Jim Watson
Member
Oh yeah, 4 lb “grasshopper gun” and 20 lb Parrott.
Rarest/strangest firearm you've handled or shot?
- Thread starter NIGHTLORD40K
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plainsdrifter
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- Jun 3, 2021
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- 605
H&R Handy Gun .410 smooth bore.
Armored farmer
Member
As many of you know, I have my great-great-great grandfather's original caplock.
I shot it in our club over-the-log match this spring. I also killed a deer with it back in '15
I also have my great-great grandfather's. 45 caplock....my great-grandfathers 12ga sxs...My grandfathers Winchester 59 quail gun, my dad has his 1952 870 12ga, my 1977 12ga 1100...my son has his LH 870 12ga.
I shot it in our club over-the-log match this spring. I also killed a deer with it back in '15
I also have my great-great grandfather's. 45 caplock....my great-grandfathers 12ga sxs...My grandfathers Winchester 59 quail gun, my dad has his 1952 870 12ga, my 1977 12ga 1100...my son has his LH 870 12ga.
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tark
Member
Years ago, when the Rock Island Museum was still full of guns, I worked as a volunteer. (Still do, but most all of the guns are gone.) I have held in my hands:
General John Buford's saber (One of the hero's of Gettysburg.) *
1903 Springfield R.I.A. manufacture serial # 1. ( In its original rod bayonet configuration. ) *
Model shop M-1 Garand serial # 2. *
An FG 42, second pattern, that appeared to be unfired. The ATF says there are only 26 of these in the country. We had three. They go at auction for about a third of a million bucks.
A prototype 1903 Springfield converted to semi-auto operation. Only one was made. *
An 1892 Krag carbine. Only two prototypes were made, one was lost. *
An unfired Officer's Model trapdoor Springfield.
A Trapdoor pistol made as a pistol in 45-70 The army only made a handful of these. What were they thinking!!??
A 1901 Springfield prototype. These had the rod bayonet and a 31 inch barrel. The action was slightly different from the 1903 The Army made about 20. *
We kept and have on display the guns marked with an *
The guns that left are in good hands. Some went to other Army museums, some, to storage at Anniston, where the Army stores all of its Museum artifacts. They are all owned by the D.O.D. and they will never be sold or destroyed. They will stay in the Army's Museum system.
General John Buford's saber (One of the hero's of Gettysburg.) *
1903 Springfield R.I.A. manufacture serial # 1. ( In its original rod bayonet configuration. ) *
Model shop M-1 Garand serial # 2. *
An FG 42, second pattern, that appeared to be unfired. The ATF says there are only 26 of these in the country. We had three. They go at auction for about a third of a million bucks.
A prototype 1903 Springfield converted to semi-auto operation. Only one was made. *
An 1892 Krag carbine. Only two prototypes were made, one was lost. *
An unfired Officer's Model trapdoor Springfield.
A Trapdoor pistol made as a pistol in 45-70 The army only made a handful of these. What were they thinking!!??
A 1901 Springfield prototype. These had the rod bayonet and a 31 inch barrel. The action was slightly different from the 1903 The Army made about 20. *
We kept and have on display the guns marked with an *
The guns that left are in good hands. Some went to other Army museums, some, to storage at Anniston, where the Army stores all of its Museum artifacts. They are all owned by the D.O.D. and they will never be sold or destroyed. They will stay in the Army's Museum system.
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My wife has the two wood stocked versions. I've shot one.
I guess they may be pretty rare.
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Starter52
Member
I've owned and shot a High Standard Crusader revolver in .45 Colt.
LimaCharlie
Member.
The most rare gun in my safe is my custom rifle built on a Mouser action in 460 Weatherby Magnum. It has a 30" barrel with an integral muzzle brake. I got it from an estate sold to the LGS. The price was a very small fraction of what it would cost to replicate.
Captcurt
Member
One of the benefits of selling guns on consignment is the opportunities to see some oddball items. One that I had the chance to shoot was a H&R Handy-Gun chambered for 410. This is a single shot break action pistol that was classified as a Class III weapon through the Nation Firearms Act. Often used by the mob. With no way to run ballistic test on a bullet, it gave our all-knowing Government to outlaw the use of it. If it had a rifling in the barrel it would have been legal, although I don't see why that would make a difference with the ammo of that time.
I also got to shoot an original 1886 Springfield 45-70. It was loaded with just enough smokeless powder to lob a bullet 100 yards. I had some civil war rifles listed but never got to shoot them.
Though the M-14 isn't rare, I did get to shoot my uncle's National Match. I would love to have one.
I also got to shoot an original 1886 Springfield 45-70. It was loaded with just enough smokeless powder to lob a bullet 100 yards. I had some civil war rifles listed but never got to shoot them.
Though the M-14 isn't rare, I did get to shoot my uncle's National Match. I would love to have one.
Captcurt
Member
I tried to find my pictures of a1871 Ward-Burton Carbine that I listed for a friend several years ago, but to no avail. It was one of, if not the first, bolt action rifle and was created for the military but never was adopted. Only 333 carbines were made and 1000 long guns. It was chambered for 50-70. Wish I could find my pictures.
tark
Member
As to the rarest gun I have actually held and fired... That would be a James Purdey 4 bore double rifle. There are only three or four known to exist. The time was 1985 and the gun was owned by one Ray Meyer, who had hunted extensively in Africa, and had a friend named Elmer Keith. Ray was in his seventies then and still occasionally took that cannon to the range. It fired a shell four inches long holding a 2000 grain bullet pushed by around 400 grains of FG. The Gun weighed around 20 pounds and the recoil was galactic level. Around 200 ft-lbs. By comparison, a 12 ga. 3 1/2 " turkey load has about 60-70 ft. lbs, depending on the gun. It could not be fired sitting down, it would knock you off of the chair. You fired it standing, and took a step backward as you rolled with the recoil.
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Gerd33
Member
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2021
- Messages
- 212
I have a family member that has a number of interesting/odd firearms that they had inherited in the early 1970s.
Among those are this Savage 99 takedown in 22 highpower that somehow acquired a set of British Proofmarks which "read":
stamped upside down on the barrel and Crown over V on receiver.
For myself it would probably fall under more of unusual than rare which would be the BFR 45/70 revolver that I owned for about 10yrs.
Among those are this Savage 99 takedown in 22 highpower that somehow acquired a set of British Proofmarks which "read":
stamped upside down on the barrel and Crown over V on receiver.
For myself it would probably fall under more of unusual than rare which would be the BFR 45/70 revolver that I owned for about 10yrs.
Mosin77
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2019
- Messages
- 1,586
Hmm… I’ve seen some oddballs.
Quackenbush .22 rifles… A Japanese type I… a Star pistol in 7.65mm apparently beloved of anarchist terrorists of the 1920s… a Whitney Wolverine .22 in the rather scarce nickel finish… One day two Broomhandles came in on the same day, from different unrelated sellers, both in 95% + condition. Didn’t see another for 4 years. A revolutionary war era Brown Bess (sporterized but not a repro.) A S&W .38-44 Heavy Duty stolen in the 1930s out of the Las Vegas sheriff’s squad car, reunited with his family in the early ‘70s, with the Guns & Ammo magazine of that era discussing it. Also the sheriff’s replacement gun, a classic Colt .38 super 1911 with mother of pearl grips and engraving. An Oldenburg “cyclops” musket, apparently only about 800 of which were ever imported, by the Union in the early days of the civil war to keep them out of confederate hands. …an Alexander Henry SxS shotgun (he of Martini Henry fame.) A game trap from the early 20th century that killed its prey with a .38 special bullet… a WW1 era Luger with 2 matching magazines and original holster… a Browning Diana grade superposed, signed by the FN engraver… a British shotgun in its original leather hard case from about 1907, with White Star Line cargo stickers still on the outside… a Walther PPK wwII bringback in exceptional condition, in .22lr… a Glock 17 Gen. 1, one of the first few hundred imported, still in its original Tupperware style case… A Spencer carbine in 95% condition… a French musket made in 1812 in original condition… a pair of sequentially serial numbered Colt Boas… those came to mind among others. I’ve been fortunate to handle some fun ones (and shoot them if I choose.)
Quackenbush .22 rifles… A Japanese type I… a Star pistol in 7.65mm apparently beloved of anarchist terrorists of the 1920s… a Whitney Wolverine .22 in the rather scarce nickel finish… One day two Broomhandles came in on the same day, from different unrelated sellers, both in 95% + condition. Didn’t see another for 4 years. A revolutionary war era Brown Bess (sporterized but not a repro.) A S&W .38-44 Heavy Duty stolen in the 1930s out of the Las Vegas sheriff’s squad car, reunited with his family in the early ‘70s, with the Guns & Ammo magazine of that era discussing it. Also the sheriff’s replacement gun, a classic Colt .38 super 1911 with mother of pearl grips and engraving. An Oldenburg “cyclops” musket, apparently only about 800 of which were ever imported, by the Union in the early days of the civil war to keep them out of confederate hands. …an Alexander Henry SxS shotgun (he of Martini Henry fame.) A game trap from the early 20th century that killed its prey with a .38 special bullet… a WW1 era Luger with 2 matching magazines and original holster… a Browning Diana grade superposed, signed by the FN engraver… a British shotgun in its original leather hard case from about 1907, with White Star Line cargo stickers still on the outside… a Walther PPK wwII bringback in exceptional condition, in .22lr… a Glock 17 Gen. 1, one of the first few hundred imported, still in its original Tupperware style case… A Spencer carbine in 95% condition… a French musket made in 1812 in original condition… a pair of sequentially serial numbered Colt Boas… those came to mind among others. I’ve been fortunate to handle some fun ones (and shoot them if I choose.)
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JN01
Member
I once handled a flintlock rifle carried by a militiaman in George Rogers Clark's Revolutionary War campaign against Kaskaskia and Vincennes. I also held the war club used by an 18th Century Shawnee war chief. Both were in the collection of the same gentleman, Jim Dresslar.
SterlingBullet
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- Jun 1, 2015
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- 305
hso,
Interesting library; quite a variation of titles and subjects. I have to admit that I got lost myself reading and trying to understand A Brief History of Time. Then again, now matter how many times I read an explanation of time dilation and hear of the proofs for it, I still can’t wrap my head around it. Now this week, they have proof that time was slower in the early universe. Forty years ago, when my mechanical watch ran slow, at least it could be fixed to bring it up to speed. Wish I could get my aging grey matter up to speed.
Interesting library; quite a variation of titles and subjects. I have to admit that I got lost myself reading and trying to understand A Brief History of Time. Then again, now matter how many times I read an explanation of time dilation and hear of the proofs for it, I still can’t wrap my head around it. Now this week, they have proof that time was slower in the early universe. Forty years ago, when my mechanical watch ran slow, at least it could be fixed to bring it up to speed. Wish I could get my aging grey matter up to speed.
Mike OTDP
Member
Probably the oddest I've ever shot was an original Japanese matchlock pistol. Nasty beast, about .50 caliber. The problem was that the grip was something you held in the palm of your hand - and would gouge you hard under recoil. I would up selling it to another member of the U.S. International Muzzle-Loading Team, who promptly medalled with it at Worlds.
Rubone
Member
I'll likely have to produce my own ammo to shoot it but I have this Peabody-Martini in 45 Turkish that came from an old friend who's family owned it from new. They were from Providence RI where it was made. It dates from 1874 and is a Type A.
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Bazoo
Member
The rarest and coolest things I've ever seen, but not shot, were:
A drilling 16 gauges over 7×57mmR. I don't remember the brand, and it was pretty worn, but it locked up solid and the quality of it could not be over stated.
A browning 1919A4, semi-automatic. The local gunsmith had build it from parts for about $500 he said. He let me fondle it and click all the buttons when he had it on display in his shop.
A drilling 16 gauges over 7×57mmR. I don't remember the brand, and it was pretty worn, but it locked up solid and the quality of it could not be over stated.
A browning 1919A4, semi-automatic. The local gunsmith had build it from parts for about $500 he said. He let me fondle it and click all the buttons when he had it on display in his shop.
Bazoo
Member
If I knew this, I'd forgotten. That is awesome man. Thank you for sharing that!
shoobe01
Member
I even owned a CALICO, so now feel weird and old.
Also fired a USAS 12. Weird gun.
PPSH 41, full auto
Steyr TMP, full auto
HP UMP, select fire, ran through an IDPA course so that was especially fun
Now, I got to play around in the Royal Armories a couple years ago so touched a bunch of stuff, that you mostly do not care about but some good ones:
that included:
Also fired a USAS 12. Weird gun.
PPSH 41, full auto
Steyr TMP, full auto
HP UMP, select fire, ran through an IDPA course so that was especially fun
Now, I got to play around in the Royal Armories a couple years ago so touched a bunch of stuff, that you mostly do not care about but some good ones:
- EM2, with scope, and the EM2 carbine
- SR-88
- CETME Ameli, one production and one of the prototypes with bits in bare CUBE
- HK33GR (factory painted, integral scope)
- MP5K briefcase guns (multiple)
- Star Z84
- WF C42
that included: - FAMAS
- Valmet M82 Bullpup
- FNC
- FN CAL
JerkyFreak
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- Joined
- Jun 7, 2023
- Messages
- 106
A Remington Hepburn in .45-90. It was great fun to shoot. I have been bugging the owner to leave it to me in his will because he never wants to sell it. Don't think I'm gonna get it though.
OP
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NIGHTLORD40K
Member
That Renaissance is stunning, and the others aint too shabby either!
At one point I had 3 HP, one nickel, one chromed, one blued, and a chance to buy a reasonably priced full-stocked Chinese contract Inglis. Stupidly, I passed on that one....
I still have my copy of Firefly: The Complete Series though. Thats not going anywhere.
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OP
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Wow!I even owned a CALICO, so now feel weird and old.
Also fired a USAS 12. Weird gun.
PPSH 41, full auto
Steyr TMP, full auto
HP UMP, select fire, ran through an IDPA course so that was especially fun
Now, I got to play around in the Royal Armories a couple years ago so touched a bunch of stuff, that you mostly do not care about but some good ones:
Oh, wait, and years ago another collection I got to play with but not shoot either
- EM2, with scope, and the EM2 carbine
- SR-88
- CETME Ameli, one production and one of the prototypes with bits in bare CUBE
- HK33GR (factory painted, integral scope)
- MP5K briefcase guns (multiple)
- Star Z84
- WF C42
(Not even including things that some think are routine like Barrett M82, or AR180)
- FAMAS
- Valmet M82 Bullpup
- FNC
- FN CAL
ballman6711
Member
I've never seen or even knew they made a wood stock Calico. I do however own three of them, the .22lr in pistol and rifle, and the 9mm in pistol. I never found a 9mm rifle at a price I was willing to pay.
Here's another odd one I own, although I don't know if it qualifies as rare.
It's a PKP (Powell Knife Pistol) in 38spcl. Picked it up many years ago for $400. I've never seen another one although I've seen pictures of them in different calibers.
chris
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
Everyone who shoots the space gun shoots 23-24s. It's amazing how it points from how it looks.
OP
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NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Wow, that is the Holy Grail of Martinis! I was searching high and low for a Providence gun years ago (before Gunbroker) and got kinda close- found one that had been cut down and rechambered (to .300 Savage of all things), but it was in rough condition and the guy wanted way too much for it.
Supposedly there are a few out there that the Turks had redone in .303 Brit as well.
Very, very nice. Lemme know if you ever want to get rid of it.
