11:39 Aug 5, 2010 

It would be nice to know which, if any, of these solutions you went for.

09:02 Jul 16, 2010 

thanks a lot for this feedback. Unfortunately I can no longer use my 2nd ed. of the OED on CD as it won't run under XP and the vendors refused to provide a reasonably priced update. So to me print beats the new media. Happy translating.

07:42 Jul 16, 2010 

Oxford Online (subscription only) = complete text of 2nd Edition + Additions (3 Vols.) + updated drafts for 3rd Edition (labeled as such) (see: http://www.digento.de/titel/100238.html). I accessed it through my library and I would say that it supports using "unique" (used in the context of numismatics and, by association, presumably other collectibles). So, now I have a hard source alongside your practical examples and that is enough for my glossary and I need to stop and do some work. Again, thanks.

07:20 Jul 16, 2010 

Sorry about that: I was using the print editions, but they were Merriam-Webster's Collegiate XI and the (unfortunately non-standard) Oxford Dictionary of English rev. II. The OED and particularly the M-W' Third are themselves fairly archaic and not much help for determining standard usage. Their big advantage is that they might actually include a sub-entry that precisely answers our question, otherwise they seem too unwieldy to me. I have no relevant technical dictionary, so I'm giving up, I'll put "unique" with a question mark in my glossary and look it up, if it becomes an issue someday. Thank you for the help and the critical discussion.

17:14 Jul 15, 2010 

I now checked with my printed Dics: Both M-W' Third and the OED full edition, apart from Cassels' and Chambers', list this noun meaning of unique. The leading bilingual dics Muret/Sanders and Oxford/Harrap also give exactly this pair. Perhaps not all internet resources are exhaustive? Regards.

12:58 Jul 15, 2010 

For one example what are relatively unique pieces today see here:
http://www.freedomarms.com/

12:08 Jul 15, 2010 

having discussed the issue at some depth I'd be keen to learn what you have decided on for "Einzelstück". Regards.

11:58 Jul 15, 2010 

tx for comment. I'm afraid it's the only term I know - any other is welcome. Have a look here
http://coalcreekarmory.blogspot.com/2007/05/899-uniques-colt...
http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=335 (about one fifth down the thread)
http://www.artfact.com/artfact/whatsNews.cfm (under Aug 19, 2009)
for some open texts. I myself do not rely on - admittedly very good M&W or OED - for highly specialized terms but stay with my own term base. "custom-made" IMO would be a good alternative, though possibly (!) not correct if the museum's display had the sole remnant of an old production run, which would classify as "Einzelstück" but not custom-made. That is a remote possibility however, and your term too would fit.
Best.

09:58 Jul 15, 2010 

You're right that "museum" is not specifically relevant for the search, but it is helpful, because it weeds out the otherwise endless results from role-playing games, computer games, etc.
And is it correct that "unique" is an established technical term in the context of arms and armor? Otherwise it should be avoided: Oxford lists the noun as archaic and Merriam Webster's doesn't list it at all. I would tend twoard something like "custom-made weapons"

09:36 Jul 15, 2010 

The source text's distinction is between Gebrauchswaffen and Einzelstücke. Whether they are on exhibit in a museum, in a private home or elsewhere is not pertinent. Therefore co-occurences of "common weapons" and "museum" in an internet search does not alone say much on whether "common weapons" is the proper (in the context) juxtaposition to "uniques". It would have to be analysed for co-occurences of the terms in descritptions of the source text's articles. Regards.