Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist (opens in new tab)
  • Guitar Techniques (opens in new tab)
  • Total Guitar (opens in new tab)
  • Bass Player (opens in new tab)
More
  • Lennon on Eleanor Rigby
  • Jimmy Page demos classic Led Zep gear
  • Classic rock riffs for beginners
  • Omnichord @ 70
  • SampleRadar: 163 tape loops samples

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News

Gibson's American Sniper guitar features bullet shell from real firefight

By Michael Astley-Brown
published 19 May 2016

Custom electric to be auctioned for charity

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Introduction
(Image credit: Bruce Kunkel)

Introduction

Gibson Custom is known for its meticulous attention to detail and uncompromising vintage accuracy, but it's gone above and beyond the call of duty in creating this one-off guitar in honour of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle - the subject of the film American Sniper.

Based on a 1950s Reissue Les Paul, the guitar features a hand-carved skull and crosshairs, finish with the same camouflage colours as Kyle's Navy SEAL uniform, and perhaps most notably, a 7.62mm bullet shell from one of his missions embedded in the headstock.

A portrait of Kyle also appears on the back of the guitar, as well as a Navy SEAL Trident and a whole lot more… Have a scroll through our gallery for a closer look at this mighty impressive instrument.

The guitar is the work of country artist Tim Montana and Gibson Brands/Gibson Foundation, and will be auctioned online as part of the third annual Chris Kyle Memorial Benefit.

All proceeds will be donated to the Spirit Of A Hero Foundation, and online bids can be made at Charity Buzz. Bidding closes on 6 June.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Back
(Image credit: Bruce Kunkel)

Back

The rear of the guitar hides a hand-painted portrait of Chris Kyle and a Navy SEAL Trident similar to those pounded into Kyle's casket at his funeral service. That's some serious attention to detail.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Front
(Image credit: Bruce Kunkel)

Front

A hand-carved skull and crosshairs can be found on the guitar's maple top.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Full
(Image credit: Bruce Kunkel)

Full

The guitar's top paint has been masked and hand-painted in the same camouflage colours that were on Kyle's Navy SEAL uniform.

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Headstock
(Image credit: Bruce Kunkel)

Headstock

This 7.62mm bullet shell is one of only three known to exist and was retrieved by a member of Kyle's team during an active firefight.

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Neck pickup
(Image credit: Bruce Kunkel)

Neck pickup

You'll find all-gold hardware throughout the guitar, and the neck pickup is engraved with 'Chris Kyle 2016 Memorial Benefit'.

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Bridge pickup
(Image credit: Bruce Kunkel)

Bridge pickup

A quote in Kyle's digitised handwriting adorns the bridge pickup: “It’s our duty to serve those that serve us”.

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com (opens in new tab), in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe (opens in new tab).

  1. Paul McCartney and John Lennon in 1966
    1
    John Lennon on completing Eleanor Rigby's lyrics for Paul McCartney: "It's his first verse, and the rest of the verses are basically mine"
  2. 2
    Watch Jimmy Page demo some of the most iconic guitars and amps in Led Zeppelin history
  3. 3
    Producer uses AI to make his vocals sound like Kanye West: "The results will blow your mind. Utterly incredible"
  4. 4
    Peter Gabriel on music and AI: “I think you do better if you work with a powerful new tool than just grumble or pretend it doesn’t exist”
  5. 5
    "How do you tune a B string? You can't." What Blur’s Graham Coxon learned – and didn't learn – from folk legend Bert Jansch
  1. Paul McCartney and John Lennon in 1966
    1
    John Lennon on completing Eleanor Rigby's lyrics for Paul McCartney: "It's his first verse, and the rest of the verses are basically mine"
  2. 2
    Watch Jimmy Page demo some of the most iconic guitars and amps in Led Zeppelin history
  3. 3
    How to optimize your PC for music production
  4. 4
    Producer uses AI to make his vocals sound like Kanye West: "The results will blow your mind. Utterly incredible"
  5. 5
    Peter Gabriel on music and AI: “I think you do better if you work with a powerful new tool than just grumble or pretend it doesn’t exist”

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Contact Future's experts (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.