Most Unusual?

[Aqualung]

OK, let's take some time away from thinking about what we can't get (ammo & guns) or what we may lose (2020 Election) for a little bit.

What is your most unusual firearm and what makes it unusual?

Anything you can say that makes it out of the ordinary...an obscure caliber, the next subject on Forgotten Weapons, an Arisaka that your grandfather smuggled home from Guadalcanal, whatever makes it unique and interesting.

I think mine is the family heirloom Winchester Model 92 in .38-40WCF with the low serial number (1st year of production). What makes it unique is that in its history, it was run over by a Model T or A and has a bent barrel. It looks pristine except for the the tool (bench vice, maybe) marks and really offset sights on it are evidence of a couple generations' trying to bend it straight enough to shoot straight.

Aqualung

 

[azleite]

Hungarian 44M in 8mm. Belonged to my Mom’s now passed Boyfriend (Awesome Dude!) Sat in his Mom’s attic since the early ‘70’s & she said get it out. Sold it to me for $50.00-don’t see many of these-Dave

 

[snowman2]

I have a Swedish Huskavarna built on a FN model 98 mauser action in 9.3x57 mauser try to find ammo for it not fun have to custom load it from 8x57 brass.

 

[tinman]

A Vetterli rifle chambered in 10.4x38 mm rimfire. 8)

 

[Snake45]

I have a Walther P.38 in .22LR that I built out of parts.

 

[contender]

It's funny you mentioned the Arisaka,, since my Dad did bring one back from his tour in the Pacific.

However,, a bit more unusual,, is the Japanese revolver, a Musata (spelling?) 9mm that also has a dent from where an allied bullet struck it.

 

[bogus bill]

This is so rare and old that it doesn't have a makers name, proof marks or serial numbers. I believe there might have been a assembly number of 11. It`s a 50 caliber "something" pin or teat fire. Double barrel, folding triggers. I did see a very similar one once.
I estimate it dates in the 1830`s or 1840`s era. My mentor, Duke Duvall gave it to me 45 years ago. He was a avid collector in his day. The gun has two holes drilled on one side. Duke speculated that was for a spring clip so the gun could be clipped to a belt or sash. He also speculated the gun might have been a "Boarding pistol" in the pirate days. Sounds good to me.
https://i.postimg.cc/4xw0WgzR/50-cal-pin-fire-no-no-name.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/ZnycBnzZ/image.jpg

 

[hittman]

A German drilling; 16 gauge SxS over 222.

 

[hittman]

This is so rare and old that it doesn't have a makers name, proof marks or serial numbers.

Oh heck yeah ..... that is VERY cool.

 

[Bob Wright]

Certainly unusual for me is this Mauser M1910 .25 ACP. My brother brought it back from World War II. It is the very first handgun I ever shot.

When my brother first brought it home none of us knew what the caliber designation, 6,35 mm,meant. My Dad took the pistol to a gun shop and learned it was .25 ACP and bought a box of cartridges. We took the pistol to my uncle's farm in Mississippi and divided up that box three ways. None of us hit the can we set atop a fence post. I determined then and there that I would learn to shoot a handgun, and learn everything about them I could.

When my brother died he left it to his son. When my nephew knew death was imminent, he gave the pistol to me.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I have an old Velodog bicycle pistol.
It is in 25 caliber.
They were made in Belgium in the early 20th century for bicycle riders to carry around in case they were attacked by a dog.
It is a unique pistol and is fun to plink around with.
Since I inherited one , I have now picked up a couple more whenever I could find them.

http://www.velodogs.com

 

[Wyandot Jim]

How about a 1873 .577 Snider Enfield Carbine that my Son sent to me from Afghanistan :D

 

[Heavy Barrel]

Sako L46 in 17-222 built by P.O.Ackley back in the 50's.

 

[Mega Twin]

I had a small revolver given to me by my gran father.
The only markings on it were "Puppy" and 5mm.
The rounds that he had with it were 22 cb type cartridges that I shot up.(I was a kid)
It disappeared a few years ago after a nephew and his girl friend spent the night,and he died a few months after from a drug over dose so where the gun is now is anyones guess.
My grandpa told me it was a belly gun and if you stuck it someones belly when you pulled the trigger you had a 50/50 chance of hitting them! 8)

 

[Fox Mike]

A Triplett-Scott 50 cal rimfire. Mine isn't for sale but this link will show what it looks like

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/65/1223/meriden-firearms-co-triplett-scott-repeating-rifle-50-rf

 

[Kevin]

Very interesting topic! I've not heard of a lot of these guns before.

I've got just the run of the mill shooters. Nothing special or unique really. Although I do have one shotgun. It's a 16 gauge side by side, actually it's very nice. I got it from my uncle, he was in the Army as a teacher after WWII in Europe on the military bases. I didn't really know him all that well, but he didn't have kids, so I got this shotgun. It has all sorts of markings on it, but I believe its a Zastava, which is a general run of the mill shotgun.

The interesting thing is the butt stock. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why it was cut and then the end piece glued on. Whoever did it did a great job, almost professional. But I can't figure out why they didn't just replace the whole butt stock. Maybe they wanted that canted angle? Who knows.

 

[BearBio]

!901 Colt Bisley in 41 Long Colt. Was gold washed at one time. REAL ivory carved grips, with a steer head and ruby eyes. Cottage engraved with Native American motifs= Yaqui/Apache hunting a jaguar, Indians chasing a stagecoach, Aztec head dresses, etc. Letters to a dealer in Mexico City. Got it from a collector in Flagstaff, near to the Rez.

A Belgian Velo-Dog in great condition. 22 cal. Used to shoot dogs while bicycling.

 

[bogus bill]

I used to live on the fox river in Wisconsin that was a early water way route. A old man ran a small hardware store somehow pulled a early shotgun from or near the river that had a hinged breach where you would lay a shell in it, swing a curved shaped cover over the shell and tighten a couple of wing nuts!
Besides that he had what I am sure was viking related. A copper object about the size of a squirrel. It had a fish scaled body with what looked like three goose necks and heads out of the body. He thought it was attached to the bow of a viking boat that traveled the river. It was green from age. That belonged in Smithsonian but was displayed on a wall in his shop. His sons had dug it up out of a gravel pit bordering the river.
From other stuff I have read I am sure the Vikings used the fox river and that area long before Columbus discovered America.

 

[bogus bill]

Just read Kevins post above about the extra wood to the butt stock. My dad was a lanky six 6`5". He did the same to all his long guns for LOP (Length of pull). Like this Winchester model 61. Crude, but worked.
https://i.postimg.cc/50y3wPsr/Win-61-21738.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/6QDtdftr/Dad-in-1946.jpg
Kevin, back then guys like my dad were VERY conservative and rather than lay out money for a custom stock they
would just add wood and/or a pad. One of dads brothers was 6ft 6"s and did the same.
I do it myself but have discovered the slip on pads for LOP.
https://i.postimg.cc/wvwZ3j3y/35744mag.jpg

 

[toysoldier]

A Noble Model 275 .22 lever-action rifle. Noble acquired the Kessler patents on their levermatic shotgun, and produced this rifle, Marlin acquired patent rights and produced the Levermatic rifles.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/kessler

 

[Ralph H]

Greetings, Gentlemen,
I guess you could call this unusual. A Gilon .577 made around 1870. Made loading dies, bullet mold for it.
Great fun to shoot.

 

[Paul B]

I have an interesting Mauser. The only marking on the action id the word Danzig. Dunno what the original chambering was but at some time it was rebarreled to the .270 Win. by P.O. Ackely. Mausers are not exactly a light action but the soda straw 24" barrel is so slim and the European stock like those on pre-war Mausers make for a very light piece of work. The receiver has so many holes, four in the rear ring and for in the front ring plus about a 5/8" hole in the rear ring, all probably for some Euro style scope mount. I haven't found the right mount yet. The rifle has the typical double set triggers and rather crude iron sights. My best guess it weighs at the most 6 pounds as it sits and that Euro stock does slap your cheek bone. About a pound of scope should fix that. I'm thinking of replacing the entire receiver with one from an FN Mauser I have laying around which is set up for a scope and having the bolt handle altered for scope use. Be cheaper than filling in all those holes and redrilling and tapping for a scope. Estimate for the holes was $750 plus.
Other interesting toys are a Colt single action army with 5.5" barrel dated by the factory to 1908. A muzzleloader that may or may not be from the 1850's and a Colt 1860 that may or may not be authentic.
But my all time favorite is an 1894 Winchester carbine circa 1911 that belonged to my Great grandfather, who was a sheepherder in Northern Nevada way back when. He gave it to my grandfather when he got married who then passed it down to my father when he married. I didn't see it until a few years after marrying my second wife. He didn't trust the first as she hocked my nickel plated pearl handled second generation Colt 45 that I'd won in a fast draw contest. (first place) She didn't bother to redeem it. Can't say as I blame him. FWIW, I killed my first deer with that rifle at age 11.
Paul B.

 

[bogus bill]

I have this old custom Mauser. It`s a heavy beast, a bench rest type varmint rifle? It doesn't have a safety. It`s on a commercial Mauser action and in .270 win. The scope is a old weaver K-10. The work is fine first class. Rifle has a cheekpiece and a very fine butt plate that is hinged.
https://i.postimg.cc/SKBpks2y/mauser-custom-no.jpg

 

[Aqualung]

Great guns and stories.

Please keep it up!

Bogus Bill, my dad's got a Model 61. It was sure a slick bunny-popper (probably still is, but we don't go for small game anymore).

Aqualung

 

[Pierow]

I have a small 2mm pinfire revolver. If the link works below it will be on the right side. Sort of cool. The barrel is threaded whereby you can attach an 8mm extension in which you place some nifty pyrotechnic type stars. The small spit of fire and gasses from the pinfire cartridge lite and propel the star.

To the left of the larger picture on the right is the box it came in (the little red-velvet deal). It shows the pyrotechnic stars I referred to (the little aluminum tubes are pressed full of composition).

https://www.google.com/search?q=small+pinfire+revolver+gun&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS862US862&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=q2z_0TBiYT8E4M%252CvZdU1nYbUHPOKM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kRPt6RVpt88BPzpP-bm7PPxoOeEGA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiN1v3C-LnrAhVbHM0KHdpsBygQ9QF6BAgGEBE#imgrc=q2z_0TBiYT8E4M

 

[32magfan]

Interesting items y’all have there. I also have a Swiss Vetterli in .41 Swiss Rimfire. I bought it from a neighbor where it was hanging on two rusty nails in his garage. When I got it home, I had to clean a mud-robber”s nest out of the barrel!!

I inherited an old rifle from my Dad that was pretty unique. It was a type I Japanes rifle made by the Italians. The Japanese military wanted a secondary rifle for troops not in the main fighting and needed production to come from another country. They settled on the Italian Carcano design with a floor plate like a Mauser. It was chambered in 6.5 Arisaka. I sold it a few years back when I lived in TN.

32Magfan

 

[Ralph H]

Greetings, Gentlemen,
Wow, 32magfan, your mention of Type 1 brought back memories of my youth. Back in 1954 when I was 18 years old I was visiting my Dad in his work shop. I did not live with or near him. In his shop there was a steel barrel that was his trash barrel. In that barrel was some receiver, bolt, and magazine parts for a Type 1. I asked if I could have them. He said yes, but they were useless for anything.
Six months later I turned the useless parts into a fine rifle. Johnson feather weight barrel, .257 Roberts, Lyman Alaskan scope with 6 power Lischert attachment, adjustable trigger of my own design, and Maple stock with walnut inlays.
Loaded 87 gr. Jordan soft swaged bullets ahead of 43 gr. IMR 4350. At 200 yards would put 10 consecutive rounds into quarter size group. This rifle was and is my pride and joy.

 

[Rook]

My Marlin model 1889 .38-40 lever action rifle with an octagon barrel is not especially unusual but the fact it's been in my family since great grandpa bought it new 127 years ago in 1893 is pretty unusual I think. It's a wonder it's not been stolen or destroyed in a house fire or some natural disaster in all those years.

 

[Robb Barnes]

My most unusual is probably my Texas Longhorn Arms Improved #5 in 45 Colt. It is one of a couple of known barrel banded TLA guns. I had the other banded barrel Improved #5 45 Colt but it was even rarer in that it was not only banded barreled but a 5 shot gun and stainless steel but blued guns just are more pleasing to my tastes.

 

[clintsfolly]

I have a 50 cal smokeless muzzleloader that I and my brother built on a Homemade DeHaws action. Used Douglas barrel and the stock is made from walnut that I cut down and dried. We finished it up in time for the 06 season and I shot a Small buck with it. I then wrote a short story of it and won the Modern muzzleloader forum buck of the year 2006.