No, Colt Banker's Specials aren't very common...except here on the Smith & Wesson Forum.



This one lettered to have been shipped to Tufts-Lyons in Los Angeles in March of 1932.

Probably my Registered Magnum built in 1935 for the owner of Zenith Radio. 6", factory reblue in 1950, humpback hammer, unfired since 1950. Or could be the Colt Police Postive .32, 2.5", given to me when I was a teenager by Douglas McArthur when he lived in Evanston, Ilinois. Fortunately I was mostly a guy who kept things, including an even dozen 1911A1s, all from the CMP over a few years, all NIB, Ithacas, Remington Rand, Singer, and 4 Colts. Cost $20.50 each plus shipping IIRC.

My 629-6 2.5" fixed sight snubby.
I have been told production numbers of 500 and 300... and also told that those would have been the number ordered but the order wasnt fully filled.
I think I am going to get it lettered just to know.
This is the 2nd one of these I have had... the 1st got away during an 8 month bout of unemployment.
But I kept a roof over my head and food on the table, so I cant complain too much.



Jim

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Big bullets leave big holes

The only gun I own that could even remotely be called "rare" is my Springfield Army .45 ACP Desert Storm Commemorative.

Less than 500 were manufactured:

Probably this one. Webley Fosbery 3tm model .455.

By the way Nice 1911 Desert Storm.

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Are second thoughts permitted? I earlier posted an uncommon early Colt DA, but now I think I have to go with a rifle: Even though the model is not rare, these are rarely seen with the original factory-mounted glass and in this condition:

Mannlicher-Shoenauer M1903 carbine (6.5 x 54mm), standard and set triggers, 1930s production, 2.5x Kahles Mignon scope (1908 design) on a quick-release mount numbered to the gun. 99%, I think, or possibly only 98% if I am in an excessively critical mood.



I have a few scarce S&Ws, but nothing I would call rare: a couple of .32 Regulation Police target models, half a dozen Prewar Kit Guns. But I have never seen another M-S 1903 with original glass as nice as this one.

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David Wilson

DCWilson..................


Mannlicher-Shoenauer

The smoothest action ever!!!!!!!!! Never could afford one but always "lusted".........

Nice photo

In this case rare means not many built (<5,000) but not valuable by any stretch of the imagination. An Albanian SKS rifle circa 1969, all matching numbers and original condition. A strange looking SKS though.

The rarest gun I have is a NIB Nickel Colt Python Target 8" in .38 Special. They were made in 1980-81 and according to most of the books, all are blue steel.

I called Colt and they told me that 201 nickel Python Targets were made. I really should get a letter for it (if it's still possible)

My candidates:
1. Enfield No. 2 Mk I dated 1932 in pre-war configuration and near mint.
2. Mossberg/A.I.G Abilene in 44 Magnum. Mossberg bought a small company called "U.S. Arms" that was based in Riverhead, Long island that produced a single action revolver called the Abilene. Mossberg was planning to enter the handguns market, for whatever reason they decided not to. Don't know how many there are but mine is the only so marked I've seen.

Don't have anything "rare" (not in the gunshow sense rare either), but I did get this nickel 27-2 4" last weekend that some folks been telling me is less than plentiful. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Maybe this one. There are still 3 known revolvers of the Mateba mtr8 in Holland. This is one.

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Thuer, I would appreciate more info about this gun.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

I guess I would have to add my M36-6 and M60 2" with adjustable sights.

Now THAT is one I have never seen before.
I never thought this post would last this long but there have been many unusual and unique ones shown.
You never know what's out there, just when you think you've seen them all.... Thanks for all the great pics and posts!

I don't have anything really "rare" but the closest thing I have would probably be this Ithaca M-49, single shot 22 rifle. I don't know how many they made, but I don't see them too often on the rack.



It's a single shot 22 as I said, the magazine tube is fake. The lever operates a drop block action for loading, the hammer is manually cocked, then the lever ejects the spent case after firing. Very cool little gun. I wanted one when I was a kid and never got it. When I saw this one, I jumped on it.

The only other thing I've got that's sort of rare I suppose is a Thompson/Center .36 Cal. "Seneca" muzzle-loader. I've never fired it. I only think it's rare because most everytime I post a picture someone offers to buy it.

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John 3:16 .

What a Fantastic assortment!
Thanks to you all for showing us.
BB

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"I also cook."

The Mateba mtr8 is an 8 shot .38 special revolver.

The concept was a mix between a pistol and a revolver.
The revolver is loaded by a 8 shot clip.

The rear sight isn't adjustable. The front sight is placed on a plastic round disk. With a special tool you can turn the front sight to the right or left.

With the other side of that tool you can turn the front sight up for elevation. You can cock the revolver with the handles aside the frame.
You can shoot double action and single action with it.

It is a very accurate revolver. It is made early 1980 by an Italian firm Mateba. It isnt a sturdy revolver.

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I thought I'd seen them all, but that one is unique. Thanks for sharing.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

First would be the S&W second model hand ejector I found at a local gun show two years ago. It's nickle plated, w/a 6.5in barrel and in .44 Special!
#2 Is my Grandpa's old Browning Sweet Sixteen, 16GA shotgun! If it could talk!!
#3 Would be the S&W model 645! I found it at a local gun shop while home on leave last year! I can still hear the Miami Vice music!

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~ S&WCA No.2159 ~

A Performance Center 4006 IDPA... made in December 2002, only 12 were made.

Mine is 1 of 4 shipped by Lew Horton (confirmed via email). The other 8 are rumored to have gone to other large distributors (RSR, Camfour, etc...):

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Just when I think I have seen them all!!!

Now, that is different...

I think it would have to be this:

Nice pistola, I dig the hell outta that!!!

nothing compaired to whats been put up here, ive got a first run 19-7 k-comp combat magnum.

and then...

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"Ready and Foward"

A nylon 66 with a 4 digit serial number. The first two digits are XM.

A 5" K38 that letters.

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Nothing to see here,move along

This NIB 10-9, one of some 85

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Sure you did

My rarest S&W is a NIB Model 50 dating from the early 70s. Sorry I don't have a picture.

Ladder13,

Is that case hardened 10-9 one of the Heritage Series? I have one that has been fired with no box. I had no idea they were so rare or maybe yours is a separate series. Great looking gun.

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

I believe the Heritage Series was a different production. This gun was a special run for Lew Horton. The PC was 178006 with serial prefix of CRSxxxx. Someone else more knowledgable may chime in. HTH somewhat.

edited: just looked in the SCSW, looks like it WAS a Heritage Series gun. I bought it from David Carroll a couple years ago.Book says 80 made in SB, and 70 in RB.
Now I'm really confused, there were 2 product codes. One is 178006 and the other 178006FC. I may need to dig my box out to see which one I have.

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Sure you did

I don't really have any rare guns, but my father has a somewhat scarce gun. Winchester '94 in 25-35 WCF, plus a couple boxes of old ammo. Was my grandfather's gun, and in great condition.

1886 Bullard.. in .38 / .45

Now THAT is one heck of a piece!
The immediate predecessor of the Luger.

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The Last Standing Knight

Probably my M-1D sniper Garand. I 'won" the right to buy it back in 1996 from the DCM, now the CMP.

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Old paratrooper in NC

National Match Swiss Lugers, said to be two of the three specimens left in existence out of 11 made, serial numbers 59951 and 65721.

I'm very impressed with both the Borchardt and the Swiss National Match Lugers. Any of these would make Luger collectors drool uncontrollably!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Can't post pics from here, but probably my 1871-'72 Colt Open Top .44 I picked up at a local auction a couple of years ago. Has a period conversion to allow firing of either rimfire or centerfire .44 ammunition.

Well , since there were only just over 1000 made , my S&W K-22/40.

4" Nickle Pre-21. One of two and the only one left in it's origional finish.









Here shown with another tough to find Smith, a .44HE3 Model of 1926.



Thanks BruceHMX!

Drew

H&R USRA pistol with adjustable sight radius. Total number unknown, probably around a dozen. Mine also has Roper grips (fitting, since it is pretty much a Roper pistol).

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Formerly Model520Fan

Rare...

I've got an 1897 Winchester that is 100% disassembled- even the barrel is removed from the frame! Each part of the gun is in various stages of renovation, in more than one part of the country.

That has got to be the one on here that is the least done yet! Every one I've seen so far are well done...not rare.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Sandbagger.......

Lets see K117 again

Colt 1917 .45acp and from the Roy Rogers estate.



My Gibbs Enfield in .45-70 because so few were actually produced.



A Browned (not blued) Ortgies .32 with Franzite brown and cream grips... in immaculate condition.

I don't believe that either of these could be called rare, but they are scarce.

This TL letters as shipped with the 5" bbl in nickel, and is now wearing the correct grips (though I haven't had a chance to take new pics yet)-



This one is my most prized S&W so far. Doc44 tells me that it is in the scarce class, and he figures somewhere less 700 were made. Though the SCSW says the 5 screw guns are worth more, there were more of them made than in the 4 screw variation like this one. Pre 29 4 screw-

Earliest known postwar K-22. (last I heard anyway....)







Photos by Micheal Stern.

Here is a Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless, .380 acp.
This Colt is from the New York City Police Department, manufactured in 1914. It is engraved on the right side of the frame "P.D.N.Y. No. 224".
I assume the pearl grips are not original.

"These 1908's are the rare exception to the rule about department owned guns.
Around 1916 or so, the department ordered 901 of these. 801 were marked PDNY No. XXX and 50 were left unmarked. Supposedly the unmarked ones were for use by the Black Hand (anti-mafia) Squad.
These were department owned guns (hence the markings) and isued to detectives.

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