[Slater]

Disregarding issues of reliability, cost, semi vs bolt, etc., what's just the best looking rifle of the 20th/21st centuries? I'll have to go with the so-ugly-it's cool No 1 Mk 3 SMLE, and the FN FAL.

[Norwegian]

Accuracy international and the Sako TRG series gets my vote .

[Quintin Likely]

U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M-1. :)

[Thundercleese]

Ditto on the M-1.

[aerod1]

I agree, the M1 Garand.

Jim Hall

[Gewehr98]

But I'm partial to the classic good looks of a Ruger #1.

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/images/Products/20H.gif

[Tamara]

Best looking rifle?

If the Ruger No.1 RSI ("International") ain't it, it's close enough that it's not worth arguing.


Sub-category Runners-Up:

Military Auto Rifles: The HK G-3/HK91. The very definition of "strickly bidness" in the looks department.

Military Bolt Guns: U.S. Krag-Jorgensen cavalry carbines. Super svelte lines combined with that wonderfully baroque magazine box hanging off the side.

Leverguns: Browning short-action BLR. How can a levergun look so graceful?

Military Semiautos: M1 Garand. Duh. The exemplar of the breed.

Civilian Bolt Guns: Winchester M70. The older, the better.

Civilian Semiautos: Browning BAR. What? Did you think I was going to say Remington 742?

[Sir Galahad]

Ruger M77 International.:D

[Mannlicher]

the best looking rifle ever made is the 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer. Period.

[CZ-100]

Ill 2nd, 3rd or 4th it...

M1

[ACP230]

I nominate the Ruger 77 Ultralight. It helps if it is in .250-3000 too.

[LAMPROPELTIS]

IMHO the AK47 2nd fn fal/ L1A1. :cool:

[WalkerTexasRanger]

M1 Garand...

[larryw]

Sharps Model 1874

http://www.iar-arms.com/images3/sharps-exclusive.jpg

[Art Eatman]

I guess my notions about rifles haven't changed in many decades, as far as aesthetics. First preference is a bolt action. I like a relatively long barrel and a nicely figured but not overly fancy walnut stock. I like the lines of a rather slender depth in the receiver; a 4+1 magazine allows the proportions I like.

Art

[4v50 Gary]

A walnut burl bolt action rifle is easy on my eyes.

Now, for milit-tree guns, make mine M-14. It's a wood thing and bettah for pig-sticking (bayonet) than the FN-FAL.

[redneck]

Best looking one I've ever seen in person was a winchester model 70

[benEzra]

To me, Steyr AUG or original AR-15/M16A1. (I'd rather have an A2, but you have to admit that the triangular handguard was neat looking.) Runners up would be the M16A2 and the AK-74. (Sorry, as a technogeek I just don't get into the straight, conventional-stocked rifles.)

The UGLIEST list might be easier. OICW, FAMAS (which the French call "the bugle"--picture it in silhouette, with the buttstock being the bell of a trumpet), and the Dardick rifle (which also wins the "geekiest name for ammo" award).

[Brian Williams]

Winchester 1885 Lo-Wall

[natedog]

Kel-Tec Sub-Rilfle! ;)

In all seriousness, probably the M-1, at least till I think of something else.

[Gordon]

Have to go with the Mannlicher Schoenauer for looks!:)

[Snaps]

Barrett .50, don't rememebr which model but they all just look awsome

[Combat-wombat]

Springfield M1A.

[MLC]

Perfessr beat me to it.
http://www.buffaloshop.de/LeverAction/1885_Low_Wall_Schuetzen_Rifle.jpg
http://leveraction.com/images/uploads/big/w1543d.jpg

[WhoKnowsWho]

M1 Garand

And add best sound effect award too. Ping!

I need to get one...

[Feanaro]

Overall best looker: M16A2. I don't know why that would be the bestest looking. It probably has something to do with the fact that as a small child I remember seeing two guns frequently in movies, and for the latter in the news sometimes, the M1A1 Thompson and the M16 family.

Best looking SMG: Thompson. Nothing quite beats the walnut furniture, milled squares and curves. Ugly drum magazines need not apply.

Best looking EAR(Evil Assault Rifle) other than the M16A2: G3. Sleek combination of wood and plastic.

Best looking MG: MG-42. Nothing to say, I just like it. BAR tied in right behind it(sort of an MG).

Best looking bolt-action rifle: Schmidt Rubin K-31. Because it's odd.

Best semi-auto, civvy or military: M14/M1A.

Not sure what the ugliest rifle is but the rifles pictured in this thread so far are pretty close. :D

[Smoke]

Boy this is tougher than I thought...

Just one? ummmm....uh, gosh......

Can I categorize?

Single Shot: Sharps
Bolt Action: Kimber 84M Varmint
Lever Action: WIn 94
Semi Auto: M1A
MG: Thompson


For just one I'm going with this one. (I have one too)

http://www.kimberamerica.com/images/rifles/longmasterclassic_84m.jpg

[Alfadog]

Bolt: Dakota 76 Classic (lousy pic that doesn't do it justice):

http://www.dakotaarms.com/store_graphics/Dak76_classic.jpg

Lever: Winchester 1895:

http://www.rarewinchesters.com/images/1895/M95-406533/M95-406533%20RH.JPG

Semi-auto: M1 Garand of course:

http://www.dgrguns.com/Dscn0125a.jpg

[DMK]

I always thought the M-14 was a pretty cool looking rifle.


http://world.guns.ru/assault/m14.jpg

[Solinvictus70]

The new CZ rifles with the full stocks OR about any of the 98K's made by the Czechs, especially the 1945 models at Samco Global!

[Dr.Rob]

Just about any Mauser actioned magnum made by Holland and Holland around 1905-1914.

[ChairborneRanger]

I'd vote for the M16A2/AR15A2, as well. The M1 Carbine, though, takes top honors in the 'cute' to look at (and fun to shoot) department!

[cool45auto]

My dad's Shilo Sharps "Quigley" rifle.

[Snaps]

http://www.barrettrifles.com/images/model82A1.jpg

How can ya not vote for this one?:cool:

[David4516]

I have a few that I like.

Just plain coolest looking: Fallshirmjagergewehr 42

http://www.collectorsarmory.com/images/01-905.jpg

Lever Action: Winchester Model 1894

http://www.winchester-guns.com/prodinfo/catalog/images/534093m.jpg

Bolt Action: Tie between Krag and Mauser

http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.com/Photos/1892%20Krag%20Rifle%20II.jpg

http://www2.nkansai.ne.jp/shop/combat/image55780.jpg

SMG: Tommy Gun

http://www.bauershooting.com/images/M1.gif

Semi-Auto: M1 Carbine

http://my.voyager.net/~farmer60/images/carbine_m1.gif

[Mike Irwin]

Savage Model 99.

[clown714]

I,think they all look good:D



clown

[Andrew Wyatt]

I really like the 1903.

[tex_n_cal]

Hmmm..

Black rifles...the FAL, the only pretty assault rifle ever made:neener:
semi - the M1A
lever - the M71 deluxe, the mighty .348. Honorable mention to the M99 Savage & the .405 M1895.
Bolt - any classic styled model. Dakotas are nice but the best wood is outrageously expensive on them.
Single shot - the Browning B78, the Japanese 1st model copy of the highwall. Glossy Monte Carlo stock and all, it's gorgeous. The traditional hunter, too.

Honorable mention to this one: :D

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=76221

[six 4 sure]

I'm kinda partial to the Winchester 1886.

Six

[chishinken]

The Objective Individual Combat Weapon!
http://www.circlevision.org/alliantaction/atk/scoop/oicw/oicw033002bg.jpg

[chaim]

If guns made in the 20th and 21st centuries count then I'm between the Sharps rifle as already mentioned by a few or the Urberti copy of the Winchester 92 (case harded finish).

If you want modern guns then it is either:
-the Winchester 70 Classic, Featherweight that looks just like the one on the website (when I saw this at a store I knew I'd have to own one- maybe soon).
http://www.winchester-guns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.asp?cat_id=535&type_id=004&cat=001C

Heck just about any bolt rifle wearing wood with a Schnabel type fore-end looks pretty darned good to me.

or

-the CZ 550 Lux when you get one with good wood. CZ's rifles seem to have wood that ranges from pretty good to absolutely stunning. http://www.cz-usa.com/_p/pdt.php?id=20

In semi-autos the M1 Garand, the civilian BARs and even the Remington 7400 (in wood), while "also rans" aren't that far off.

[JohnKSa]

Overall, I'd have to give it to the Ruger #1.

Military style prize would go to the DSA SA-58 rifles. Very nice.

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

The AK-74

[jimbo]

I can't relate to you all thinking black guns and plastic are the best looking guns. Then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I just happen to think a hand-built Ferrari with 7 layers of hand rubbed scarlet enamel is much more beautiful than a new Hummer or Chevy Avalanche.

I've got to go with Dr. Rob on the old H&H's. Any high-dollar custom bolt action Safari rifle is up there in looks to me and has it all over any plastic-fantastic rifle out there. I'll take a knurled wood hand rubbed to a mirror finish as soft as a baby's behind over a chunck of extruded polymer anyday. I'll take 10 layers of rust-blue finish making a barrel look like black-chrome over parkerizing or tennifer anyday.

But then I would take Ann-Margret, Ingrid Bergman, Claudia Cardinale, or Bridgit Bardeaux over J-Lo, Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie and the other modern sluts anyday. So what the hell do I know?

[Gordon]

Add to that rotary spool magazines with an button that makes them all come out, butter knife bolt handles that move with the sensous feel of vaselined pearls. Interior trigger and action parts with engine turning and bright polish and a 4oz set pull and you have the Mannlicher Schoenauers (especially of 1952-58 vintage) . Although pre 64 Super grade Winchesters were the great American girl, er rifleman's rifle. So are those beautiful marble caked custom mausers that grace the centerfolds of Guns magazine.:D