Okay I read the original post out loud to my husband and asked him what his answer was. His reply? "The ultimate guy quilt would be made of denim and leather!"
Lol. Now I know I'm on the right track - I made a denim quilt for him, it's a wholecloth quilt with an enormous applique of his family crest in the center. It just needs to be quilted and then it's all his.