What's the holy grail of firearms?

[SpeedAKL]

I am not knowledgeable enough on my firearms history at this point to identify too many major collector guns, but I have a few personal "holy grails" of sorts
-the original Armalite AR-15 that Curtis LeMay shot watermelons with, apparently it sold for $250,000 or something
-a practical holy grail, the Barrett M82/M107
-a select-fire HK G36, IMI Tavor, FN P90, HK MP7, FN SCAR, FAMAS, M16A4, TDI Kriss, SIG 552, and other fruit forbidden by leftist gun-grabbers
-the OICW
-a Browning M2 .50 machine gun
-a GE 7.62mm Minigun just for kicks
-an original black-powder 4-bore elephant gun
-the 12-gauge rifle from hell
-a custom-crafted H&H double in .700NE
-an Atchisson AA-12 full-auto shotgun
-a boat-mounted 1-gauge punt gun
-another practical holy grail, a few high-end precision rifles from AI, McMillan, GAP, etc
-AMP DSR-1
-Mechem NTW-20 20mm sniper rifle
-WW2 Boys anti-tank rifle
-M60
-original Thompson SMG

 

[TCB in TN]

My personal top 3 would be

1. a cherry original Thompson drum gun (I love both the history, and look of them.)

2. A Berreta 93R

My dad turned me on to Mack Bolan at a VERY early age.

I loved all those Mack Bolan books also.

3. A minigun (Loved the one Ventura carried in Preditor)

Yeah all of the above would be awesome, but I would say that for most folks guns with real history would rank higher than just great guns as far as "Holy Grails" go.

Original Rev war weapon carried by GW

Ole Hickory's dueling pistol

One of Teddy Roosevelt's rifles from his "Rough Rider" days

Carlos Hathcocks bullet through the scope captured VC sniper

 

[wbh]

haven't had the time to go through the numerous pages of this thread, so I dunno if someone already mentioned this or not, but my gun grail is the .38 caliber Volcanic Pistol manufactured by Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. number two would probably be a .44 Henry Rifle. both not cheap guns by any means, so they may never be added to the collection...except my old man has a Henry rifle, so maybe one day....

 

[cmidkiff]

From a historical standpoint... Any firearm owned by Paul Revere, John Hancock or Samuel Adams would do nicely.

As a safe queen/BBQ gun, something by Peter Hofer perhaps? His 'Hummingbird' would be fine:

In the NFA ball game... A FN Minimi M249, with a proper tripod sounds like fun.

 

[TehK1w1]

Emler Keith's #1, Bell's .275 Mauser, Patterson's .303, Capstick's .470 Nitro(Although I believe that has recently been accounted for), an unissued Sig P210 with no import marks, an original Sharps in 45-125, a war-era BAR, STG44, etc, etc...

EDIT: Oh, and Teddy Roosevelt's 405 Winchester

 

[jon_in_wv]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but Luger built 2 .45acp Lugers for the US pistol trials when the 1911 was adopted. They are worth HUGE money and they are really gorgeous. There are a lot of guns I like, but the 45ACP Lugers have GOT to be the Holy Grail.

 

[Moonclip]

Probably a SIG 551.

 

[Mazeman]

The musket that killed Crispus Attucks, a martyr for the American Revolution.

 

[RNB65]

Too many to choose from. My holy grail would be a classic, handmade English SxS Purdey. Or any other shotgun mady by James Purdey and Sons.

 

[Fly320s]

Defensive Edge SLR15 Grail:

 

[Guitargod1985]

Holy grail of guns? The one that you don't have to reload.

 

[ThomasT]

Lewis & Clark's air rifle (recently proven such and now on display at a military museum):

Cool looking gun. The L&C journals are worth reading if you get the chance.

 

[Finch]

A fully auto g36...suppressed.

 

[mgregg85]

for me the holy grail of firearms would be the BAR that my grandfather carried in WWII.

 

[Sharps-shooter]

I'm pretty much an ancestor-worshipper, so I'd want something that had to do with my family's history. I already have the rifle that my grandfather's grandfather bought when he came to america and started running guns to the Fenians.

His grandfather was Napoleon's physician while he was in Exile on St. Helena; he gave Napoleon two pistols based on the new percussion principle (forsyth percussion lock, I think it would have been-- before caps). Anyway, I'd like to get my hands on either or both of those, but as of yet I have not been able to figure out who (if anyone) has one.

 

[JWF III]

This would have to be one on the top of my list...


GERMAN PROTOTYPE SEMIAUTO RIFLE BY HAENEL
This is serial number 2. The gas system is remarkably similar to that on the G.41(M), the primary difference being that the piston here is fixed inside the barrel sleeve (which doubles as the cocking handle). The bolt system is like a reversed AK47. Below is an article on the rifle: HAENEL PROTOTYPE SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE By Hugh W. BrockThe firm of C. G. Haenel was founded in Suhl, Germany in 1840 by C. G. Haenel, a Royal Prussian Commissar for Factories, with the support of the Prussian state to produce military arms. The firm also produced sporting arms and bicycles. In 1921, the reknowned arms designer of the MP18 I submachiengun, Hugo Schmeisser went to work for Haenel. In 1925 a complicated arrangement was worked out between the Schmeissers and Haenel family that lasted until the end of WW2. The MP28 II submachinegun was developed at Haenel. Other submachinegun development met with limited success, the MP41 being the most successful. Schmeisser was the force behind the M.Kb.42(H) which became the basis for the world's first true assault rifle, the StG44. After WW2 he spent about five years in Izhvesk in the Soviet Union with other German arms experts. Izhvesk is where the AK47 was developed.The rifle has the C. G. Haenel trademark on the buttplate. The only other markings are the number 2 which appears on the side of the receiver concealed by the stock and on the receiver end cap. The receiver has a green cast from an acid bath. The rest of the parts are in the white. The stock has had a coat of linseed oil added after the War. It was never finished and has some penciled marks on the outside. Estimated time of manufacture is the mid- to late 1930’s.This rifle is gas-operated, semi-automatic and striker-fired. Caliber 8x57JS (7,9 Infanterie Patrone). It has an integral magazine with a capacity of 5 rounds. It is cocked by grasping the knurled section about 1/3 of the way back on the barrel jacket and pulling the barrel jacket to the rear. The striker is caught and held by the sear in the cocked position. When the jacket is released, it runs forward, loading a cartridge into the chamber. When the trigger is pulled, the striker is driven forward firing the cartridge. As the bullet exits the barrel it passes through a gas chamber screwed onto the end of the barrel. The gases are momentarily trapped there and some pressure diverted to the rear through holes in the back end. This gas acts against a piston mounted inside the forward jacket, driving the entire jacket to the rear. Twin operating rods (as in the G.41(M)) are mounted in the rear of the jacket and linked to the bolt. The rods move in tracks in the bolt, rotating the two rear locking lugs out of engagement and pushing the bolt to the rear where the cycle begins anew.
Certificate of Authenticity Included


Other possibles for me...
Original Civil War issue Henry and/or Spencer
Original Civil War issue Whitworth (scoped with original period brass scope)
Original Gatlin Gun (technically not a machine gun, possibly NFA exempt)
Dillon Aero M134 Minigun (if they ever repeel GCA of '86)
German made drilling
German StG 44
Russian PPSh 41

Given enough time, this could be a long list.

Wyman

Edit: I'll add one more- Prototype M1 Garand, 10 shot in .276 Petersen

 

[revjen45]

Luftwaffe Doppelflinte Drilling survival gun.
Any Gatling
Borchardt with stock

 

[JWF III]

Add a Dardick to my list of toys wanted.

 

[Jordan85]

I have no idea but I just ran into this Hi-Power dinkin around and thought it was beautiful.....

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=91230416#PIC

 

[Dionysusigma]

Colt Lightning. There's always been something cool about it.


The FG42. If you have to ask, then you just don't get it.

HK P2000. A truly ambidextrous pistol.

And finally, one that doesn't actually exist: my dream AR. 16" Midlength A3 with Gov't profile barrel, Phantom FS, normal handguards, slickside upper (no FA), MagPul trigger guard, Tango Down grip, Trijicon ACOG TA01NSN-DOC, and with (get this) mahogany-brown furniture.

 

[Hokkmike]

A Viet Nam era AK.

 

[A62Rambler]

Colt M-16A1 serial #3183195. It is the M-16 I qualified with in 1982 at Ft. Benning.

 

[RaferJanders]

Well my grail has always been the BM-59, I like all types, But the Alpine with 10 mags and a wharehouse full of 762x51, and a brandnew M-60 with tri pod and t&e

 

[yesit'sloaded]

A Welrod. If you don't know about it, that was the idea.

 

[CBS220]

A .45 Luger.