Just one opinion, instead of the flash and glitter concentrate on accuracy, dependability and 'toughness.' Our family's generation guns are the ones that have been used as essential tools and have a history within the family.
For example, the 92 Winchester my grandfather gave me was originally bought by his father and used as a saddle gun in the Dakotas, Montana and Colorado. It's not a tricked out rifle by any means but shooting it is a link of sorts to how great Grandfather made his living all those years ago.
Another is an old military revolver that one member of the family or another has carried through "two wars, a conflict and a police action." It's hard life caught up with a couple of years ago and for safety reasons has been assigned to wall hanging duty. But holding that old weapon is a time machine to the trenches in Belgium, the hedgerows of France, the Pusan perimeter and the jungles of Vietnam.
If you want the true generation firearm. Make it the one that was used to kill the prize buck or win a coveted shooting contest. You can pass on glamor and glitter or you keep a little bit of your family history alive. I prefer the latter.
Selena