"Grail" guns

mrray13 · August 23, 2013, 07:22 PM

Almost, if not all of us, have a "grail" gun or two on a wish list. I have a bit of a dilemma, I've acquired my grail gun, twice. I have two Pythons, a 1961 6" of which I'm the third owner and a 1974 4" that is my shooter, both Royal Blue. I also have a 1994 Illinois Ducks Unlimited (#13 of 250) 6" Anaconda .44mag. I have a 6" 17-4 and a 39-2 which would be my only S&Ws with collector interest. The nickel 8 3/8" 27-2 was a gift to my son.

So long story short, I'm in need of a grail gun, but don't know what I want it to be. Some options include.....

Diamondback in .22lr, although the .38spl isn't a no go,
HK P7 variant,
Sig P210,
Colt SAA,
29-?, would want pinned and recessed,
57 or 58, again would want pinned and recessed, prefer 4" in this and the 29.

None of those options are really hard to obtain, and none of them are really must have. The Diamondback is appealing due to my other snakes, but other then that, I'm kinda like, "eh, I have my Python." I just don't have a must have like I did when I wanted a Python, or a shooter Python. So I'm looking for suggestions, even thoughts on my options listed above. What is the grail gun you don't have yet?

stu925 · August 23, 2013, 08:33 PM

I have an actual list of guns I'm hunting for deals on. Some of the more desirable guns on the list are:
Colt SAA
P08 Luger
Walther P-38
Browning High Power
USGI M1911 (any manufacturer as long as it's WWII issue)
Colt 1908 Hammerless

More common and more reasonably priced guns:
Russian TT-33
Yugo M57
Ruger Blackhawk Convertible .45 Colt/.45ACP

There are others of course but those are my wants. Now if only money grew on trees. You'll notice a trend in that I'm fond of older firearms with surplus guns making up the bulk of my list.

Stu

tubeshooter · August 23, 2013, 08:41 PM

I think if somebody has to tell you what to want, then by definition it isn't really a "grail" gun of yours.

You just don't have anything that you want to that degree right now. Nothing wrong with that. Give it some time, look around. I'm sure something will strike your fancy after awhile.

ripnbst · August 23, 2013, 08:49 PM

I agree with tube 100%

Herr Walther · August 23, 2013, 08:56 PM

Walther HP, in mint condition.

lamarw · August 23, 2013, 10:08 PM

A collectible M1911A1 at some future date. I just need to stumble across a nice one for a fair and reasonable price. You see too many parts guns with jacked-up prices.

mrray13 · August 23, 2013, 10:37 PM

Tubeshooter, that's exactly where I'm at. Nothing has that gotta have it feeling right now. I can't go looking by myself because I can't drive due to my accident, both feet are messed up. My wife works a lot, she's a cop too, and isn't has into collecting guns like I am, although she loves to shoot. So I figured I'd throw my thoughts out there, and see what others grail might be just to see if I might be missing it. If nothing else, it's decent reading to see just what others like, want, gotta have.

gearchecker · August 23, 2013, 11:05 PM

Thsi is the grail gun of all guns.

Smith & Wesson K-32 Target Masterpiece. Less than 3400 manufacturered. Rarely for sale and at prices that would make a surgeon blush.

Find yourself a Colt in the same limited build, and then you might just find you own.

My personal grail gun isn't even a handgun at all.
It's a Browning M1918-A1 BAR. The original 30-06 machine gun. In time I'll own one, but I have to figure out what to sell to accomplish the purchase.

Look deep inside yourself and ask if the chances of me ever buying it are slim to non-existant, but I want it no matter what, thet'll be the one. If there isn't one that rings your bell, buy whatever you want and enjoy it until the next one crosses your path.
Grail guns are like good Karma. Fleeting, and more rewarding than you can ever imagine.

Tad_T · August 23, 2013, 11:34 PM

I recently acquired my "Grail" pistol.

A 1944 Remington Rand M1911A1.

I have also recently acquired my "Grail" rifles, an M1903A3, an M1917, and I have an excellent condition 1935 S/147/G J.P. Sauer & Sohn K98k on layaway.

I've been thinking about it and I'm not sure what my next, "I have to have it" firearm is.

I am sure that at some point I will walk into a deal on something that I fancy, but right now, I am not sure what that will be.

mk70ss · August 24, 2013, 07:27 AM

First Gen SAA
Colt Diamondback .22

SaxonPig · August 24, 2013, 07:50 AM

Below is a picture of my dad taken in 1951. He's standing by the side of a rural road somewhere in Missouri. He is shooting a First Generation 7.5" Colt Single Action Army. The caliber is unknown. The serial is unknown. The current whereabouts of this gun is unknown. This is my idea of a "grail gun." Ultimately desirable but totally unobtainable. If one can actually get it, it can't be a "grail." My dad was killed in 1957 and mom sold his guns so we could eat. I would love to have even one of dad's guns, especially this Colt, but it will never happen.

FinalJenemba · August 24, 2013, 08:51 AM

I'm still a fairly new gun owner, and on a limited budget, so don't really have any "grail" guns by the op definition. For me, 90% of the enjoyment I get out of owning firearms is shooting them, and 10% is in the interesting history of my older guns. I'm not to the point yet where collecting guns for the sake of collecting is even in my radar, financially other otherwise. I will say that 10% was enough to make me spend an extra few bucks getting a Tula built ex-sniper mosin over a "normal" one, just for the story, but that's as far an I've gone lol.

I do really really want an FAL, and I guess it's sort of a grail gun for me right now as I can't afford one. Also really would like an open top revolver, but I'd be happy with a modern remake and I'd want to shoot it

Stu925: I have a romanian tt-33, does that count?

WyMark · August 24, 2013, 10:20 AM

Sig P230 in .32 ACP

FairWarning · August 25, 2013, 02:54 PM

The HK P7 was mine for a while, but now I have it.

Other highly desirable (and rare) guns on my Grail List are:

Walther P88
Luger P-08
HK P9S Target Sport with wood grips/barrel weight, etc.

tony pasley · August 25, 2013, 08:35 PM

Colt Dragoon, LaMatte, Colt Navy, Remminton New Army

damienph · August 25, 2013, 10:28 PM

A first series blue Colt 1911 Delta Elite 10mm.

reticle · August 26, 2013, 03:50 AM

I found mine last October. It's #34 of 531 NAA single action stainless revolvers chambered in 450 magnum express and 45 win mag. Finally got to shoot it last week. It kicks like a mule and breathes three feet of fire out of the muzzle.

My previous grail gun was an LAR Grizzly.

**Mike Irwin** · August 26, 2013, 06:25 AM

I finally managed to obtain my primary Grail gun a couple of years ago, a Smith & Wesson Model 25-5 in .45 Long Colt. Not the common 6.5" barrel, but the relatively uncommon 4".

I looked for that one for over a decade.

My other Grail gun would be an NIB New Model No. 3 in .44 Russian.

Count Glockulla · August 26, 2013, 07:58 AM

A custom 7x57 with a finely figured wood stock and a 1/2 MOA guarantee.

BoogieMan · August 26, 2013, 12:00 PM

Luger (issued)
Any double express rifle
P210
Any Holland and Holland rifle, or scatter gun
I have bought any other handgun that I need (using term very loosely).

blfuller · August 26, 2013, 02:56 PM

Artillery Luger with full rig, all matching numbers or a Navy Luger full rig and all matching numbers.

Denezin · August 26, 2013, 03:15 PM

Jennings j22 lol jkin

RodTheWrench · August 26, 2013, 03:51 PM

It varies, but:

LAR Grizzly in 357 Magnum
Colt SAA
Several 1800s Winchester lever-actions
WWII 1911
Maybe a SS 6" Python

Edit - You know, maybe a S&W in 327 Federal Magnum. Those seem scarce as hens teeth nowadays!

Peter M. Eick · August 26, 2013, 04:06 PM

Funny how you view things. I read over folks grail guns and go "got it".

Diamondback, yep, got two
Python, yep got two
Sig 210, yep got two
P7, yep got three
1918, 1911 all original, yep got one
etc.

Now my Grail are a bit different:
Another Registered Magnum
Another Pre-war 38/44 Outdoorsman Humpback Hammer
Another Pre-war 38/44 Outdoorsman Humpback (prefer 4")
Another 44 Automag so I can shoot one of them
Another Ruger 357 Redhawk so I have another spare

A colt 1908 380 sounds interesting but have not moved it to a grail gun yet. Just a thinking about it.

35 years ago my grail would have been just to have money for powder and primers. Today, we are to the stage of "another".

reticle · August 26, 2013, 05:24 PM

Wouldn't mind a Borchardt C93 and a broomhandle Mauser (Winston Churchill's Mauser, to be exact), but I'm not holding my breath.

August 23, 2013, 08:56 PM	#5
Herr Walther Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Location: A Place Worse than California Posts: 782	Walther HP, in mint condition. __________________ "It was people who upheld their duties to their office, the constitution, and the public by opposing Hitler who were called traitors" ------------------------------------- "...a historian asked what had happened to the German people for them to accept a criminal government. Unfortunately, nothing needed to happen. In nations across the world people accept government crime." ------------------------------------- "In democracies as well as dictatorships, subordinates illegally obey their rulers. Subordinates who remain true to their oaths of office by opposing their rulers are rare."

August 23, 2013, 11:05 PM	#8
gearchecker Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2009 Location: North IDAHO, Big Bear Country Posts: 466	Smith & Wesson K-32 Target Masterpiece Thsi is the grail gun of all guns. Smith & Wesson K-32 Target Masterpiece. Less than 3400 manufacturered. Rarely for sale and at prices that would make a surgeon blush. Find yourself a Colt in the same limited build, and then you might just find you own. My personal grail gun isn't even a handgun at all. It's a Browning M1918-A1 BAR. The original 30-06 machine gun. In time I'll own one, but I have to figure out what to sell to accomplish the purchase. Look deep inside yourself and ask if the chances of me ever buying it are slim to non-existant, but I want it no matter what, thet'll be the one. If there isn't one that rings your bell, buy whatever you want and enjoy it until the next one crosses your path. Grail guns are like good Karma. Fleeting, and more rewarding than you can ever imagine. __________________ When the time comes that I don't want a new gun, Call the undertaker! My firearm is an investment on my life. http://www.takdriver.com http://www.corneredcat.com

August 25, 2013, 02:54 PM	#14
FairWarning Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 1,149	The HK P7 was mine for a while, but now I have it. Other highly desirable (and rare) guns on my Grail List are: Walther P88 Luger P-08 HK P9S Target Sport with wood grips/barrel weight, etc. __________________ Mauser Werke, Schmidt-Rubin, Colt, Walther, HK, Weatherby, Sig Sauer, Browning, Ruger, Beretta, etc, etc....a few friends of mine

August 25, 2013, 08:35 PM	#15
tony pasley Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2006 Location: western north carolina Posts: 1,641	Colt Dragoon, LaMatte, Colt Navy, Remminton New Army __________________ Every day Congress is in session we lose a little bit more of our Liberty.

August 26, 2013, 03:50 AM	#17
reticle Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2002 Location: ut. Posts: 341	I found mine last October. It's #34 of 531 NAA single action stainless revolvers chambered in 450 magnum express and 45 win mag. Finally got to shoot it last week. It kicks like a mule and breathes three feet of fire out of the muzzle. My previous grail gun was an LAR Grizzly. Last edited by reticle; August 26, 2013 at 03:55 AM.

August 23, 2013, 07:22 PM	#1
mrray13 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 911	"Grail" guns Almost, if not all of us, have a "grail" gun or two on a wish list. I have a bit of a dilemma, I've acquired my grail gun, twice. I have two Pythons, a 1961 6" of which I'm the third owner and a 1974 4" that is my shooter, both Royal Blue. I also have a 1994 Illinois Ducks Unlimited (#13 of 250) 6" Anaconda .44mag. I have a 6" 17-4 and a 39-2 which would be my only S&Ws with collector interest. The nickel 8 3/8" 27-2 was a gift to my son. So long story short, I'm in need of a grail gun, but don't know what I want it to be. Some options include..... Diamondback in .22lr, although the .38spl isn't a no go, HK P7 variant, Sig P210, Colt SAA, 29-?, would want pinned and recessed, 57 or 58, again would want pinned and recessed, prefer 4" in this and the 29. None of those options are really hard to obtain, and none of them are really must have. The Diamondback is appealing due to my other snakes, but other then that, I'm kinda like, "eh, I have my Python." I just don't have a must have like I did when I wanted a Python, or a shooter Python. So I'm looking for suggestions, even thoughts on my options listed above. What is the grail gun you don't have yet?

August 23, 2013, 08:33 PM	#2
stu925 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2010 Location: New York Posts: 953	I have an actual list of guns I'm hunting for deals on. Some of the more desirable guns on the list are: Colt SAA P08 Luger Walther P-38 Browning High Power USGI M1911 (any manufacturer as long as it's WWII issue) Colt 1908 Hammerless More common and more reasonably priced guns: Russian TT-33 Yugo M57 Ruger Blackhawk Convertible .45 Colt/.45ACP There are others of course but those are my wants. Now if only money grew on trees. You'll notice a trend in that I'm fond of older firearms with surplus guns making up the bulk of my list. Stu

August 23, 2013, 08:41 PM	#3
tubeshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2000 Posts: 228	I think if somebody has to tell you what to want, then by definition it isn't really a "grail" gun of yours. You just don't have anything that you want to that degree right now. Nothing wrong with that. Give it some time, look around. I'm sure something will strike your fancy after awhile.

August 23, 2013, 08:49 PM	#4
ripnbst Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2010 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 1,552	I agree with tube 100%

August 23, 2013, 10:08 PM	#6
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	A collectible M1911A1 at some future date. I just need to stumble across a nice one for a fair and reasonable price. You see too many parts guns with jacked-up prices.

August 23, 2013, 10:37 PM	#7
mrray13 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 911	Tubeshooter, that's exactly where I'm at. Nothing has that gotta have it feeling right now. I can't go looking by myself because I can't drive due to my accident, both feet are messed up. My wife works a lot, she's a cop too, and isn't has into collecting guns like I am, although she loves to shoot. So I figured I'd throw my thoughts out there, and see what others grail might be just to see if I might be missing it. If nothing else, it's decent reading to see just what others like, want, gotta have.

August 23, 2013, 11:34 PM	#9
Tad_T Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 231	I recently acquired my "Grail" pistol. A 1944 Remington Rand M1911A1. I have also recently acquired my "Grail" rifles, an M1903A3, an M1917, and I have an excellent condition 1935 S/147/G J.P. Sauer & Sohn K98k on layaway. I've been thinking about it and I'm not sure what my next, "I have to have it" firearm is. I am sure that at some point I will walk into a deal on something that I fancy, but right now, I am not sure what that will be.

August 24, 2013, 07:27 AM	#10
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	First Gen SAA Colt Diamondback .22

August 24, 2013, 07:50 AM	#11
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	Below is a picture of my dad taken in 1951. He's standing by the side of a rural road somewhere in Missouri. He is shooting a First Generation 7.5" Colt Single Action Army. The caliber is unknown. The serial is unknown. The current whereabouts of this gun is unknown. This is my idea of a "grail gun." Ultimately desirable but totally unobtainable. If one can actually get it, it can't be a "grail." My dad was killed in 1957 and mom sold his guns so we could eat. I would love to have even one of dad's guns, especially this Colt, but it will never happen.

August 24, 2013, 08:51 AM	#12
FinalJenemba Member Join Date: April 18, 2013 Location: Port Richey, FL Posts: 25	I'm still a fairly new gun owner, and on a limited budget, so don't really have any "grail" guns by the op definition. For me, 90% of the enjoyment I get out of owning firearms is shooting them, and 10% is in the interesting history of my older guns. I'm not to the point yet where collecting guns for the sake of collecting is even in my radar, financially other otherwise. I will say that 10% was enough to make me spend an extra few bucks getting a Tula built ex-sniper mosin over a "normal" one, just for the story, but that's as far an I've gone lol. I do really really want an FAL, and I guess it's sort of a grail gun for me right now as I can't afford one. Also really would like an open top revolver, but I'd be happy with a modern remake and I'd want to shoot it Stu925: I have a romanian tt-33, does that count?

August 24, 2013, 10:20 AM	#13
WyMark Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 647	Sig P230 in .32 ACP

August 25, 2013, 10:28 PM	#16
damienph Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 319	A first series blue Colt 1911 Delta Elite 10mm.

August 26, 2013, 06:25 AM	#18
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	I finally managed to obtain my primary Grail gun a couple of years ago, a Smith & Wesson Model 25-5 in .45 Long Colt. Not the common 6.5" barrel, but the relatively uncommon 4". I looked for that one for over a decade. My other Grail gun would be an NIB New Model No. 3 in .44 Russian. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 26, 2013, 07:58 AM	#19
Count Glockulla Junior Member Join Date: August 26, 2013 Posts: 4	A custom 7x57 with a finely figured wood stock and a 1/2 MOA guarantee.

August 26, 2013, 12:00 PM	#20
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	Luger (issued) Any double express rifle P210 Any Holland and Holland rifle, or scatter gun I have bought any other handgun that I need (using term very loosely). __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

August 26, 2013, 02:56 PM	#21
blfuller Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2013 Location: Washington State Posts: 246	Artillery Luger with full rig, all matching numbers or a Navy Luger full rig and all matching numbers.

August 26, 2013, 03:15 PM	#22
Denezin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 209	Jennings j22 lol jkin

August 26, 2013, 03:51 PM	#23
RodTheWrench Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 365	It varies, but: LAR Grizzly in 357 Magnum Colt SAA Several 1800s Winchester lever-actions WWII 1911 Maybe a SS 6" Python Edit - You know, maybe a S&W in 327 Federal Magnum. Those seem scarce as hens teeth nowadays! __________________ "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." - Han Solo

August 26, 2013, 04:06 PM	#24
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	Funny how you view things. I read over folks grail guns and go "got it". Diamondback, yep, got two Python, yep got two Sig 210, yep got two P7, yep got three 1918, 1911 all original, yep got one etc. Now my Grail are a bit different: Another Registered Magnum Another Pre-war 38/44 Outdoorsman Humpback Hammer Another Pre-war 38/44 Outdoorsman Humpback (prefer 4") Another 44 Automag so I can shoot one of them Another Ruger 357 Redhawk so I have another spare A colt 1908 380 sounds interesting but have not moved it to a grail gun yet. Just a thinking about it. 35 years ago my grail would have been just to have money for powder and primers. Today, we are to the stage of "another". __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!

August 26, 2013, 05:24 PM	#25
reticle Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2002 Location: ut. Posts: 341	Wouldn't mind a Borchardt C93 and a broomhandle Mauser (Winston Churchill's Mauser, to be exact), but I'm not holding my breath.