Which long gun for fireplace décor?

D.B. Cooper said:

Well, to be honest, I've never lived in a home with a fire place, so I don't know how much smoke they put into the room.

Click to expand...

If they're designed and built correctly, used regularly and the chimney is swept, next to none. I'd imagine the original idea behind hanging a gun on a mantle might be having it dry quicker in a warm, well ventilated place than it would when left in a corner.

As far as decorative aspect is concerned, I loved the sheer presence of 1928 tommy gun on the wall, before the law changed a few years ago and now you have to store all functioning guns in a certified gun safe. I used to padlock it to a heavy duty anchor bolt on the wall but that won't suffice anymore.

From your description, I'd still choose either a vintage, exposed hammer SxS or a 19th century musket. Or both, even?

D.B. Cooper said:

I will never understand some people's love affair with the Mosin Nagant rifle. I remember when those things were stacked in trash cans at gun shows with a sigh "Take your pick. $50." Every weekend after a gun show, people would show up at the range with them, shoot a 12 moa group, and say "Hey, that's pretty good." Mean while I'm shooting 1/2 moa with my 243. smh.

Click to expand...

The people who rave about how accurate they are, don't shoot well enough to know the difference.
The ones I've shot are 3-4 moa with mil surp. Slightly better with silver bear.
I really think a flintlock is the way to go for a mantle piece.
Depending how close you are to the sea, a harpoon might be cool.

^^^Looks good - kind of like my Belgian-made African Trade Musket, which I believe is an imitation of the Charleville 1777.
Fireplaces are a little redundant down here in sub-tropical south Texas, but if I had one I'd probably hang this musket over it,

Deus Machina said:

My vote, especially for Alaska, would be a lever-action.
But if I just needed a display piece, I'd hit up wherever busted guns are to be found, polish and stain one up all pretty but not necessarily servicable, and hang that.
Lever-actions, double-barreled shotguns, or sewer-piped muzzle-loaders are all good options.
Or, if you're a dork like me, an old Red Ryder.

Click to expand...

I've got my Daisy BB gun from 1962 hanging on the wall in my garage. I still remember all the fun I had with that gun.

D.B. Cooper said:

In what ways?

Click to expand...

I had to look this up to be accurate before answering, but the way it was taught to me is the Four Freedoms were memorialized a month after Pearl Harbor when F.D.R. gave a State of the Union address with that theme. With the nation at war the artist Norman Rockwell took up that cause and produced a series of Four Freedoms that became posters, the aim was to sell war bonds. According to the Rockwell Museum, the Four Freedoms raised over $132 million. The paintings—Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear, became icons. In an interview published by the Saturday Evening Post, Rockwell stated he had no interest in debating the First Freedom--The Freedom To Keep Arms--as it was obvious all others are dependent. He then quoted George Orwell and said "...that rifle on the wall is the symbol of democracy and it's our job to see that it stays there.”

Of the set, this is the poster I have always liked best.

The honest to goodness truth is that any rifle looks good over a fireplace. I can't think of a rifle that you could hang that would be ugly, only one a woman might complain about heh heh. Even a nice AR or AK would look good over the hearth.

How about a ....... wait for it ...... waaaaiiit fooooor iiiit ..... a TOMMY GUN ???????

D.B. Cooper said:

I've actually been thinking about buying one

Click to expand...

Do it. Tommy guns combine ridiculous amounts of fun with class better than anything on this planet.

Here's some for you to peruse: https://simpsonltd.com/other-shotguns/?sort=priceasc . I've ordered from Simpson's before and have been well pleased. Lots of old, antique guns that would fit your requirements, I'm sure you can find something that would suit you. And, they're cheap enough that shipping and fees won't eat you up.

Mac

First choice: any muzzle-loader, with accessories displayed ajacent

runner-up: Trapdoor Springfield, Berthier, Martini-Henry, Berdan, 1871 Mauser, or similar contemporary long rifle

They're decorative, have history for those who might be interested, and non-firing replicas are so commonly used by decorators that most people would just assume they were fakes anyway.

I always wanted the CVA Pennsylvania Long Rifle in flintlock, when they were available. They were sold in kits or fully assembled. The assembled ones were once $389 from Sportsmens Guide, Gander Mountain, etc. Never did get one, and am now sorry, as I have the perfect fireplace for it.

A friend made a similar display for a Hawken-style rifle he was given by an elderly gentleman going to a nursing home and couldn't take it with him. The gentleman also gave my friend a letter from one of his ancestors written in the later 1800s describing where the family had used to rifle to defend against Indian attacks. He picked up a powder horn and antler handled hand forged knife to go in the box with the rifle. He also built a frame inside the box to show the letter.

Shortly after he got the rifle he had a black powder shooter friend check it out. They ran a rod down the barrel and it was loaded.

mag1911 said:

A friend made a similar display for a Hawken-style rifle he was given by an elderly gentleman going to a nursing home and couldn't take it with him. The gentleman also gave my friend a letter from one of his ancestors written in the later 1800s describing where the family had used to rifle to defend against Indian attacks. He picked up a powder horn and antler handled hand forged knife to go in the box with the rifle. He also built a frame inside the box to show the letter.

Shortly after he got the rifle he had a black powder shooter friend check it out. They ran a rod down the barrel and it was loaded.

Click to expand...

Back when those weapons were actual tools rather than historical artifacts (or reproductions) it was very common to keep them loaded, as it might be necessary to quickly use them for defense!

As a youth, my father once gave me a book on firearms safety, which contained a number of stories concerning gun safety. There were a number of incidents related where people who neglected safety concerns caused guns to fire, resulting in tragedies.
One involved a boy and his friend at the home of the former. They had a family heirloom muzzle loader rifle on wall holders. They actually knew the real date of the last time the rifle had been used! The kid brought the rifle down, jokingly aimed it at his friend ("ha ha all good fun and all that") cocked the weapon and pulled the trigger.
And killed his best friend.
One hundred + years.... the rifle had hung on a wall. Doing nothing. But, loaded : BECAUSE THE GUN'S LAST OWNER HAD CLEANED IT AND LOADED IT, ANTICIPATING FUTURE NEED.

But he could never have guessed what his great, great grandson might do in a future he'd never live to see.

I have a 99 savage in .308, Pop has a .300 Sav, but from the 60's. With the recent posts on the thread, had to mention them.

While I do like those, I'd suggest something from the early days of semiautos. Think about a Remington Model 8, one of the first commercially produced semi-auto rifles, beginning just after the turn of the last century, in something like the 35 Rem.

Something with brass. With a dark background you want it to pop a bit.