Few things move my cynical old soul to poetry, but when a collector finds a grail, it’s something to celebrate. The grail, of course, is something uncommon that they desperately want to own.
My significant other is the Evil Princess of Podcasts, Pixels, and Polymer Pistols. She bonded with the Glock very early in her shooting career. Her collection includes this 1911 and that engraved Smith & Wesson, but her daily carry tends toward drastic plastic. She’ll admit to a long-going fling on the side with the Springfield Armory XD(m) series, but most often, both her daily holster and her competition holster will carry one or another Glock. Over at glocktalk.com her handle is Glock Girl Gail, and she is not only a certified Glock Armorer but has been to the Mother Ship in Smyrna, Georgia and been certified as an Advanced Armorer with this pre-eminent polymer pistol.
She tested the Glock RTF2 pistols along with me when they first came out a few years ago. The RTF stood for Rough Textured Finish, with little studs they called “polymids” all over the grip to give a more solid hold in slippery hands. The RTF2 treatment also included gill-shaped slide grasping grooves. Her reaction at first was “ho-hum.”
As soon as they discontinued the RTF2 (police departments complained that the rough texture on the grips was chewing up uniforms) she discovered an RTF2 Glock 17, the standard size 9mm, in our hangout, the ProArms Gun Shop. She fell in love with it and so I bought it. It became her favorite match gun. Partial to the slightly smaller Glock 19 in the same 9mm chambering for daily carry, she started looking for those in RTF2 format.
They were scarce as the proverbial hen’s teeth.
“Why didn’t you develop your fixation when we could still get the damn things,” I moaned. “I prefer 9mm,” she said with the logic that helps women live seven years longer than men, “and the ones you tested were .40s and .45s.”
Thus began the quest. We found the same configuration pistol in .40 caliber, an RTF2 Glock 23, and I bought it for her. “We can convert it to 9mm easy,” I said. “It’s still not going to be a Glock 19 RTF2,” she replied adamantly, looking at me as if I had suggested solar powered night sights. The quest continued.
Glock reintroduced a Larry Vickers Signature Model Glock 19 RTF2. “Let me get you one of those,” I pleaded. “No,” she replied with finality. “It has the RTF2 grip, but not the gills. I gotta have gills.”
And so it went, until a new Best Friend Forever found her a near-mint condition Glock 19 RTF2 earlier this month. My hand went for my credit card as if it was a fast draw contest.
Life is better now. Thanks again, Bob!
It’s how collectors are. “This Winchester ’94 is almost perfect but it doesn’t have the saddle ring.” “No, this Smith & Wesson Model 27 with 4” barrel isn’t the same as the one I want with 3 ½” barrel.” (My own last gun grail, an itch now scratched twice over.)
How about y’all? What grail guns are you still searching for to make your collection complete?
I just went through a similar process for a G17 RTF2 w/Gills. It was (I thought) the last of the G17 models I didn’t own. With recent auctions going for crazy amounts I’d decided it would always be the missing link. Then a few weeks ago I ran into a guy with one who wanted a NIB G19. I happened to have a G19MOS that hadnt made it to the range and was thrilled to hand it over with some extra mags!
I was celebrating finishing my collection when someone pointed out that Glock had made a Gen2 17c . . . The search begins again
Has to be a NIB, Sig Sauer P226 Legion with a DA/SA trigger. There not so uncommon, but they cost nearly as much as a mortgage payment!
14th gun down on: http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/workshop.html
The “Retro .38-40 Vaquero”
Unfortunately Mr. Bowen has not taken non-catalog work for a while now, so the picture will have to suffice!
My Grail Gun is unattainable. It would have to be recovering my original SW 686. I purchased it when our department, in a fit of political correctness, mandated all officers would carry revolvers the same year Smith and Wesson released the new “L-frame”. I pre-ordered one and got one of the first production run. Normally this is a “chancy” thing. When I took delivery, I never even dry fired it before carrying it to our departmental armorer, Clint Metcalf, for one of his action jobs. He notified me a couple days later to come pick it up, saying he was afraid to touch the action, because he was afraid he would do more harm than good. I immediately qualified it for carry, shooting my first 100/38x score in the process. From the factory, it had a trigger pull and smoothness that rivaled the best Colt Python I had ever had the pleasure to shoot.
Several years later, in severe lapse of judgement, I was talked into trading it in on another “Grail Gun”. I can’t even recall what that gun was or do I know where the gentleman I traded with is now.
This is one of the reasons I have such a hard time letting go of any of my guns. Instead, I gift them to my kids and grand-kids who I know will hold onto them.
S&W model 25 4″.
I finally found mine, a Springfield Armory 1911A1, the PC 1911 FBI HRT model, been looking and waiting for several years for a new one, just got it last week.
A pinned and recessed S&W M-19 w/a 2.5″ barrel. Who knew they would be so hard to find, but I’ve kept my eyes open for one for over 20 years and can’t luck into one.
Well, I’ve never been too fussed about the venerable 1911’s, though do have one of the Remingtons in Stainless. I MUCH prefer the H&K Elite, though…. sweet shooting handgun, that. SOmewhat of a fan of larger Smith wheelguns, found a really sweet N frame in .357 at a bargain, custom prepped for a serious target shooter who had finally fired his last round and retired… permanently. VERY fine piece, that one. But my real soft spot has long been for the Browning High Power pistols. I’ve got a range of them, all Belgian made, one of the six nch Elites, a fairly early in bright Blue, one of the nickel chrome models, also Belgian, and the REAL treat, which I did not even know existed until I opened the box at my FFL’ transfer guy’s place…. the photos on GUnBroker were bady exposed, strange colour, and blurry…. so I took the gun to be one of the nickel chrome finish models, and bid on it lowball on that understanding., Seems NO ONE ELSE was willing to bid, and so I ended up with it at my lowball bid. My FFL had not had a chance to open the package and examine it, he was busy with a smithing job when I arrived, he pointed to where the box was, and I opened it. My gasp was VERY audible.. he looked up and said WHAT IS THAT!!!! I said “well, its not what I thought I bought…. what IS this thing? It was a brilliant shiny chrome finish, gorgeous rosewood grips, in pristine condition, perhaps had had one or two boxes fired through it, had TWO spare mags, also chromed, and the original works case. We took care of the obligatory government ripoff paperwork, I cut him HIS check, and brought it home, I dropped by Cabelas next day with the serial number written down, and the guys in the Gun Library helped me identify precisely what it is….. it WAS the “Hard Chrmium Fiinish”, VERY limited productionmade over just a year and a half. Values indicated at least twice what I had paid for it, in hand.
Don’t have much cash these days for finding such things, am quite content with the ones I have now, but intend to go “on the hunt” again once cash is not quite as scarce as it is for me these days.
The four jewels I have now from the production of those fine handguns in Belgium are enough for now…. perhaps anb appetiser for what might come round in the future The ONLY BHP’s I’ve seen in a store at retail lately have been a passel of well worn rode hard and hung up police duty guns decommissioned perhaps ten years later than they wish they had done….. perhaps for a junk gun to toss about, keep in the boot of the old car, stach about the house…… or bury in the yard…. but for only a hundred less than I’d paid for the rare jewell I did not realise I was buying. They still have a few of those well worn duty guns… not interested, unless they fall to about half their present price, not likely.
Dad had a 25-20 Winchester with saddle ring. Bluing was 99 to 100 %. He was talked into trading it to a nephew about mid 1990s or so for a feather weight .338 Winchester mag model 70. I don’t know the year of manufacture.
And then there is the one that got away (mind ya, I have never sold or traded a gun). Shortly after the incident in CT, I was in a local gun store. The push was on to pass laws to make scary ‘black’ rifles illegal (pick your own term(s), aka assault rifles). I had always been interested in ‘Thompsons. So seeing a 1927 A1 on the wall, I ask to see it. It was beautiful. Bluing, wood. As good as I have ever seen. Detachable stock, 30 round mag, 50 round drum. I didn’t even ask. I filled out the paperwork & dropped the plastic. 8 days later I pick up my prize yet to look at the price I paid (I bought a few things an a couple guns that day). At home, I inspect and photograph the gun for my records. A week or so later comes a call from the store: “There is a recall on the bolt. You have to return the gun.” Well no way I was gonna do that I said. I will return the bolt. “NO! You have to bring the gun back! RIGHT AWAY!”
Well, push came to shove as I asked what was really going on. I was told I had to bring the gun back. And right away! Half an hour later, I am at the counter. The son opens the case & the owner walks over. “Yup, that is a SBR” he says. In my State, I, a lowly citizen peon, was not allowed to own such a tool of evil as a SBR as one might conceal it and use it while going about some nefarious activity. And obviously another 2 inches would prevent any nefarious activities and make the world safe for snowflakes.
Talk about being an accidental felon. There is more to the story and I no longer do business with the shop because of their failure to be honest and up front with me starting with that call to return the gun. (Turns out it was a $2,700 gun and I paid about $1,400 … all they had to do was tell me the equivalent 16 inch barrel would cost me more and I didn’t even need an apology for the errors, just be up front & try to get me something that was as nice)
Moral of the story: bring a tape measure (if you are measurement blind like me) and live in a State that respects your right and lawfulness. (I am in process of changing residency)
“What grail guns are you still searching for to make your collection complete?”
That’s something of a trick question Mas. My list of ‘grail guns’ is much longer than my current collection list would be. If pressed though, I would like to add a 4″ Python and a 4″ Diamondback to keep my 6″ Python company. I would also like a pair of Model 1917’s, one Colt and one S&W.
I am a revolver guy. I have always considered that “real” guns are made out of blued steel and walnut rather than plastic.
Therefore, one revolver that I have always wanted was a minty Colt Python with 6-inch barrel and in Cold Royal Blue.
Unfortunately, the price of the Colt “Snake Guns” have climbed so high, in recent years, that I just can’t make myself turn loose of enough of the “moldy green” to buy the “Colt Royal Blue”.
It is torture to be pinned between my greed and my avarice in this fashion! 🙂
I always recall fondly Christmas 2003 when you bestowed upon this “wheel gun dinosaur” my first semi-auto, the Glock 19 that Rick did an amazing grip job on as my little hands hated those nasty ridges designed for “street monster” sized hands.
A Girl’s gotta have what a girl’s gotta have. So glad Gail has found her “gotta have” and you were quick on the draw to see that she got it.
It took a bit over thirty years to finally get my Auto Mag. Hopefully it won’t take that long to get a Coonan .357 Magnum 1911.
If it wasn’t for wasting perfectly good money bills and rent I could have some nice toys.
Wow, Mas, you have quite a talent for alliteration! So the rough textured Glocks chewed up police uniforms. Well I guess having a pristine uniform is more important than keeping a grip on the Glock when the weather is hot and humid. Sounds like they have their priorities out-of-whack.
I like Glocks for the same reason I like revolvers. They are simple, reliable and easy to take apart, and they don’t even cost too much.
I should have kept my Ishapore 2A1 in 7.62 NATO. So what if it wasn’t super accurate. I should have kept my Mauser K98k, made in 1937. It was a tack-driver, but I couldn’t shoot it as fast as I wanted to.
Grail guns? I’m content, and don’t need to own any fancy guns, but I like to look at them. Same with hot rods and classic cars. The next two guns on my “buy” list would simply be a Glock 43 and a DS Arms SA-58. They have fancy paint jobs. I might even get one in winter camouflage. Anything but black, even gray would be acceptable. Black guns are great, but boring to look at. Oops! I’m beginning to think like those police departments that don’t want their uniforms torn up.
Excellent Mas! Good find.
Once again I have very much enjoyed catching up on the goings on here @ your blog. Never disappoints!
Now I do not mean to be facetious Mas yet yes, solar powered night sites are a thing. Lots of glow in the dark stuff uses stored solar/light energy to appear bright in low light conditions… Lol! It was still a good one though.
As for me and grail guns, there’s just too many to mention! I love it all so no one thing really stands out above anything else as per firearms I want. I have yet to be a collector per se, so am pleased to read that it appears Gail will be actually utilizing her grail as a carry piece.
Right on, congrats!
Yay, Gail!
First, I must admit I was one of THE worst “hardware is the solution” gun owners. Fortunately for me, I received great advice and now own what I believe is the Grail Gun for me. I went through Springfields, Glocks, Sig Sauers, all chambered in .45ACP – but it was when I realized I would be needing to transition to 9mm that things came into focus. Two reasons I needed to transition: 1. osteoarthritis was causing my followup shots to walk more than I cared for. 2. recent ballistics reveal there is almost no difference in effectiveness between the 9mm HST/147 grain rounds I now carry and the 230 grain HST’s in the .45’s. Bottom line: I now EDC an H&K P30SK with the V1-LEM trigger system. This has to be the finest firearm I’ve ever had the pleasure to shoot – an absolute tack driver. From day one, the quality of materials and construction details of this H&K continue to wow me – especially when you consider I paid only $40 more than a Glock 19 for this H&K! It is ergonomically perfect for my hands, holds 10+1 in either of the two magazines I now have. If one feels the need for more arrows, the mags for the P30 (15 rds.) will fit. I was even more fortunate (IMO) in that it was shipped with one of the mags with the “pinky rest.” If you’ve never checked one of these out, I urge you to do so.
Don-PA, the HK P30SK is indeed sweet. Here’s my writeup on it in On Target magazine:
http://ontargetmagazine.com/2016/04/hk-p30sk-9mm/
Don-Pa,
Great to hear from you again. Missed your posts. I was worried you were experiencing health problems after your retirement.
Beretta Cougar Inox. Missed my chance in ’05, and despite working in a busy gun store for seven years, including hundreds of gun shows, I have yet to encounter one.
The only Grail Gun that we ever searched for, I bought for my wife, Bonnie, for 20 years of putting up with me. That is her Bren X (she is a fan of Miami Vice) – a blued M&P model, WITH a functioning magazine. Yes, we have shot it with mild handloads, but mostly, it’s a safe queen. The beautifully figured wood grips have to be seen to be believed. As she says, hers is prettier than Sonny Crockett’s!
Mas, we hope to see you in Central Lake soon. Care to shoot any 3-person team?
I want a blue 41 magnum police model. Years ago the late Finn Aggart owned one that he had customized with a round butt & 3″ barrel. That’s my grail gun.
Sam, it’ll be good to see you & Bonnie at Central Lake. Let’s definitely plan on soe 3-gun. Tell Bonnie her Bren Ten will probably stay pretty longer than Sonny Crockett or anyone else.
Ah, the maddening obsession of a collector. I know it well. Curses, I know it well.
A factory built full auto 1911 that I saw on one of my newsfeeds the other day. Only 5 said to exist in the world, and the owner says it’s totally uncontrollable.
Who wouldn’t want one?
I might as well call it a grail gun, it’s a Wilson 1996 A2, I bought from a friend whose said to have passed away. It was my first, to me anyway, higher end 1911. Much later, I came across a NIB Walther P-88, which is also a grail gun, since I’ve always wanted one. It’s been an outstanding handgun in function and accuracy. Then, there’s my Les Baer Super Tac. On separate note on this weekend, I really miss my family.
I’d say a Heckler & Koch P7…..
Mas, Dennis – thanks for your responses – it’s times like these that I wonder where the time goes. First, Mas – the entire gun world owes you a debt of gratitude for all you’ve done for so many years. I think I’ve read every word you ever wrote at least once. If you had “only” been THE premier gunwriter and storyteller, but there’s so much more. I’ve always said my dream would be to take one of your classes someday. Now, Dennis, I thought it a cliche when after they retired, a retiree would say: “How did I ever have time to work full time?” Well, it’s not a cliche. Sure, I’ve been doing one project after another, but it seems I’m not allocating enough time to do what I really love – like shoot – and chip in my 2 cents here at Backwoods Magazine. Dennis – I apologize for letting my absence lead you (rightfully so) to think I might have health issues. Thanks for your concern – truth is, I’m doing quite well. I hope and pray you are doing well – I simply must get on this site more often!
Stay safe, everyone – this world is more dangerous than ever.
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