Don't know where else to put this. What is the oldest firearm that you own?

[jimb16]

I'm curious? I'm sure many of us have some great old timers. I'd love to know what's out there. Mine is a half-stock percussion buggy rifle made in Painesville, Ohio. Can't put an exact date on it, but it has a Remington barrel on it. That particular barrel was produced by Remington until 1847 when it was discontinued due to Remington getting Govt. contracts that took up all of their barrel production. I have identified the maker and he produced rifles there until 1845, so that is the closest I can date it.
What do you guys have?

[15meter]

1870 Trapdoor.

[Traffer]

1945 Remington 514 22 rifle.

[tigweldit]

John Henry and Son. 1860. .41 percussion. Very good condition,with original mold.

[Tripplebeards]

Charles Daly side by side 10 gauge. I was told by CD it was made somewhere in the late 1800's. It's missing a hammer if someone has one for it I'm a buyer.

[samari46]

1865-70 Peabody single shot carbine or saddle ring carbine as it is sometimes referred to in 56-50 rimfire. One of these days will get a centerfire conversion done on a spare breech block and keep the rimfire one if and when I sell it. Frank

[Cowboy_Dan]

Winchester 1894 with a rifle-length half octagon barrel and short magazine. Born in 1897.

[Thekid]

Pistol- 1916 Nagant revolver
Rifle- 1917 rock island 1903, 1917 bsa smle, 1917 kar 98 not sure which really is older...

[dragon813gt]

1895 Spanish Saddle Ring Carbine. I forget the serial number but I know it was early production which puts it around 1895-1896. Only Mauser I own and it has a tremendously heavy trigger pull. Has to be over 15#.

[rockrat]

Old Kentucky long rifle

[Big Uke]

Carl Gustav converted to a CG63. Receiver dates from 1904.

[JBinMN]

Springfield Model 1861 rifled musket w/bayonet (.58 cal)

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

well, until I sold it, my oldest gun was a French Gras model 1874 (receiver is dated 1875).

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/100_1296.jpg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/JonB_in_Glencoe/media/100_1296.jpg.html)

[Moleman-]

1891 Argentine Mauser made by ser# in 1893 when my grandpa was one year old.

[Bookworm]

Colt Officers Model Target, 1949. Only Colt I own.

Colt serial number sequences are something out of a comic book. I had to call them to get the skinny on it.

[Point-Man]

Swiss Vetterli 69-71 Made in 1878 converted to center fire

[Czech_too]

Marlin model 1889, mfg. in '93, 32-20 full octagon

[Wayne Smith]

Cape gun made in Germany between 1895 (date company who sold it was founded) and April 1, 1892 (date proof law was effective in Germany) with no proof marks. Damascus shotgun barrel in 16 2.5" and rifle fluid steel barrel in 10.5x47R.

[Tackleberry41]

1870s era Martini.

[bedbugbilly]

The oldest one I currently own was actually "passed down through the family". It is a pre-Revolutionary War "Committee of Safety" musket. At some point, it was converted from flintlock to percussion. Notice the style of the butt stock has a "French" influence to it - very similar in shape to a French "Fusil de Chasse" but definitely a military oriented musket - barrel bands - .69 caliber. There are no markings on this musket. The stock is made out of curly maple and the "striped grain can be seen in the close up of the butt stock.

I took this to Friendship many years ago and had several well respected collectors who were knowledgeable on the time period take a look at it. They also indicated that it had French influence and while not identical to a specific "Model Pattern" - their conclusion agreed with mine that it was most likely a Committee of Safety Musket. Their conclusion was most likely from around 1740 - 1760.

This was passed down from my mother's side of the family. They were of Englis/Wales descent and eventually ended up in New York and from there, to Michigan at the time it was still a Territory. No way of knowing the actual "history" of it - perhaps a "capture" or somehow it made it's way from French Canada? Who knows - but it is certainly a nice heirloom that I wish could talk. In the original flintlock form, it may have been used in the Revolutionary War. An interesting piece that I wished had some markings to give a clue as to the origin.

At Friendship, when I met with several of the "experts", we disassembled it to determine if there were any markings. What they found interesting was that although the butt stock had "French influence" - the stock was made from Maple and most likely of North American origin.

Ramrod was lost at some point bu was originally iron. Lock still functions. As they say . . . "if only it could talk!".

[prsman23]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170427/2cba66e8bb1600b7d7bf9e08387a8b41.jpg

1873 made in 1877. Picked it up at auction a few years ago.


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[lightman]

Probably an 1873 Winchester in 44 WCF, made in the 1890's if I remember correctly.

[Ron in PA]

1873 Springfield Trapdoor 45-70 made in 1883.

[Greg G.]

1887 Mk 4 Martini Henry

[Spector]

Swiss Vetterli 69/71 manufactured in 1872. Sold my 1887 Marlin revolver. Wish I hadn't now.

Mike

[dondiego]

Winchester Mod. 92 in 44 WCF born in 1894. Winchester-Hotchkiss bolt action 45-70, wish I knew the age, several Trapdoor Springfields.

[Digital Dan]

Not sure about the age, but know a bit about the 'smith.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=80751762

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Black%20Powder/DSCN4282_zpsa4b29ff9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Black%20Powder/DSCN4282_zpsa4b29ff9.jpg.html)

[wv109323]

A Commercial 1911 Colt made in 1917.

[Drew P]

1899. My great, great, great, great grandfathers colt SAA!

Last year of the black powder only model.

[rondog]

1914 Mauser .32 pocket pistol.

[Shiloh]

U.S. Krag. Struck 1899

Shiloh

[Green Frog]

I think my First Model, 3rd issue S&W made in 1864-65 is the winner for me.

Froggie

[Shuz]

Mine is a Marlin 336 "waffletop, perch belly" .30-30 made in 1949, that I would like to sell or trade.

[Traffer]

I almost bought a non converted Vetterli 69-71 a couple of months ago. It looked really nice. The guy knew nothing about it. I think he was asking around $250. I wanted it but am low on funds. Sure wish I would have bought it. I reload rim fire. I want to test my skills on reloading these rim fires. But also thought that rim fire brass for them would be extremely expensive. Any thoughts?


Swiss Vetterli 69-71 Made in 1878 converted to center fire

[Point-Man]

I almost bought a non converted Vetterli 69-71 a couple of months ago. It looked really nice. The guy knew nothing about it. I think he was asking around $250. I wanted it but am low on funds. Sure wish I would have bought it. I reload rim fire. I want to test my skills on reloading these rim fires. But also thought that rim fire brass for them would be extremely expensive. Any thoughts?
Sounds like a good price if the barrel hasn`t been chopped and has a cleaning rod. I have seen the original ammo go for 6 to 12 dollars apiece.But I have never seen one that was fired and actuality went off. I have a 69-71 which was made into a carbine around 1900 by Sears & Robuch. My other is a 78-81 made in 1886. I have converted both and shoot both. I make my own ammo.Good luck to you if you get one and reload rim fire. It`s just to easy to convert and shoot center fire to me.

[Bulldogger]

Pistol = S&W Model 1 V3 1870
Rifle = Martini Henry Gahendra model 1875

[jamesp81]

I'm not even competitive in here. My oldest is a Schmidth-Rubin K31. I believe it is stamped 1944.

[Harry O]

1867 Remington Rolling block that was in the second batch of 20,000 that were sold to Sweden and Denmark. Just the action. I had it stocked and barreled in 45-70. It is not traditional style. I made it so that it would kick the least possible. The design details worked.

[scattershot]

Percussion fowler from the 1870's.

[Digital Dan]

Sounds like a good price if the barrel hasn`t been chopped and has a cleaning rod. I have seen the original ammo go for 6 to 12 dollars apiece.But I have never seen one that was fired and actuality went off. I have a 69-71 which was made into a carbine around 1900 by Sears & Robuch. My other is a 78-81 made in 1886. I have converted both and shoot both. I make my own ammo.Good luck to you if you get one and reload rim fire. It`s just to easy to convert and shoot center fire to me.
Had the opportunity to shoot one back around '99 +/-. Original gun and ammo went boom each time I jerked the trigger.

[blue32]

1864 U.S. marked Providence Tool Co carbine or shotgun. Not sure, but the muzzle diameter measures .65". I'd shoot it if I could replace the seized broken nipple.

[jimb16]

This isn't a competition, for those of you who feel that their oldest isn't worthy. If the oldest is a 1942 M12 Winchester, go ahead and comment. (I have one of those too; a sweet 16!) I'm finding this very interesting and enjoyable. It doesn't need to be OLD if it is unusual, I'd like to hear about that too. Its fun just to see what's out there.

[gwpercle]

I haven't seen this one listed:
Manhattan Firearms , 36 cal. , 6 shot percussion revolver , 6 1/2 inch barrel, walnut grips , brass grip frame that had been nickel plated , german silver blade front sight , steel framed.
Series V model marked Newark N.J. patented March 8, 1864.
Serial number dates it to mid July 1868.

I recently discovered it's real history. The family "lore" was there were two in black flap military holsters so a past relative must have been in the Confederate Calvary , (great grand pa was a horse dealer) and carried them during the War Of Northern Aggression......kind of hard to do that since the gun wasn't manufactured until 1868, don't believe all them family stories !
Anyone else have a Manhattan Revolver. It looks a lot like a 1851 Colt , but slimmer and trimmer.
Gary

[NoAngel]

1940 VKT Finnish Mosin.
Other than that and my FN-49, everything I have was made in my lifetime.

[ascast]

I have a French made Fowler, flintlock converted to cap. About 7 feet long, roughly 12 gauge, needs some work. Probably pre-1800 maybe 1740 ish I have been told.
Also have a small pistol ( in size) caliber is big, French, flintlock. Barrel screws off for loading Again, told it was about 1750 give or take.

[45-70 Chevroner]

My oldest is a percussion Sharps that was converted to centerfire. It is now a 45-70. I"m not sure what year it was made but the lock is stamped 1848 and the action is stamped 1858.

[JWT]

Handguns:
Three Sharps pepperboxes (approx. 1860) and a Marlin revolver (1873?).
194253

Rifles:
Joslyn carbine from 1864
Spencer carbine from 1864
Remington Rolling Block No. 4 from about 1870 (no serial number)

Shotgun:
Winchester Model 1897 Riot Gun made in 1912

[pworley1]

1853 snider conversion.

[Vopie]

1832 Richard Hollis 16 ga. percussion double w/ 34" barrels. Still use it to hunt Pheasants from time to time.

[Tripplebeards]

1891 Argentine Mauser made by ser# in 1893. 3 years before my Grampa was born.

forgot I have one of those too.

[arlon]

50-70 Trapdoor "short rifle" 1866 (converted from an older probably 1863 musket)..

[shredder]

I have a favorite deer rifle made up on a swedish model 96 from 1899. It never sees modern max loads.

[Victor N TN]

I have an old Remington #3, double barrel 41 rim fire derringer. It's shiny (maybe nickel ?) with black hard rubber grips. According to Remington's book, the 3 digit serial number indicates it was made in 1864.http://www.gunlistings.org/uploads/25802_20100720175341_1.jpg

[rking22]

Well mine are new by these standards, but a M12 Winchester 16ga made in 1914(first year for the 16ga), and I hunt with it still. Handgun would be a S&W Military and Police (3rd update) shipped in 1919, very tight and accurate. Oldest 22RF rifle is a Winchester 04, also from 1919. Then the oldest CF rifle would be a M25 Remington carbine from 1925, a 32-20WCF. There's a Belgian 12bore caplock SxS but I have no idea of the date. Probably 90% of my guns predate me, and well over half were bagging game before WWII.

[Jal5]

1908 Bayard 32 acp pistol. We think it was my grandfathers pocket pistol

[smilin jack]

1892 Marlin lever rifle in 30 WCF. Great Grandfather brought it to Oregon on the wagon from Ohio
1917 Eddystone in 30-06 Sprg. It was Dad's only hunting rifle
1950 Remington 742 pump in 300 Sav. It was my first hunting rifle got when I was 12.
Age unknown, Savage 22/410 with no serial number. Got for my son when he was a few weeks old. He's now 44.
All the rest are much newer.
Dave

[jimb16]

This is great! IF ONLY THEY COULD TALK!

[aspangler]

My oldest pistol is a 1910 Browning in 380. Oldest rimfire is 1915 Stevens Favorite in .22 lr. Oldest center fire is a 1917 Charles Gustof (SP?) 1896 Mauser in 6.5x55. Oldest shotgun was my grandfathers Springfield predecessor to the Savage 94 in 12 gauge. Oldest BP is a .32 Kentucky with a hand made and hand rifled barrel that is at least 125 years old. Found that one in the attic of an old log house being torn down. No one had lived there for over 75 years.

[Chili]

1909 Remington Model 12, 1st year of production

[jbutts6785]

The oldest one I own is an undated flintlock trade rifle. It hangs over the fireplace.

The oldest ones I have fired are a pair of 1861 muskets. One by Savage, one by Trenton.

[gcsteve]

My oldest is a Merwin & Hulbert made somewhere between 1886 and 1891. A fire in the factory destroyed the records, so a precise birth date is about impossible.

194501194502

[Whitespider]

I'm not sure how to answer the question either... the oldest??

194505
*

[JimP.]

S & W Hammerless Safety revolver 38 cal, circa 1890's
194519

[gwpercle]

I have an old Remington #3, double barrel 41 rim fire derringer. It's shiny (maybe nickel ?) with black hard rubber grips. According to Remington's book, the 3 digit serial number indicates it was made in 1864.http://www.gunlistings.org/uploads/25802_20100720175341_1.jpg
LIKE :awesome:

These are so cool , I've actually shot one a few times !

Gary

[xringshutr]

No pic right now, buti have a Swiss Vetterli made in 1881. Nice rifle. Can't believe it's almost 140 years old!! Bore is perfect and I'm looking for an extra bolt so I don't have to drill the original.

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[Paul D. Heppner]

Oldest is an Ansley H. Fox "A" grade made in 1911. I use it for game farm pheasants where it really shines. It is choked IC and light mod. Next oldest is a 1924 Winchester Model 12. A special order gun at 26 inches and a very full choke in 12 gauge. I use it for fox, coyotes, and any other vermin that need my attention. I wouldn't like to use it on anything I intend to eat, though it would work well on turkeys.

[rintinglen]

My oldest gun is a Remington 22 pepperbox from the early 1870's. It was functional up until the 1970's, when my father, fearing my brother's serious drug addiction problems, removed and lost the firing pin mechanism. According to family lore, this was the gun my 4' 10" grandmother used to dissuade a pushy tramp who was determined to get a handout and didn't want to take a "no" for an answer. My dad and his brother shot it while in there teens with standard velocity 22 shorts.

My oldest shooting firearm is a 1906 vintage Savage 1899 in .303 Savage. Thanks to PRVI- Partisan, it is shooting again.

[Kraschenbirn]

194978

A "Wm. Moore" 12-bore double made (from the proofmarks and trade-name) between 1837 and 1843. Gun was found in the 1950s by one of my grandfathers in the attic of a 19th century farmhouse that he was scrounging for "period" hardware and millwork prior to demolition of the structure (he was a retired master carpenter who did restoration as a hobby) and given to me by my grandmother after he passed away. Condition is pretty typical of an abandoned gun; ramrod missing, rust patina on exterior with some case-hardening still visible on lockplates and buttplate, Damascus barrels with bores badly rusted/pitted, repaired (wire-wrapped) crack in the wrist of the stock, and right-hand lock non-functional (broken mainspring?). When I went to clean it up, found there was still a charge in the right-hand barrel: 1 1/8 oz. #6 shot with paper wadding (preserved in the medicine bottles beside the gun).

Bill

My oldest 'shooter' is a '98 Krag carbine that goes to the range fairly regularly.

[trapper9260]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=194858&d=1494088406&thumb=1

This my 1864 Brigesburg.58 cal

[Doggonekid]

My Win mod 12 feels young again. DOB 1920 give or take 6 months.

[Echale3]

I have a .40 caliber percussion rifle made by Jacob Kline some time between 1828 and 1844--those are the years he was active as a gunsmith in Frankfort Twp, PA.

I have fired it a time or two...

[Texas by God]

My 1909 Winchester 1897 12 gauge sawed off. It looks like farm machinery working but I can still get 5 bowling pins off the table in 5 seconds or 10 or so. The 1911 slide on my Franken.45 is at least 100 yrs old. My NR Davis and Sons 12 gauge is ninety something and finally the action on my 1893 Spanish Mauser 30-30 is stamped 1926.
I want something older!
Best, Thomas.

[jimb16]

Isn't it great to see all these old timers and realize that many of them are still doing what they were made to do?

[Pmg]

6 inch smith pre 27

[Clark]

195475
Made in 1857

[MaryB]

1932 J Stevens single shot 16 gauge. It was my dads first gun. The stock had been cut then lengthened with a mismatched piece as he got older. I got it when I was 14 and used it like that for years then I decided to restore it with a new stock and have it re-blued and gave it back to him for Christmas one year. He cried when he saw it and used it until he died in the car accident. My little brother tried to claim it and I told him over my dead body, that shotgun is mine, I grew up using it. My oldest sister stepped in and told my money hungry(he would have sold it for $100) little brother to get his paws off of it. I take it out pheasant hunting once in awhile just for the memories. It swings like it is a part of me since I had it restocked. Also very light and easy to carry for 4-5 hours walking.

[Rick Hodges]

Nothing very old for me....a Remington 514 single shot that I bought new 50 years ago. My first firearm.

[Texas by God]

1932 J Stevens single shot 16 gauge. It was my dads first gun. The stock had been cut then lengthened with a mismatched piece as he got older. I got it when I was 14 and used it like that for years then I decided to restore it with a new stock and have it re-blued and gave it back to him for Christmas one year. He cried when he saw it and used it until he died in the car accident. My little brother tried to claim it and I told him over my dead body, that shotgun is mine, I grew up using it. My oldest sister stepped in and told my money hungry(he would have sold it for $100) little brother to get his paws off of it. I take it out pheasant hunting once in awhile just for the memories. It swings like it is a part of me since I had it restocked. Also very light and easy to carry for 4-5 hours walking.
Damn straight Mary B! Family guns must stay in the family. I too enjoy a single shot for pheasant. They sure carry easy and if you can shoot that's all you need to knock a crazy rooster down.
Best, Thomas.

[rickomatic]

1873 Winchester born June 1876.

[Idaho45guy]

Probably my grandpa's Remington .22 Speedmaster or his Remington shotgun. Both from the 1930's...

195747

[54bore]

I don't currently own anything very old, Pre warning .54 Cal TC Renegade with really low serial number is my oldest. I have owned a bunch over the years though, i bought, sold, and traded some really old stuff over the years, some i sure wish i had kept. An old Colt official police brand new unfired in the box, that's one of many i would like to have back today

[I'll Make Mine]

I've got an H&R 5-shot revolver chambered in .32 H&R (NOT .32 H&R Magnum, .32 H&R was a BP round between .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long in both length and power, predating the latter by 4-5 years) -- made in 1891, as nearly as I can date it (it's a variation that was made only two years, so it can't be newer than '91, nor older than '90). It's a BP-only model, and I haven't had a chance to make up rounds for it -- and haven't wanted to stress the old piece with smokeless, even in the wimpy factory loading (same ballistics as the original BP short round). That's not my oldest piece, though.

A couple months before I got the H&R, I found a little .32 RF Long revolver at a gun show, and grabbed it -- figuring I could either convert it to centerfire or make ersatz RF rounds for it, either way using .32 Colt Long cases. It's a Red Jacket, and as nearly as I can find (not much information out there on these) it was made in the 1870s. Looks like it was shot once, cleaned, and then spent the next century-plus in a sock drawer. I will eventually make it shoot again; it's hard to consider centerfire conversion, but I think that's better for the gun, overall, than using nail gun blanks (loaded with fast smokeless, roughly like Bullseye) to make ersatz rimfire rounds. I've been wondering if I can make a rocker firing pin that would shoot either centerfire or rimfire, if I ever find usable/affordable .32 RF ammunition loaded with BP or substitute...

[abunaitoo]

I have two 1866 French Chassepot needle guns.
One that I've been shooting for a while now.
Made new needles and washers for them.
Working on different loads. Different sizes of powder.
Great fun.

[Pavia]

1871 Remington New York State Militia Rolling Block rifle in 50-70. Still a tack driver and you can smell the campfire smoke embedded in the stock.

[quail4jake]

S&W single action .32 S&W, 1884.

[geezer56]

Carl Gustavstad 6.5x55. One of the guns butchered by Kimber in the 70's. Made in 1899. Still a nice accurate gun. I have had it for years. Killed a couple of does a long time ago.. Bought from a pawn shop for $100 out the door.

[ikarus1]

Smith and Wesson Safety Hammerless .38S&W 3rd model, last date on the barrel is 1890 so I am guess it's somewhere in the mid-1890s production. The resin grips finally cracked and busted, but the action is still smooth if heavy and it shoots the peashooter .38s to somewhere near POA at 10yds.
Nickle finish is probably 85-90% except the cylinder which could pass for new (serial matches frame)

One of these days I am getting it lettered and put it in a nice frame

[Wolfer]

The serial # on my 98 Krag says it was made in 1898 and my Webley was made in 1918.

[Gar]

1867, Carl Gustavstad 12.7x44R Rolling Block.

[leadchucker62]

1909 win 94 td in 30wcf

Z

[JoseBob]

I have a Hopkins and Allen single barrel 12 ga. made in or around 1910 and a Winchester model 12-16 ga. made in 1918. Had a couple of more in this time frame, but dollars were needed at the time. Wished I had them back...

[Scharfschuetze]

US Rifle Model of 1870 in 50/70 and a US Navy Model 1870 Rolling Block in 50/70. Both made in 1870 as far as I can tell.

A few antiques. All with good to excellent bores and very shootable.

[jimb16]

Very nice collection!

[jonp]

1870-1880 era 43 Spanish Argentine Mauser

[bob208]

got a 1892 krag
1905 03 springfield
1899 Swedish mauser
1909 colt .45
2 half stock pa. squirrel rifles from the 1840's
1872 springfield rolling block

[jonp]

Carl Gustavstad 6.5x55. One of the guns butchered by Kimber in the 70's. Made in 1899. Still a nice accurate gun. I have had it for years. Killed a couple of does a long time ago.. Bought from a pawn shop for $100 out the door.

Boy I had a 1917 or 18 Gustav. Bought it with a sport stock and lyman peep for $150? All matching sn and bolt was butter smooth. Thing was a tack driver. Too bad it was stolen.

[9.3X62AL]

AFAIK, my oldest firearm is the Winchester Model 1873 carbine in 44/40 WCF made in 1897. At least a third of my safe's residents were born between 1897 and 1920, FWIW.

[NMLRA Guy]

My oldest gun is a circa. 1799 flintlock fowling piece in nineteen gauge and very long barrel. NMLRA Guy

[Mgvande]

Snider. 1868 lock.

[mozeppa]

colt 1911....circa 1914

5 digit serial number!

[wallacem]

I have older guns, but the one that came to mind is a Stevens Favorite 22lr rifle serial number 600. Have wondered what year it was made. Wallacem in Ga

[Tom W.]

I have a Marlin model 93, similar to the one on the last page of the June 2017 American Rifleman. Mine is a .32 special.

[John Allen]

I picked up a State of New Jersey musket at an auction years ago. It is one of the ones from the 1755 to 1757 time period used during the french and indian wars. It was converted to percussion but is still in great shape.