What is the most unique rifle you ever had?

H4831 said:
Johnn, I wonder where all those cute little BSA Martini rifles went? Back in the---no, no, I've said that too much. Back in the days when everyone was a shooter, those little Martini's filled the closets of gun clubs all across the country. They must have come on surplus in great numbers, because clubs had oodles of them. Many were also sold to individual shooters. They were certainly accurate little rifles, but for some reason, I could never do my best shooting with them. Seemed to be something to do with the balance.
The large and heavy full blown 22 Martini's vied for top spot with Winchester 52s at the high end gun clubs, shooting in match class competition.
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There's a few 'floating' around here and you're quite right, they are very accurate. Admittedly, the one I have has been 'tiddled up' a bit but here's one of my first batches of targets, using the existing sights and with some of the run of the mill ammo I had on hand.

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In addition to the one I have that I posted the picture of earlier, there's another I've been working on acquiring. It's in VERY NICE original condition. I haven't had much luck convincing the owner to part with it but I'll keep working at it.
 
A Newton "take-down" in 257 Roberts or its mate in "30 US Gov't" with original Pope segmental rifling.
 
Kjohn, I'm very glad the swede was adopted into a good home. The way it was wrapped up for travelling to it's new home, I just knew things would be good for it.
 
My most unique was actually a shotgun. It is a 16 guage mossberg BOLT ACTION. I started hunting ducks and geese with it back in the day, until the clip fell out and I never found it. It's one odd shotgun, but i love it to death.
 
An unusual Voere 2185 semi-auto rifle in 30-06.
One has to get over the uber tight match chamber (that has no place on a deer rifle) and the darn thing only "likes" 168 grain OR lower weight bullets. With light handloads and an externally adjustable trigger, it has an incredible rate of fire for a semi-auto.

The last bit does not mean much though, as the pencil thin barrel heats up rather quickly and who cares really, when you are filling one or two tags.
 
2 actually. 1874 Henry Marini (predates Custer by 2 yrs) and a 1920s target rifle which is a BSA Martini action No 8. Bull barrel and excellent peeps. Shoots like a hot damn. It is teaching me many things. No FTFs at all and faster than a bolt.
 
I really liked my Enfield-built G3A3 that I bought as my bear hunting gun, back in the day. Yes it was heavy to lug around but 2 20rnd mags gave me the courage I needed to challenge bear. Nice shooting rifle! Elegant clock-works!

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Sold it to a nice young fellow in Edmonton, once they made it essentially illegal to shoot.
 
Years back I missed a chance to buy a Long Branch No.5 Lee Enfield for $500.00! Your read that correctly, a Long Branch Jungle Carbine!!! One of only 30 made and only 3 known (at that time)! It was gone when I showed up next day with the money, so I bought the consolation prize....a P14 in an experimental stock in pristine condition. I later sold it for a Sterling converted 7.62 No.4 Lee Enfield. I kick my butt now in my dotage at some of what I've let pass through my hand.
 
Still have it:

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Turkish Mauser originally chambered in 458 American (2") and rechambered with a 458 Win Mag reamer. With the previous chamber end at 2", it became a 458 Win Mag "Improved" with a distinct 1/2" neck. 350gr at 2600 fps. "Unique" stainless stepped barrel, military stock with recoil pad, and truck bedliner finish - a real mean beater!

I never shoot it........

As far as rare - a Remington Model 720 Sniper Rifle previously owned by the Michigan State Police, and a G98/40 with S/N 1a.
 
Although I have been a gun owner for 20 years, only the last few years I have gone beyond the realm of hunting guns. I do have an 03 springfield with the pederson cut out in the receiver. Bubba got his hands on her, was gonna rechamber but decided on a resto.
 
I sold a Win 1886 in 45/70 made in 1906...VG condition for it's age.
What makes it unique...

It was a Deluxe Extra Light Weight,Take down,pistol grip and half magazine model...
 
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Got a letter back from the Savage historian not 4 days ago and turns out I've got a Savage rifle accepted on Dec 2, 1896 but the neat part is that it was submitted by Savage as one of the few New York military trials rifles. Then sent back to Savage and had the military stock replaced with a sporting stock and sold in 1898.
 
A Remington 40XB in 6mm Remington with the heavy barrel and a 12 power Unertyl 2 inch UltraVarmint scope spaced 7.2 inches between the scope blocks purchased in 1967 for $223 and $187 respectively. I sure miss it. Might have to make the owner an offer he can't refuse . . .
 
An original Springfield Model 1884 45-70, usually referred to as a "Trap Door." I actually hunted with it when I was a teen ager.
I have been so tired carrying that through snow all day, and hours after dark, that I really didn't think I could make it home.
In the 1930s my older brothers, travelling with horses and sleigh, had stopped at a homesteaders place for noon time dinner, because it was noon and that's what people did in the 1930s. They did not know the bachelor living at the cabin they stopped at. This rifle was hanging in the wall and my oldest brother was admiring it. The fellow said, "If you want it, you can have it!"
No 45-70 ammunition was made then, and when I wanted to hunt with it, there were no shells. A neighbor said he had some and if I would come to his place he would give them to me. I lost no time in hiking the several miles to his place and he gave me nearly two boxes. Shown in the picture is what remains of the Winchester, 405 grain jacketed he gave me.
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I had one of the Experimental Inglis High-Power 9mms that had an alloy receiver. I hope to get it back some day. After I traded it off I found out how rare they are. Didn't have the research library I have now and I would never have traded it off.
 
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