SIG AMT…circa 1979

 

That's a unique one there!

 

I've owned some rare ones, most of them I've let slip through my fingers while pursuing others. This is probably the rarest I have currently; a non-prefix 4-digit serial number Ruger No. One BH 270 Win. There are estimated to have been fewer than 25 made.

 

That thing is sweet!

 

Probably not all that rare, M71 Winchester in 348 win.Was my uncles

 

Early 40x in 308, not really rare but is my most rare/desirable long gun. Shares some likeness with the M24/M40, which is on my bucket list.

 

Nice, I have a 40XB repeater in 6mm International.

 

Everyone's idea of rare is different. Here is part of my WWII collection of side arms. Every gun you see in this photo was captured by a US service member during WWII and was their war trophies. This doesn't include my collection of P38s or 1911s.

 

WOW.

 

Not rare, but not common either, 1946 Model 70 375 H@H

 

Luxembourg FN-49 in 30-06. Someone before me ground the sight protection ears off. Sigh....

Argentine 1893 Mauser in 7.62X39. Built by a local guy that did odd things like that. It cost me $100 at the pawn shop after he passed. Shoots great!
Pictured next to the Russian SKS.

The Model M SKS. Takes AK mags. Not super rare, but it's the only one I've seen

In the rimfire world:

BRNO ZOM 451 straight pull .22.

First 7 shots I put through it.

Savage/Anschutz 1415/16. Less Anschutz, more Savage in use.

And why not a pistol?
Walther SP22 M2, via the S&W folks.

 

My British Sterling semi-auto/closed bolt Type 2 Carbine/Sterling MK4 L2A3 - 9mm, with 32 round magazines.

And my custom FN Mauser bolt rifle with a Douglas barrel in 338 Winchester Magnum.

 

Probably either my 1895 Chilean Mauser in 7x57 or my 1909 Argentine Mauser in 7.65 Argentine. The Argentine isn't a standard 1909 Argentine service rifle. It is finished to a higher standard, either a ceremonial honor guard or parade rifle.

 

Personally, I consider "rare" as something that someone of average life circumstances is unlikely to own. I prefer to look at the topic as something more attainable like "what is the most desirable gun someone owns" or "what is the most valuable gun someone owns". I have a couple EXTREMELY rare, as in, only one was made, guns. Unfortunately, they are frankenguns with little value or desirability.

My only desirable gun isn't particularly rare unless you consider the condition it is in but, it is fairly valuable and, more importantly, it holds a place in my heart. It is a US GOV stamped colt 1911 in mint condition that was issued in Feb 1943. Although it wasn't issued to my father, it was issued to an officer in his unit when he was fighting in the south pacific. Judging by it's condition, I don't believe it was ever carried in combat though. I was able to get the pistol from the family of the officer and know some of its history. The tie to my father is what makes it so important to me though. I will never sell it no matter what the offer.

 

Model 81 Remington Woodsmaster
35 Remington

 

We'll never know how many of these were made, but there is pretty good evidence that this is one of only 10 prototypes made by some maker in Austria in the 1960s. The action is reminiscent of a Sako L-46 but clearly not the same, although the magazine is a Sako. The chambering was not stamped on the barrel, so I took a pretty big chance when I bought it, but a chamber cast later confirmed it's a .17 Javelina. The tang-mounted safety and DST sold me. I still am looking for forming dies, but I did manage to make 100 cases using barrowed dies. I've only put about 10 rounds through it. The fish scales on a laminated stock are...hard to adjust to, but I am at peace with them:

 

I think my rarest rifles come down to:

H&R Model 800, the 22LR version of the much more common model 700 22WMR, both of which are Reising designs and derivatives of previous Reising rifles. I rarely see these for auction/sale. 2-3 in the last half decade I've been looking for one.

Then there is the Model 450/451, which several hundred where made in two batches. I have a 1st batch. Only thing special about this gun is the heavy tapered barrel they slapped on a Model 265, I think? It's literally just a regular H&R action and slightly modified (crudely at that) stock.) These pop up from time to time, usually in not great condition.Not sure if the sight blocks are stock or not.

Next is the Model 5200, which is the Civilian version of the M12. Having a Walnut stock instead of a Birch stock of the M12. I don't know if the M12 has the same roll marks, but the 5200 is marked with "22 LR MATCH". Not sure on total production numbers of the 5200, most of these turned out as M12s. So while the M12 is common, the 5200, despite being mechanically the same, isn't. Seen a few pop up in the last couple of years.

And then, also the H&R Model 370 Ultra Medalist, in 22-250. Rarest of the the Ultra Rifle series. Very few of these made, even compared to the rest of the 300 series H&R centerfire bolt actions (using FN, Zastava, and Sakos) The 300, 301, 317, 330, and 340 models are all fairly standard hunting rifles in one form or another with light barrels. The 370 has a benchrest stock, and heavy barrel. What sources I have for the 300 series is 'several thousand' in total made. Including the O'Brien leftovers that are the 317 Wildcat line.

I have not seen another model 370 for sale since I got this one back about 4-5 years ago. It shoots absolutely like the proverbial tack driver.

Less rare items I have include:
317 Ultra Wildcat in 223 rem, but it is not an original O'Biren. Original O'Biren stock model 317's have the knurled dovetail mounts, H&R later production Sako contract actions have normal round top receivers.
301 Ultra in the Mannlicher stock with Zastava action.
330 Ultra FN action.
700 22WMR (and it is smooth to shoot, get one. One of my favorite firearms.)
360 Ultra Automatic Deluxe
760 Saraha (the funny automatic ejection blowback the ATF forced them to quit production of.)
A Buckmark Rifle
BSA Centurion

And a couple of shotguns
H&R SxS Belgian Tooling Hammergun in 28g, case colored
Pre-Model 11 Remington Autoloading Shotgun
Tula TOZ-34 Baikal middle-grade (still trying to find a Sovereign or Souvenir grade)

 

Malcomar cetme lc. 600 or so kits. 5.56. Now no longer available except 2 hand market.

Hungarian akm 63d 7.62x39

ar180 howa manufacturer. Couple thousand produced.

Polish fb radom 5.56 not exactly rare. Only nato spec ak that I know of and no longer imported.

wilson combat kz45. South African contract fiber reinforced lower. Double stack .45acp. Only available on secondary market.

 

Rarest centerfire rifle I own is my 1800's Ballard Schuetzen rifle with three Pope barrels fitted to it.

This cased set was owned by LG Priddy of Denver, Co. and he was the top shooter on the Denver Rifle Club in the late 1800's and early 1900's. This cased set with Priddy's name on the case is the only known three barrel Pope set using Pope's 1890 patented takedown system. It also came with loading tools, plus Pope molds (not shown) and a Winchester A5 scope. Barrels are .32-40 Ballard, .28 Pope Special, and .22WCF.

 

You win

 

Remington International Match Free Rifle in 300 H&H.

15 1/2 pounds of long range target perfection. Came with Remington 2 ounce trigger. These were delivered from Remington with a rough turned unfinished stock --- I did the finish work on this one.

Back in 1961 when this was made, a Remington 40x with Redfield Olympic sights sold for $149, and yet the International Match Rifle without ANY sights sold for $364. Do the math based on today's prices! Hand made in the Remington Custom Shop; a special order rifle in an un-catalogued caliber. Only about 100 IMR rifles ever made --- no other ones in this caliber, as far as I am aware.

BRP

 

.

A .30-06 custom Sedgley Sporter, based on a US Springfield 1903 rifle & a Walther KKJ .22 Hornet Sporter.

.

 

I can't say I have anything really "rare" but I have a few that getting to be really collectable and really going up in value. My dad's Winchester Model 63 from the '60s is very desirable .22 auto and I know those that have one love them.

I picked a new in box HK MP5 A5 .22 "Carl Walther Edition" at an estate sale. I don't think the old guy that bought it ever shot it. It still had all the stickers and paper work in the original box. They took my first offer ... half of what they were selling for on GB. I've found there are two versions ... the heavy, the Walther Model and the light model, the Umirex version. The Walther's carry a much bigger price tag.

I know the subject was rifles but I see a few handguns too. I have a couple in that "collectable", "desirable" category ... a couple of my favorites. One is a Ruger MK-II Government Target Model .... what a great shooter ... I love it !

And my best ever pawn shop find ... a 3" S&W Model-13 .357magnum ... Called the "FBI Gun" ... the last revolver issued to FBI agents. I picked it up for $225.00 and I've seen one go for over $600.00 on Gun Broker. The guns have a history and a story. We have a big FBI presences in our area of the capitol city and up in Clarksburg ... my nephew works there.

 

While not necessarily rare, but priceless to me, a 1911 manufactured Luger that was owned by my grandfather, a WW1 veteran.

 

For a while I had one of the "Educational Contract" Winchester M1 Garands (qty.500 manufactured), with original & very nice dark-olive receiver parkerizing.

I normally would have held onto it, except that it was a reclaimed CMP drill rifle (exhibiting only a light spot weld at the very bottom of the receiver), with a postwar barrel; a mixmaster that would have taken a fortune to 'correct'. As Garands go, drill rifles just don't have as much of an upside.

I still did well when I sold it, and don't miss it any more than other Garands I've owned - can't keep 'em all. :-/
All I can hope for is that subsequent owner(s) accurately represented its status upon any resale.

 

I’ve skinned my hoard way down in last 4 years. I don’t have much considered rare. Almost everything I have is scarce, classic and desirable. Either one of these lever guns or the FN HP Competition model.

 

I can play this game:

Finn M28/76, a Mosin Nagant rebuilt in the 1970s by Finland for sniper use and Olympic competition. ~1200 made, ~600 imported to the US about 15 years ago. I know the importer, was going through the stash and found one with a few missing parts and a broken stock. We struck a deal, I have more than a few Mosin parts and it was a simple stock repair so it was up and running within a few days.

 

I can't do pictures but my Dad's Marlin model 92 Deluxe in 30-30, 1902 production is my rarest. It's in immaculate shape too!

 

Marlin 92's were never chambered in 30-30, you mean 1893?

 

My Rarest would be a 1952 k-38. Not particularly "rare" but it's rarer than any of my other centerfires. (I only have a few). She ain't pretty but shoots wonderfully, I only feed it 148 grain hollow based wadcutters.

 

This one has to be fairly rare. CZ527 Exclusive Ebony Edition. Ebony caps and spiral forged barrel. .223
Feel very fortunate to have found this one.

 

This one has to be fairly rare. CZ527 Exclusive Ebony Edition. Ebony caps and spiral forged barrel. .223
Feel very fortunate to have found this one.
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