JFK’s would be M16
In 1963 Colt made a beautiful presentation-grade XM16E1 rifle, the 50,000th made in their famous Hartford, Connecticut factory. Serial number SN# 050000, it had a Gold finish and black plastic stock. It was part of a 85,000 weapon contract issued to Colt to produce the XM16E1 for $121.84 each (about $950 today).
While most of those other rifles no doubt were soon rushed to Vietnam, this special gun, transferred to the Army, was thought to be produced for presentation to President John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy, of course a former Naval officer of PT-109 fame, was a gun guy and as a U.S. Senator requested and got a beautiful DCM Type 2 National Match M1 Garand (which I wrote about over at Guns.com). Then as President, was given a Spencer Carbine, serial number 44066, in Dec. 1962 from Springfield Armory in deference to his interest in the Civil War.
However, before the Colt gun could be passed on to Mr. Kennedy, a fateful day in Dallas changed the course of history forever.
As such, the un-fired and never presented gold M16 was quietly transferred to the Springfield Armory collection in 1966 where it sits in storage, Army card #8986, SPAR 3270.