'Holy Grail' of ww2 small arms/ firearms

One of Hitler's bodyguard's belt buckle 4 shot (.22 RF) pistols. I believe only 4 were made. At one time at least one of them was in Canada because I held it in my hand at a Haynes sale years ago. If I could remember all the details I might even be tempted to give building one a try...very intricate mechanics in it.

 
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I missed out on one here on CGN years ago, some dude in Southern MB got it. Frankly I could live happily just owning that and nothing else.

I've got an old Gun Digest where they shoot an Italian capture Solothurn 20mm. It was in the box with all accessories. Nobody wanted more than a couple of shots! They only had a few hundred yards to shoot and they holed 1-1/2" plate like it was card board.
 
Isn't the Holy Grail supposed to be so Uber Rare and have Mythical Status because it is 'one of a kind' and not out of a production run?

Let's start searching for The One and True Grail - versus what has been previously mentioned in this thread which ammounts to common pieces of the cross of cruxifiction that sit in every neighbourhood church in Europe.

"You must Choose Wisely"

To up that anti - I would like General George Patton's Colt SAA with Ivory Grips and Colt Letter of Authenticity.

The Colt .45 Model 1873 Single Action Revolver

Serial Number 332088

Shipped on 4 March 1916 - Cost $50.00

4-3/4 inch barrel. Overall length 10-1/4 inches. Weight 38 ounces.
 
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Julian Hatcher shat on the Owen in his otherwise professional book on small arms design. X2 on the Owen, I think they are great.

For myself, I would like to get a chance to examine the Rieder automatic rifle.

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That looks quite similar to the Charleton automatic conversion, or are they the same firearm? There were some specialty twenty or thirty round SMLE magazines made up for them. I'd think the Charleton would qualify as rare with many examples being lost in a warehouse fire after the war. Extremely interesting gas system, similar to Browning's early conversions of Winchester lever actions.
 
I have a line on a Lee Enfield No1 MkV and possibly a Royal Ulster Constabulary marked No1 MkIII, the MkV I'm very much hoping I can make a deal for
 
That looks quite similar to the Charleton automatic conversion, or are they the same firearm? There were some specialty twenty or thirty round SMLE magazines made up for them. I'd think the Charleton would qualify as rare with many examples being lost in a warehouse fire after the war. Extremely interesting gas system, similar to Browning's early conversions of Winchester lever actions.

They are not the same firearm. The Howell conversion was from WWI. The Charlton was Australian(?), the Huot was Canadian (also from WWI), The Rieder was designed by a South African gentleman largely on his own in the late 1930s / early 1940s. As far as I know, the Rieder only used 10 round SMLE magazines. On wiki it is said the Rieder was intended to use twenty round trench magazines but to me this last assertion smacks of mall ninja.

I thought a Winchester was converted by Hiram Maxim at one point to full auto (recoil operated with a muzzle booster) but I could be mistaken.

I think this is the patent for it, but somewhere in the past I had seen a pic of a Winchester conversion with a muzzle booster & associated apparatus.

http://www.google.com/patents/US297278?dq=hiram+maxim+gun#PPA44,M1

Here is the Browning conversion of an 1866 Winchester. Peculiar flapping type gas trap / muzzle booster. Peculiar to 21st century eyes, but something tells me it worked just fine.

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:p Once you drop the hammer on the Browning conversion, pray & hang on! :p
 
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Polish Army RADOM Vis-35
1935-1939 Pre-Invasion Original.
Only about 49,400 ever delivered into the Army's hands.

There was one at Cabelas in Winnipeg for $800 last year. I believe it was 1937 manufacture. Sat for quite some time but isn't there any more
 
Oh, if we're going to go for "one of a kind unicorn" small arm....

Mad Jack Churchill's longbow. He had the only recorded longbow kill of WWII

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This is the same fellow who stormed the beaches of Normandy leading his troops wielding a claymore, which comes in a close second to his Longbow in terms of "rare" WWII wepons I would love to own (2nd by virtue of the fact that it's uncertain if he actually got any Nazis with it.)

jack-churchill.jpg
 
To up that anti - I would like General George Patton's Colt SAA with Ivory Grips and Colt Letter of Authenticity.

The Colt .45 Model 1873 Single Action Revolver

Serial Number 332088

Shipped on 4 March 1916 - Cost $50.00

4-3/4 inch barrel. Overall length 10-1/4 inches. Weight 38 ounces.

I have seen that gun. It is on display at the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, KY.
 
I believe I have a rarity from WW1, I know you said WW2 but rare is rare. At the beginning of WW1 the Germans had no sniper rifles per sec.
They asked the population for their Commercial scoped hunting rifles in 8x57, a total of 4600 were "donated", all went through the Spandau Arsenal and were
"reproofed". Each got a special stamp and a plaque on the right butt as to what 8mm ammo to use and a unit # on the left just behind the cheek rest. They were used from the onset of the war until about mid 1916, when recalled most lost their original scopes which were put on the military sniper. Most were of high quality. I happen to have one of three found and confirmed to this date, there could be others of course but few people even know of their existence. My particular rifle is based on commercial Oberndrf Mauser with integral set triggers, the barrel is octagon to round with integral rib and front sight. The stock is a typical Germanic
sporter style. The scope was mounted in claw mounts, mine is missing both claws and scope.
I feel fortunate to have such a rarity. At the time of purchase I had no clue, I just liked the rifle and asking price. --- John
 
I believe I have a rarity from WW1, I know you said WW2 but rare is rare. At the beginning of WW1 the Germans had no sniper rifles per sec.
They asked the population for their Commercial scoped hunting rifles in 8x57, a total of 4600 were "donated", all went through the Spandau Arsenal and were Isn't the Holy Grail supposed to be so Uber Rare and have Mythical Status because it is 'one of a kind' and not out of a production run?

Let's start searching for The One and True Grail - versus what has been previously mentioned in this thread which ammounts to common pieces of the cross of cruxifiction that sit in every neighbourhood church in Europe.

"You must Choose Wisely"

To up that anti - I would like General George Patton's Colt SAA with Ivory Grips and Colt Letter of Authenticity.

The Colt .45 Model 1873 Single Action Revolver

Serial Number 332088

Shipped on 4 March 1916 - Cost $50.00

4-3/4 inch barrel. Overall length 10-1/4 inches. Weight 38 ounces.
"reproofed". Each got a special stamp and a plaque on the right butt as to what 8mm ammo to use and a unit # on the left just behind the cheek rest. They were used from the onset of the war until about mid 1916, when recalled most lost their original scopes which were put on the military sniper. Most were of high quality. I happen to have one of three found and confirmed to this date, there could be others of course but few people even know of their existence. My particular rifle is based on commercial Oberndrf Mauser with integral set triggers, the barrel is octagon to round with integral rib and front sight. The stock is a typical Germanic
sporter style. The scope was mounted in claw mounts, mine is missing both claws and scope.
I feel fortunate to have such a rarity. At the time of purchase I had no clue, I just liked the rifle and asking price. --- John

Would like to see this rifle! Start a thread on its own and post some pics. Sounds interesting.
 
Thank you for your interest in the Commercial to Military Sniper (Mauser)
It's been discussed on the Nitroepress site in some detail in 2 of their foums.
1st is > Mauser Discussion forum > Mauser Calibre ? > at the bottom of page 13.
2cd is > Mauser Photo & Archive forum > Mauser Pictures > page 2 > the last gun of the lot.
Very interesting that the existence of these guns was only confirmed fairly recently by a person
doing research in Germany.
You'll notice mine and all the others lack the 2 plaques normally found on the stock but the "tack" holes are still there.
I have pics. of the other two, one is in the States and the other in Germany.
There is a claim of one in England but no pictures seem to be available to confirm this.
CdnAR - If you are any near Sarnia you can see the actual thing. --- John
 
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