Rarest/strangest firearm you've handled or shot?

[Jim Watson]

Come to think of it, I have shot some full autos, my original emphasis was on old guns, but I can now add
MAC 10
M1A1 Thompson
1928 Thompson (1980s Numrich)
STEN
M16 with LR conversion
MP5
Glock 17 with "switch".

None of them mine, but I knew people.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Handled would be a Johnson M1941 Rifle. Firing would be a .577 Snyder Carbine.

 

[Outlaw75]

Not necessarily rare, but something you don't see every day; a 73 Winchester that was made in 1888 that a friend of mine has. We only fired it a could of times with some downloaded ammo, the action had gotten pretty weak over the years.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I own and shoot a Ljutic Spacegun 12 gauge.Also own and shoot a Ruger trap model 400 were produced.

 

[JmacD]

Well, the one off custom sporterized Mauser I have is rare, since there is definitely only one like it.
I did get to handle a 1911 original with a letter of authenticity from colt. Shipped to a base in France originally.
ETA: I got a tour of Cylinder and Slide once… they weren’t under glass, but I didn’t handle them either… FINE craftsmanship there! WOW!

 

[herrwalther]

Gau-8 Avenger. Outside of an A-10.

 

[Odd Job]

For you guys in the US, these would be difficult to get hold of and fire.

My 12 gauge Bora shotgun with a suppressor (I own this in the UK):



A select fire R5 rifle (which is a Galil variant). This was a police rifle I fired in South Africa:



But for overall rarity, I propose this rifle that I fired in the UK:





The maker was M K Jurek, and of the rifles with a traditional bolt and ambidextrous capability, only 4 of these were made.

I have a thread on it here:

A fairly rare rifle | The High Road

 

[Odd Job]

Honorable mention must go to this muzzle-loading pistol, the Moravian Arms .32 Patriot which I also fired here in the UK:



Uses a straight "magazine" block:

 

[theotherwaldo]

When I was 9, I used to bicycle across Portland, Oregon to go to Import Plaza to play with my favorite mechanical toy. It was a Hotchkiss Model 1937 25mm anti-tank gun with Italian markings that was set up in the middle of the toy department. It felt like a toy, as it was made of the lightest materials possible. The sights and breech block were missing and the tires were flat, but I loved messing around with that little gun.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Was it in the box when he brought it in?

You know what, I don't remember. Gun was out and about when I walked up.

 

[hso]

You know what, I don't remember.

If he brought it into the store in a box, his reaction wasn't unreasonable considering the value of a BHP Renaissance. BUT if he didn't bring it in inside a box it seems out of line.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I own-but haven't fired-a Ross Mark III B-British Model. Haven't seen too many of them around.

 

[Riomouse911]

My former best friend (RIP Tim!) had a Registered Magnum, (5” barrel, Patridge style front sight, it was one of the last produced in the 5,100 range, IIRC.) His Uncle ordered it from S&W and used it as his duty gun at LAPD for several decades.

Tim also carried an H&K Mk 23 SOCOM .45 ACP. That was quite a pistol back in the 1990’s, but it was too large for my mitts to shoot well.

Stay safe.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

If he brought it into the store in a box, his reaction wasn't unreasonable considering the value of a BHP Renaissance. BUT if he didn't bring it in inside a box it seems out of line.

Fair enough. I don't touch fancy guns like that anymore even if they are offered.

"Wanna see this fancy gold plated 1911?"

"If it's at all like other 1911's, I'll pass"

 

[FL-NC]

Brand new in cosmoline, Brit L34 SMG, suppressed. I got to put the first rounds through it, ever.

 

[Savage30L]

I worked for a while as a salesman at Bud's, so I've handled many rare firearms. Off the top of my head, I remember a rare 19th century revolver in .32 short that had been refurbished by Red Jacket Firearms, but can't remember all of the details. The owner wanted to sell it to us but we declined as we didn't handle that end of the market.

I also have a friend who has a fairly impressive collection of Civil War rifles and carbines, which I've handled, but again, I don't recall the details of those guns.

As far as what I actually own, the rarest, probably, is this left-hand Atis 12-gauge shotgun, which is made on the Browning design. It's the only left-hand Browning-type that I've ever seen.....

 

[hso]

Three of these are kinda rare.

 

[Deus Machina]

Haven't shot them, but I held a Calico and a Gyrojet at two consecutive gun shows, in the brief period where they were actually affordable. The Calico because no one knew what it was then and didn't want anything they couldn't get parts for, and the Gyrojet because you were lucky if the seller also had half a dozen rounds. They both felt kind of awkward, but now I'd kick past me for not buying them.

Local shop has a Korth for some reason. Far from their usual fare. They put it on the counter to fill other stuff, I decided "oh, what is this?" and picked it up, uncovering the price tag, and covered it right back up. Total time in my hands: about 2.4 seconds.

 

[mavracer]

B-52G tail gunner controls.

The target they used to regulate the B52 tail guns is still in the rafters right over where I worked for a while in the Wichita plant where the 737 fuselage is built now.

 

[Piranha451]

For me it was a High Standard Model 10B. When I owned it, it was a rarity and strange for its day as at the time it was mfg. bullpups were not as prevalent as they are now.

 

[CapnMac]

Shot, like as not, the most exotic was the Rashid--a carbine-length Egyptian Hakim in 7.62x39

Handled, not shot, would be a 1908 Mondragon.

Unique and in the safe, the nod probably goes to my 1st Generation Marlin Camp 45 Carbine. While many were made, they are not very common, and the 2nd gen models sold far better.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I own and shoot a Ljutic Spacegun 12 gauge.Also own and shoot a Ruger trap model 400 were produced.
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[NIGHTLORD40K]

I worked for a while as a salesman at Bud's, so I've handled many rare firearms. Off the top of my head, I remember a rare 19th century revolver in .32 short that had been refurbished by Red Jacket Firearms, but can't remember all of the details. The owner wanted to sell it to us but we declined as we didn't handle that end of the market.

I also have a friend who has a fairly impressive collection of Civil War rifles and carbines, which I've handled, but again, I don't recall the details of those guns.

As far as what I actually own, the rarest, probably, is this left-hand Atis 12-gauge shotgun, which is made on the Browning design. It's the only left-hand Browning-type that I've ever seen.....

View attachment 1160724

Never heard of that one before, neato!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Haven't shot them, but I held a Calico and a Gyrojet at two consecutive gun shows, in the brief period where they were actually affordable. The Calico because no one knew what it was then and didn't want anything they couldn't get parts for, and the Gyrojet because you were lucky if the seller also had half a dozen rounds. They both felt kind of awkward, but now I'd kick past me for not buying them.

Local shop has a Korth for some reason. Far from their usual fare. They put it on the counter to fill other stuff, I decided "oh, what is this?" and picked it up, uncovering the price tag, and covered it right back up. Total time in my hands: about 2.4 seconds.

The Gyrojets (and Dardicks) were actually pretty common to see at gunshows for awhile there, and you're right- prices were low when they were ammo-less curiosities and before collectors started taking them seriously.

I played with a Rogak at a show not long ago. It was every bit as cheesy and terrible as its reputation. I might have actually bought it just for the sheer oddity of it, but not for $500!!!


Also fingered a beautiful Whitney Wolverine a couple years ago. Local shop wanted $900 for it. I thought about it for about a minute.

 

[Armored farmer]

I own and shoot a Ljutic Spacegun 12 gauge.Also own and shoot a Ruger trap model 400 were produced.
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I shot a Space gun and THE GRAND AMERICAN circa 1981. You could sign one out with your ATA number from the Ljutic tent and shoot a round of practice. That's what I did!