U.S. Shooting Team Auction

by
posted on October 23, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wiley-clapp.jpg (4)

Handguns are intensely personal tools and some shooters cannot resist the temptation to further personalize their hardware. Sam Colt knew this as well as anyone in the gun business, and he hired some of the world’s greatest artisans to engrave revolvers for customers.

All of the major handgun makers continue to maintain a staff of skilled craftsmen to ornament their products. It’s getting harder to do, since many of today’s pistols come with polymer receivers, which doesn’t respond well to engraving. However, the barrel and slide is steel and can be engraved. This note is about a particular item of hardware that is a polymer gun that is also engraved. And you can own it.

The gun is a Ruger LC9 made in Ruger’s custom shop. While the bottom is a stock gun, the top is beautifully scroll engraved and coated with a special bronze coating. A handsome little piece if there ever was one, this little 9 mm auto is the only one like it in the world. This custom gun will be auctioned off by GunBroker.com, with the money derived from the auction going to the U.S. Shooting Team. So if your bid is the winning one, it will directly impact American shooters in International shooting.

Latest

weapons of war
weapons of war

A Deadly Testing Ground: Guns of the Spanish Civil War

Great powers have often used smaller conflicts as test beds for new weapon systems, and also as dumping grounds for obsolete machinery. The Spanish Civil War was one such conflict.

Sequel: The New Taurus Judge

Not content to merely mark the gun's 20th anniversary with a special engraved edition, Taurus also introduced the New Taurus Judge this year.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 3, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Questions & Answers: A Wreck of a Remington 40-X

An American Rifleman reader writes in about a project Remington 40-X .22 target rifle that needs some serious help.

New for 2026: KJI K950 Tripod and Titan Inverted Ball Head

KJI (formerly Kopfjäger) releases the carbon-fiber K950 tripod and Titan inverted-ball head.

Book Review | Guns, Shooting and Hunting: What I’ve Learned in 60 Years

Much of what one learns is truly inexpressible to others—so it’s a wonderful rarity when someone can put their knowledge into words.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.