How old do guns need to be to be considered OLD?

I came up with a old gun equation

your age = X (Age of Gun)

18-25 yo. 3x your age
25-35 yo. 2x your age
35-45 yo. 1.5x your age
45-55 yo. 1x your age
55-65 yo 0.8 your age
65-75 yo 0.5 your age
75-85 yo. 0.3 your age

Here in NJ an "antique" vehicle must be at least 25 years old, pre-1898 is the cutoff for "antiques" under Federal Law.

BLACKHAWKNJ said:

pre-1898 is the cutoff for "antiques" under Federal Law.

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Technically, it's pre-1899 ("antiques" could have been manufactured through the year 1898).

"Curios and relics" are anything manufactured 50 years prior to the current date.

Older than me.

Pre plastic.

Anything from the 80's on is modern to me.

21H40 said:

I was reminded this week that my youngest firearm is a modern version of an 1892 design, and the fancy "modern" pistol (made on those new CNC machines with computers!) I used as my CCW for the first decade I could carry is now over 20 years old.

Cars are supposed to become antiques after 20 years, right? What about guns?

Generally, I think about old guns as beautiful relics of craftsmanship long gone. Glock's first wonder-nines are approaching 40 year old, and I just can't look at them like that.

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If you're talking "collectible" status, 1964 seems to be a key date. Winchester, among others changed their manufacturing techniques and standards (lowered them) to produce more affordable guns. Anything pre 1964 seems to draw a premium.

If craftsmanship and quality is your thing-think about, receivers machined from a solid block of steel, all steel parts (even triggers and trigger guards), hand-fit, hand finished components, forged steel everything, polished and rubbed wood, etc., no MIM parts, no cast parts, no plastic parts, no production shortcuts to cut costs, then pre 1964 is your baseline standard.

For me, I draw the line at 1964. My oldest is 1930.

This is usually the moment where people respond to accuse me of being a snob or an elitist, or an elitist snob. To which I reply: Why thank you.

A firearm is generally "To Old" when it becomes inoperable.

BLACKHAWKNJ said:

Here in NJ an "antique" vehicle must be at least 25 years old, pre-1898 is the cutoff for "antiques" under Federal Law.

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That's why the Pawn stars don't buy anything post 1898

Coyote3855 said:

Pre plastic.

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I have a 105 year old revolver with plastic (vulcanite rubber) grips...

Any gun that you can't use modern ammo in.

21H40 said:

Cars are supposed to become antiques after 20 years, right? What about guns?

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25 is the more typical age. Many States (not all) will issue a "classic car" license plate at that age (which can look passing odd on an AMC Pacer of no particular regard, at least to my eye). Absolute dates may suggest an age, but not necessarily a status.
A 1992 Yugo (31 y/o) is clearly old, but is unlikely to be considered a "classic"

So, a "pre ban" Olympic MA-15 is clearly an "old" firearm. A "classic" probably less so. A Colt SP-1 of the same era probably is "classic."

A Calico M-960 is "old," probably "classic," and yet, is probably a pain in the tuccus, same as when it was new.

As Rules-of-Thumb go, probably the New to Used ratio is the best indicator. If rare to see New, and common in Used; then, likely Old. A G17.0 is likely worth an "old" label. Gen 2 and Gen 4 probably also are "old(ish)." Gen 3 being comlicated as production continued to serve the CA market.

I have 3 big game rifles. My "new" big game rifle is the .308 Norma that I ordered when I retired 12 years ago. My "old" big game rifle is the 30-06 I purchased back in the early-mid '80s. My "really old" big game rifle is the .308 Winchester my folks gave me in 1962 when I was about 15. A half-dozen or so big game rifles have come and gone in the years between my .308 Winchester and my .308 Norma, but those are just called "used to haves."

To me it needs a qualifier because it depends. An old Glock is a different animal from an old Colt.

For me, "old" means "I don't exactly remember when I bought it".

WW 2 is a pretty good/easy benchmark. WW 2 to 1982 is a nice range for a shooter interested in Smith & Wessons. But what do I know!

AK Hunter said:

Any gun that you can't use modern ammo in.

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I like this, but ammo makers are aware of it. My dad once had a 32-20 revolver. He had a box of ammo marked "for rifles only." But today, if you buy "modern" (as in, recently produced) 32-20 ammo, it's "safe for all rifles and pistols," meaning it has been downloaded from previous decades' standards.

Unless you're talking smokeless powder in a black powder only gun, I think you're probably better off with newer ammo.

mavracer said:

To me it needs a qualifier because it depends. An old Glock is a different animal from an old Colt.

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Now you're talking about collectability vs age. An old Glock is just that-an old Glock. An old Colt, on the hand, is a piece of American history.

I'm sure basic ecoomics plays a role in that too. There are a lot more old Glocks around than old Colts, so, subsequently, old Colts, especially desirable models, are more collectible.

deadeye dick said:

That's why the Pawn stars don't buy anything post 1898

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Actually, it's because they don't have an FFL and don't want to deal with the regulation and oversight. Lots of pawn shops have FFLs and buy post 1898 guns, although I bet most prefer to buy recognizable modern guns that will sell quickly. (Glocks and M&P2.0, AR15s etc.)

CapnMac said:

25 is the more typical age. Many States (not all) will issue a "classic car" license plate at that age (which can look passing odd on an AMC Pacer of no particular regard, at least to my eye). Absolute dates may suggest an age, but not necessarily a status.
A 1992 Yugo (31 y/o) is clearly old, but is unlikely to be considered a "classic"

So, a "pre ban" Olympic MA-15 is clearly an "old" firearm. A "classic" probably less so. A Colt SP-1 of the same era probably is "classic."

A Calico M-960 is "old," probably "classic," and yet, is probably a pain in the tuccus, same as when it was new.

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OMG, this right here!

I met a guy at a new job who was into "classic cars." At the time, I was restoring an early 1950's car, so I asked what he was restoring. A 1978 Cadillac DeVille. "I'm sorry, a what?" smh.This was in 1998. That's not a classic (not even today), that was just an old beater. (Although, I bet a group of guys at a LGS in NY could fit @gifbohane into the trunk.)

I feel like we have the same thing in the firearms world. Guy at range day after a gun show: "Check out this Mosin Nagant rifle I got!" Me: "Oh yeah, did you pick that out of a garbage can?" While I'm shooting my WWII Springfield Armory M1. (Which, in and of itself isn't exactly rare. I mean, it's not like a Singer 1911 or anything.) Just because it's old doesn't make it a classic or even valuable, specially considering the gazillions of garbage rods the Soviets produced. Right about now is when someone steps in and says something about elitism and snobbery.

Then, too, some of this is related to where you live. I wonder if that 1992 Yugo is valuable, or at least appreciated, in the former Yugoslav territories. I hear there are still some Nagants being used in Ukraine right now.

AlexanderA said:

"Curios and relics" are anything manufactured 50 years prior to the current date.

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Kinda wild to think that in 4 years, a person can have a Glock that's in that category.

I would say if it qualifies for C&R. Most Kids today would say if it’s made out of steel and wood it’s an antique.

About half of my firearms are over 75 years old.
Several are well over 100.

Pre-1945 in design and pre-1970 in manufacture. A 1952 Polish Tokarev is an old gun but a 1990 Norinco Tokarev is not.

Arbitrary as hell but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Anyway, all my guns are young at heart.