No one else has mentioned it so I will: 6.5 X 55 Swede shooter, full milspec wood and period looking scope. Style, functionality and craftsmanship in 1 lovely package.
Zemio, you mean the m41b?
I have a m96 (its predecessor: straight bolt, no scope) and find that with iron sights it can be more accurate than other shooters scoped rifles on the range.
But as for the coolest guns: M1897 Trench (you can buy riots and convert them for well under $1000,
m1 garand (cmp for ~500),
m1 carbine (same as garand),
and the coolest of all : m1903a1 (currently overpriced because the cmp ran out)