Author Topic: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.  (Read 5298 times)

just Warren

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Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« on: March 26, 2017, 09:16:58 PM »
Major manufacturers are those that were successful in selling to governments, militaries, and civilians and have a brand we recognize today even if they've gone out of business or been absorbed into another firm.

So none of those tiny shops, or custom houses that turned out an odd gun. Just the biggies (or medium-sized).

Meet the Benelli B76 pistol.

What an odd piece, it's as if they had only seen a pistol once or twice before designing this one. There's no way a takedown method like that gets off the drawing board today. (@ 7:50 in the vid)

I wouldn't turn one down though, if offered at a great price.

Anyone else have examples?
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AJ Dual

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2017, 09:58:58 PM »
I promise not to duck.

Hawkmoon

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2017, 10:44:06 PM »

Meet the Benelli B76 pistol.

What an odd piece, it's as if they had only seen a pistol once or twice before designing this one. There's no way a takedown method like that gets off the drawing board today. (@ 7:50 in the vid)

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2017, 10:53:46 PM »
Winchester Liberator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQK9JNsrq_8

Idea was to make cheap shotguns to deliver to insurgencies. Like the Liberator pistols. Turned out expensive, hard to make, etc.
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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2017, 01:18:47 AM »
Hammerli Olympic-style target pistols. You know, lthe ones you don't hold.  You put them on like a glove and wear them.

http://www.prc68.com/I/Images/M150Rw.jpg


http://www.champchoice.com/IMAGES_PRODUCT/2766604_XL.JPG

« Last Edit: March 27, 2017, 01:31:19 AM by 230RN »

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2017, 03:38:31 AM »
Astra 400 and 600 pistols:

http://www.9mmlargo.com/400/index.htm
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Perd Hapley

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2017, 09:20:59 AM »
A Ruger pistol so solidy built that the cylinder wouldn't even spin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Hawkeye
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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2017, 09:52:31 AM »
I've always wanted a pepper box and a liberator.  One day I'll have a "gun room" lol.
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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2017, 10:36:56 AM »
Smith & Wesson Model 13 in .35 S&W and .32 ACP.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/handguns/handgun_reviews_smith_wessons_35_automatic_010310/

The .35 cartridge was so similar to the .32 that you can get away with shooting .32s out of the .35 with no noticeable difference...

The prices on these guns has skyrocketed over the past 15 or so years.
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MechAg94

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2017, 11:18:32 AM »
A Ruger pistol so solidy built that the cylinder wouldn't even spin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Hawkeye
You would think a break open action like a Schofield would work better for that concept.  Maybe I am just thinking of the contender pistols.
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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #11 on: March 27, 2017, 11:24:39 AM »
Winchester Liberator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQK9JNsrq_8

Idea was to make cheap shotguns to deliver to insurgencies. Like the Liberator pistols. Turned out expensive, hard to make, etc.
Upsize that a little and you have a grenade launcher, but it would probably still be bigger and heavier than current guns.  It seems like they would have been better just sticking with a cheaply made coach gun.
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makattak

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #12 on: March 27, 2017, 02:32:32 PM »
Major manufacturers are those that were successful in selling to governments, militaries, and civilians and have a brand we recognize today even if they've gone out of business or been absorbed into another firm.

So none of those tiny shops, or custom houses that turned out an odd gun. Just the biggies (or medium-sized).

Meet the Benelli B76 pistol.

What an odd piece, it's as if they had only seen a pistol once or twice before designing this one. There's no way a takedown method like that gets off the drawing board today. (@ 7:50 in the vid)

I wouldn't turn one down though, if offered at a great price.


There's one on Gunbroker for $950 right now (current bid). I'd be interested in one too, but $900 for a curiosity is too rich for my blood.
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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #13 on: March 27, 2017, 02:57:36 PM »
Not an oddity, but I find myself attracted to the Remington 788.  I want one, 22" in .308.  Seems like it would make a great little all purpose rifle.
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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #14 on: March 27, 2017, 05:09:50 PM »
Smith & Wesson Model 13 in .35 S&W and .32 ACP.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/handguns/handgun_reviews_smith_wessons_35_automatic_010310/

The .35 cartridge was so similar to the .32 that you can get away with shooting .32s out of the .35 with no noticeable difference...

The prices on these guns has skyrocketed over the past 15 or so years.

I've actually got a single .35S&W cartridge.  It came with a pile of odd gun crap that I acquired some years back.
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HankB

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #15 on: March 27, 2017, 07:08:51 PM »
Somewhat obscure, but all were produced in reasonable quantity.

High Standard Crusader.

Smith & Wesson Escort

Smith & Wesson M520

Colt Python .38 Special

Ruger Redhawk .357 (the discontinued 6 shot version, not the new 8-shooter.)




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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #16 on: March 27, 2017, 09:35:01 PM »


<long-standing grump>

OP remarked,

"So none of those tiny shops, or custom houses that turned out an odd gun. Just the biggies (or medium-sized)."

That's what bothered me about "Factory" matches in Handgun Metallic Silhouette shooting.  I'd show up with my out of the box Model 19 and have my ass handed to me by shooters with those specialty Buck Rogers "factory" guns especially made for "factory" matches by a little "factory" in AZ which built only two or three guns a year for a couple of thou each.  But it was a "factory" gun by the match rules.

Hell, you couldn't even buy a holster for one of those things with a foot-long front sight extension. Exaggeration for the sake of a good story.

</long-standing grump>

Terry,  =|
« Last Edit: March 27, 2017, 10:01:14 PM by 230RN »

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #17 on: March 27, 2017, 09:37:45 PM »
A Ruger pistol so solidy built that the cylinder wouldn't even spin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Hawkeye

A Ruger Hawkeye is on my list of guns I will own someday.
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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #18 on: March 27, 2017, 10:36:21 PM »
While not a "Major" manufacture, AMT Automags, especially in the odd calibers like 9mm Winchester Magnum (9x29) and .45 Winchester Magnum, were an obsession of mine. I ordered the .45 WinMag for a friend when I was a dealer and I wound up with a used III in 9mm WinMag and a the very last new one to come off AMT's warehouse shelf shown here!







I had to "roll my own" ammo but was able to find Dies (Redding) and brass (from StarLine) but it was a ball to shoot and let others see and shoot as most never heard of 9mm WinMag.

:old:
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HankB

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #19 on: March 28, 2017, 12:22:23 AM »

 . . . That's what bothered me about "Factory" matches in Handgun Metallic Silhouette shooting.  I'd show up with my out of the box Model 19 and have my ass handed to me by shooters with those specialty Buck Rogers "factory" guns especially made for "factory" matches by a little "factory" in AZ which built only two or three guns a year for a couple of thou each.  But it was a "factory" gun by the match rules.

IHMSA or NRA metallic silhouette? Within the former organization, there was a LOT of politicking behind the scenes with alleged kickbacks and sweetheart deals to the organization's founders to get some guns allowed, and others disallowed. Much rewriting of rules when the "wrong" guns began to win matches, even going so far as to include date of manufacture. Rules were sometimes revised and enforced in direct contravention to the organization's own rules about rule changes.
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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #20 on: March 28, 2017, 07:10:29 AM »
While not a "Major" manufacture, AMT Automags, especially in the odd calibers like 9mm Winchester Magnum (9x29) and .45 Winchester Magnum, were an obsession of mine. I ordered the .45 WinMag for a friend when I was a dealer and I wound up with a used III in 9mm WinMag and a the very last new one to come off AMT's warehouse shelf shown here!

Every lay your hands on an AMT Automag IV in 10mm magnum?

The one we tested at NRA when I worked there was quite unique... It self-disassembled every shot.

The magazine would invariably pop out and the floorplate would often come off, dumping rounds, and the slidestop would pop about 1/3rd of the way out of the gun.

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MechAg94

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #21 on: March 28, 2017, 11:09:30 AM »
Every lay your hands on an AMT Automag IV in 10mm magnum?

The one we tested at NRA when I worked there was quite unique... It self-disassembled every shot.

The magazine would invariably pop out and the floorplate would often come off, dumping rounds, and the slidestop would pop about 1/3rd of the way out of the gun.


I have an AMT Lightning in 22 LR, but that probably isn't so rare.  Good pistol.  Considering you can swap parts at random with a Ruger Mark II, I can understand why they got sued. 
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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #22 on: March 29, 2017, 01:36:49 PM »
Every lay your hands on an AMT Automag IV in 10mm magnum?

The one we tested at NRA when I worked there was quite unique... It self-disassembled every shot.

The magazine would invariably pop out and the floorplate would often come off, dumping rounds, and the slidestop would pop about 1/3rd of the way out of the gun.

Didn't know it existed!!! Got any pics or a write up? Ours were quit reliable and ran just fine with any projectile or power level we pushed it to. The ONLY failure I ever had was a squib due to a bad/light/no powder charge on one of my reloads.

You can see the round stuck in the end of the muzzle.


I used a cleaning rod, punched it out and carried on shooting with it.
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K Frame

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Re: Weird or obscure guns from major manufacturers.
« Reply #24 on: April 03, 2017, 05:55:07 AM »
Didn't know it existed!!! Got any pics or a write up? Ours were quit reliable and ran just fine with any projectile or power level we pushed it to. The ONLY failure I ever had was a squib due to a bad/light/no powder charge on one of my reloads.

You can see the round stuck in the end of the muzzle.


I used a cleaning rod, punched it out and carried on shooting with it.

It was the same platform as the Automag IV in .45 Magnum, just an alternate cartridge.

The 10mm Magnum round was actually developed by IAI for the Automag IV.

Taffin wrote an article about it years ago: http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt10mag.htm

I don't believe that we ever published an article about it in American Rifleman, but I may be wrong about that. No one was particularly impressed with the test gun.

The round has been chambered in a couple of other guns, but I don't believe in anything for quite a few years. Double Tap supposedly makes ammo for it.
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