 Savage trial pistol and there were only 10 of those pistols provided to the military for the trials. Either way it is what it is as they say, the majority of the parts of marked 78 the magazine in this pistol is marked number 200. There are a couple of Savage pistols listed out on GB right now with a mixture of serial numbered components one indeed has my number 78 magazine which is rather ironic. during the trials in the records it was noted that they had issues with magazine function and cross compatibility.

This particular pistol was 1 of 64 pieces that went to the trials in NM Apache and Navajo country:

WOW!!!!! And congratulations on finding and acquiring this unicorn!

 

[Biggfoot44]

I'm not worthy .

I no longer have , a Colt New Service Target ..... In .44 RUSSIAN . i don't have the production numbers at hand . but there was a short time window between the introduction of the Target Model and the introduction of .44 Special , after which they were marked
44 Special & Russian .

 

[engineerbrian]

This Savage 1907 .45 Trial Pistol serial# 78 this was 1 of 288 made and comes from the Bailey Brower's collection who is the author of the book Savage Pistols and recognized as the authoritarian of Savage pistols. After the trials were over Savage purchased the pistols back from the government, they refinished a few in house and then the balance were sent to Tryon in Philadelphia where they were reworked and sold to the general public. Savage took the overall design of the 45 and shrunk it down and produced the commercial
.32 and .380 pistols starting production in 1908 finishing up around 1920. the idea of producing the smaller pistol in 32 Caliber in 1908 was to help fund the trial pistol production. This one was restored a few years ago by a gentleman by the name of Steve Moeller, Steve passed away in 2015 but he left his thumb print on a lot of firearms particularly 1911's & 1911A1's. According to the books there were components that broke in the Savage 45 during the trials including grip panels, I can only speculate that these smooth Walnut grips were replacement stocks put on the pistol during the trial or either during the rework process, these stocks would have been the type that would have been used on the model 1910 Savage trial pistol and there were only 10 of those pistols provided to the military for the trials. Either way it is what it is as they say, the majority of the parts of marked 78 the magazine in this pistol is marked number 200. There are a couple of Savage pistols listed out on GB right now with a mixture of serial numbered components one indeed has my number 78 magazine which is rather ironic. during the trials in the records it was noted that they had issues with magazine function and cross compatibility.

This particular pistol was 1 of 64 pieces that went to the trials in NM Apache and Navajo country:

Troop I
3rd U.S. Cavalry
Fort Wingate
New Mexico

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Wow! Thats amazing

 

[mawkie]

-I'm not surprised that you were able to find a fantastic Savage Trials Pistol after seeing all your previous threads. But for a Savage pistol collector this has to be the gem in what's an impressive collection.
I was fortunate to have a long and special conversation with Bailey Brower when I acquired my Standard Oil example. I was at work when he called me out of the blue, quite a shock. Suffice to say I took a long break from work as there was no way I was going to miss out on conversing with the author of one of my favorite reference works. It's funny how collectors who are strangers can strike up a vibrant conversation like they have known each other for years. IMHO it's all about passion.

 

[sgt23preston]

I have a Smith & Wesson Performance Center 945-1...

It was hand built in the Performance Center by a S&W Gunsmith...

Stainless Steel, 45 ACP, 5" long barrel, with a 2 pound trigger & a Self Aligning Spherical Front Bearing. Yup it's Target Pistol...

Below is a link to a you tube video about it...

It was built in 2007...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIP_57K7Ce8&t=711s

 

[LKGMADMAX]

-I'm not surprised that you were able to find a fantastic Savage Trials Pistol after seeing all your previous threads. But for a Savage pistol collector this has to be the gem in what's an impressive collection.
I was fortunate to have a long and special conversation with Bailey Brower when I acquired my Standard Oil example. I was at work when he called me out of the blue, quite a shock. Suffice to say I took a long break from work as there was no way I was going to miss out on conversing with the author of one of my favorite reference works. It's funny how collectors who are strangers can strike up a vibrant conversation like they have known each other for years. IMHO it's all about passion.

Thanks for the comments.

Yes Bailey is amazing, he and I have had many conversations and email exchanges over the past 5 years. He tried to buy my 1915 SO Company .380 but I didnt want to part with it. The pearl .32 and .45 Trial in my collection came from Bailey's collection. His book is a treasure as is he, always willing to share information and opinions.

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[LKGMADMAX]

WOW!!!!! And congratulations on finding and acquiring this unicorn!

Thank you!

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[Ukrainian might]

My polish wz.91/98/25

 

[GunBum]

Only 1 of these in existence

.22 Ghost Gun

I posted this build on one of the gun building sites. A couple guys who are members here and there encouraged me to post here too. This is a “scrapyard build.” So, a few months ago I was looking in my box of random gun parts and saw a .22 LR bolt from some random bolt action 22 that I...

www.mdshooters.com

 

[GunBum]

Only 1 of these too.

1874/80 Gras

I picked up this Gras action for a song several years ago. It was missing the extractor. Unfortunately, Gras extractors are unobtanium in the US, but are quite plentiful in France. Who would have thought? :lol2: Anyway, I have a friend in Germany who has a girlfriend that speaks French and...

www.mdshooters.com

 

[tallen702]

My polish wz.91/98/25 View attachment 365222

Did that happen to be a recent acquisition at auction?