DevilDog72
US Veteran
I have a few..... Mdl.18 4", Mdl. 27 3.5", Mdl. 57 4", Mdl. 40, and Mdl. 15 2"........
What is your personal grail gun?
- Thread starter Izzydog
- Start date
Like some others I have discovered that you can have more than just one "Grail Gun". And evidently, going by my experience there is no limit to how many you can have. And you need not have them just one at a time. You can have a whole bunch all at the same time. Sigh....
Here's my top 5. There have been others but I selected these because these are the ones I wanted the most before I got them and spent the most time waiting for them. One reason I have so many is that I love many many categories of guns. Cowboy. Civil War, Military, Old double action revolvers. Modern semi autos. Etc.
Here's my pics in order of acquisition:
1. 1973 Ruger SS .357 mag single six. '73 was the first year this gun had the transfer bar. My best friend on this planet gave me this for Christmas one year. He knew I loved it and put my chin on the floor when he gave it to me. I love livin' in a world where people give you guns!
2. Colt LE-6920 AR-15. My desire for this one was killin' me. I finally found a good price on it at a gun show. $1100.00 out the door. Earlier that day I had seen the exact same gun for $1700.00 plus tax. I feel like I got a pretty good deal on that one
3. This is my baby. I know this forum is for S&Ws ending in 1980 but I had to sneak in here with this one. It was made (I think) in '82. It is my Lew Horton 24-3. .44 special 4". It is the most beautiful gun I've ever owned or even seen. It is a dream to shoot. The weight and balance smooth out the perceived recoil until it feels like burping a new born baby. I LOVE THIS GUN! I paid $700.00 bux for it 4 years ago. I have been offered a lot more than that for it since.
4. I just got this 3 weeks ago. Ruger SR-1911 .45auto. Been on fire for a 1911 for decades off and on and this one is just what I was looking for. I paid $629.00 for it at a gun show.
5. Well, this is a 1911 too and therefore falls into the grail gun category. I bought it about an hour after the Ruger SR-1911 at the same gun show. It is the Sig Sauer 1911-22 .22lr. It doubled my pleasure in the 1911 category of grail guns. I traded it in a straight up swap with a dealer.
Since I'm still reeling over #s 4 and 5 I don't have anything on my wish list at the moment, but....I'm sure sometin' will catch my eye before too long if I know me.....
Here's my top 5. There have been others but I selected these because these are the ones I wanted the most before I got them and spent the most time waiting for them. One reason I have so many is that I love many many categories of guns. Cowboy. Civil War, Military, Old double action revolvers. Modern semi autos. Etc.
Here's my pics in order of acquisition:
1. 1973 Ruger SS .357 mag single six. '73 was the first year this gun had the transfer bar. My best friend on this planet gave me this for Christmas one year. He knew I loved it and put my chin on the floor when he gave it to me. I love livin' in a world where people give you guns!
2. Colt LE-6920 AR-15. My desire for this one was killin' me. I finally found a good price on it at a gun show. $1100.00 out the door. Earlier that day I had seen the exact same gun for $1700.00 plus tax. I feel like I got a pretty good deal on that one
3. This is my baby. I know this forum is for S&Ws ending in 1980 but I had to sneak in here with this one. It was made (I think) in '82. It is my Lew Horton 24-3. .44 special 4". It is the most beautiful gun I've ever owned or even seen. It is a dream to shoot. The weight and balance smooth out the perceived recoil until it feels like burping a new born baby. I LOVE THIS GUN! I paid $700.00 bux for it 4 years ago. I have been offered a lot more than that for it since.
4. I just got this 3 weeks ago. Ruger SR-1911 .45auto. Been on fire for a 1911 for decades off and on and this one is just what I was looking for. I paid $629.00 for it at a gun show.
5. Well, this is a 1911 too and therefore falls into the grail gun category. I bought it about an hour after the Ruger SR-1911 at the same gun show. It is the Sig Sauer 1911-22 .22lr. It doubled my pleasure in the 1911 category of grail guns. I traded it in a straight up swap with a dealer.
Since I'm still reeling over #s 4 and 5 I don't have anything on my wish list at the moment, but....I'm sure sometin' will catch my eye before too long if I know me.....
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I hear ya! I got no use for a gun I can't shoot (except for the occasional antique that is not in a fireable condition) I don't have no safe queens. All my guns have to work for a livin'.
This was my grail gun:
Now, it's just MY gun.
Smudgy indoor pic, new shoes:
Pre27, shipped Feb 1954.
My DOB is 2-19-54.
PS-Thanks Dan, I'll get my own photos soon!
Now, it's just MY gun.
Smudgy indoor pic, new shoes:
Pre27, shipped Feb 1954.
My DOB is 2-19-54.
PS-Thanks Dan, I'll get my own photos soon!
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Modified
Member
I've given up on the idea of a S&W Grail gun because the amazing variety in old modified S&Ws is a font of endless delight and surprise to me.
However, if I were to have a grail gun it would be this:
It may be a fantasy piece built by someone in the 1960s, or actually a German version of the DeLisle carbine. I don't know, there's scant information about it online, and what is there is supposedly second hand from some mythical gun magazine in the 70's filled with stories of Hitler assassination plots and Goering's personal gunsmith.
Whatever the case may be it's the gun that comes to mind when someone says Grail Gun to me now. I fully believe that I will be able to own all the fine S&Ws I want, but this gun? This is a grail that will never happen, maybe because it doesn't exist, maybe because it does and it has no paperwork, or maybe just because if it did come up for sale it would sell for so much money I couldn't hope to buy it.
In any case a takedown, grip safety, bullpup, turret scoped, integrally suppressed, 9mm, Luger magazine using, double set trigger rifle is just way way too neat not to desire.
However, if I were to have a grail gun it would be this:
It may be a fantasy piece built by someone in the 1960s, or actually a German version of the DeLisle carbine. I don't know, there's scant information about it online, and what is there is supposedly second hand from some mythical gun magazine in the 70's filled with stories of Hitler assassination plots and Goering's personal gunsmith.
Whatever the case may be it's the gun that comes to mind when someone says Grail Gun to me now. I fully believe that I will be able to own all the fine S&Ws I want, but this gun? This is a grail that will never happen, maybe because it doesn't exist, maybe because it does and it has no paperwork, or maybe just because if it did come up for sale it would sell for so much money I couldn't hope to buy it.
In any case a takedown, grip safety, bullpup, turret scoped, integrally suppressed, 9mm, Luger magazine using, double set trigger rifle is just way way too neat not to desire.
grail /ɡrāl/ - "a thing that is being earnestly pursued or sought after"
That doesn't make it the last gun we buy so...Wouldn't that be the next gun we buy?
Great thread.
Oh yeah, 1954 vintage 4" Combat Masterpiece NIB or ANIB.
That doesn't make it the last gun we buy so...Wouldn't that be the next gun we buy?
Great thread.
Oh yeah, 1954 vintage 4" Combat Masterpiece NIB or ANIB.
I would love to have a 657. Not picky over barrel length or what version. I would shoot the hell out of it, I'm not a collector. They are going for big bucks on the auction sites, more than I would want to pay for a shooter anyhow. But I would pay $750-$900 for the right one. It's a matter of having the money when the right one is found!
TheHobbyist
Member
I have a few on my list depending on cost, condition, condition, and did I mention condition?
I'd like to find a very good condition (no need for NIB but LNIB) 4" 629 without the lock to have engraved in a nimschke style.
Others.......
I'd like to find a very good condition (no need for NIB but LNIB) 4" 629 without the lock to have engraved in a nimschke style.
Others.......
THE PILGRIM
Member
Probably a 2 inch 651.
Have tried to buy several, always come up short.
Usually several hundred short.
Have tried to buy several, always come up short.
Usually several hundred short.
HpxPrt100
Member
Hello Izzy. If you're interested, there's a nice 2 1/2" 66 at AF Boyer Hardware, Slatington, PA. As I recall, it's $595.
HpxPrt100
Member
I know this is way outside the intent of this thread, but I really miss my Caesar Guerini Summit LTD Sporting 20 Ga. Bought it for $1800 10 years ago, sold it last year for $2300 and can't even get close to one now for much less than $3900!
