- Location
- Saskatchewan
What's your white whale?
- Thread starter gwes2003
- Start date
Ouch
Mine too. There was one on the EE a few years ago but it was already spf.
There have been a few over the years but I seem to have acquired most of them. The one I looked longest for was my Sako A IV Safari in 375 H&H........always expensive but I did manage to find one then dumped a ton more money on a custom stock. Then last year another came up in 338 so I jumped on it as well, not sure why......My Winchester collection is in need of a few........Mod 92 SRC in 38-40, Mod 94 in 219 Zipper, Mod 95 Russian contract 7.62X54, Mod 86 in 50-110........none of these is an absolute obsession though, just holes that would be nice to fill sometime. I waited a long time before I could justify spending the money on my double 470 NE, but I did and now I have it. I really can't think of a single rifle/firearm that I just couldn't live without acquiring..........I could have some fun playing with a .577 NE double, but it certainly won't do anything that my .470 won't do.....I'm told or vaguely recall Sako making their A III or IV Safari in 416 Rem and if so I would dearly love to have one of them.
Kilo Charlie..........I have an 86 in 40-82, but not for sale sorry.
Kilo Charlie..........I have an 86 in 40-82, but not for sale sorry.
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Ditchdogger
CGN frequent flyer
full stocked carbine L46 Sako in .22 hornet.
Personal preference I suppose. I had one in 3006 and I should've just bit the bullet and had it rebarelled. Wound up selling it and I kind of regret it. Great gun for the tight bush, and I do like hunting tight bush....
You could get half of one..... or at least that is what you would end up with anyways......
One I have been seeking for a long time is a Browning Citori Lightning Mossy Oak Breakup with 28" barrels... when I saw one "As New" in a 26" barrel model I jumped on it, but would like to change to the 28" model when I can locate one.
Bottom gun;
Bottom gun;
Well, given the rarity and elusiveness of Ahab's White Whale, I would have to say there are just a few that fit the bill for me.....they're shotguns and the fact they are all 16 gauge amps up the White Whale factor.
First, I had been dreaming about one day doing a barn find of a Remington 1894 EE grade in 16 gauge. Until 2 years ago, only three were known to exist. Then a guy emailed me with questions about a gun he had just got from some old farmer in a trade for work done. Turns out it's a 1894 16 gauge 2 barrel set. Only 2 barrel EE grade of any gauge known to exist. Value is WELL into the 5 figures USD. A true barn find of just the gun I had imagined!
Then, there would be a Lindner/Charles Daly Diamond in 16 gauge. Sure there are a few out there but I've never seen a picture of one. Most of Lindner's production was for the US market so percentage of 16's would be way lower than a typical German maker from that era.
There would be a W & C Scott Premier in 16 gauge. Never seen one but like the Lindner output, as a London maker, 16's would be few and far between.
And finally would be a Manufrance Ideal 7R/E Ace of Spades in 16 gauge. I've seen a couple come up for auction in France but I don't usually have the 20,000 euros that is the price of admission.
Happily, I'm close with a couple. Have a Lindner/Daly Diamond Quality in 12 gauge along with a very high grade 12 gauge Manufrance Ideal, although it's not an Ace of Spade.
Pretty sure that with $100,000 USD to spend, the Ahab in me could acquire all four whales!
First, I had been dreaming about one day doing a barn find of a Remington 1894 EE grade in 16 gauge. Until 2 years ago, only three were known to exist. Then a guy emailed me with questions about a gun he had just got from some old farmer in a trade for work done. Turns out it's a 1894 16 gauge 2 barrel set. Only 2 barrel EE grade of any gauge known to exist. Value is WELL into the 5 figures USD. A true barn find of just the gun I had imagined!
Then, there would be a Lindner/Charles Daly Diamond in 16 gauge. Sure there are a few out there but I've never seen a picture of one. Most of Lindner's production was for the US market so percentage of 16's would be way lower than a typical German maker from that era.
There would be a W & C Scott Premier in 16 gauge. Never seen one but like the Lindner output, as a London maker, 16's would be few and far between.
And finally would be a Manufrance Ideal 7R/E Ace of Spades in 16 gauge. I've seen a couple come up for auction in France but I don't usually have the 20,000 euros that is the price of admission.
Happily, I'm close with a couple. Have a Lindner/Daly Diamond Quality in 12 gauge along with a very high grade 12 gauge Manufrance Ideal, although it's not an Ace of Spade.
Pretty sure that with $100,000 USD to spend, the Ahab in me could acquire all four whales!
I've found a lot of my White Whales over the years; in almost every case they were not worth the wait and the effort. Hard to live up to years or decades of anticipation.
Currently, my most elusive quarry is a T/C Seneca or Cherokee in either .32 or .36 caliber.
Currently, my most elusive quarry is a T/C Seneca or Cherokee in either .32 or .36 caliber.
I don't have the big money to chase the expensive firearms listed here, but even the ones that I do have, it seems that the chase is far more enjoyable than the reward.
At the end of the day, it's a slightly different pice of wood and steel than the one I already own.
But the search, I love the search.
At the end of the day, it's a slightly different pice of wood and steel than the one I already own.
But the search, I love the search.
