Oldest Rifle You Own

1867 vetterli converted to centerfire

My ancestors carried this one to Illinois in 1852. I dont know how old it is. Hammer marks are visible under the stock. It shows signs of having been a flintlock and converted to percussion.

1873 Winchester in 32-20, made around 1883. Special order rifle with a 30" full octagon barrel with full length magazine. I am the second "owner" after buying it from its original family. Shoots wonderful

My second oldest rifle is a Hopkins & Allen No.922. It's a falling block single shot 22 from 1900-1915. 80% of the rifling is gone.



Third oldest is a Gewher 98 made in the J.P. Sauer and Sohn factory in Suhl in 1916. It's been sportsterized with an unmarked barrel that I believe is 7x57.

It was a 1914 Ishevsk Mosin, Finned, until this morning. Now, 1916 Sestroryetsk Mosin M91, Imperial Eagles intact.

1874 Gras Rifle converted to 8mm Lebel in 1914 and then rechambered for the "N' cartridge in the early 1930s.

I had an 1886 Springfield trap door given to me, I cleaned it up and flipped it for $400.00.
Since I'd never shoot it why would I keep.
Now the oldest is my M1 Garand with a serial number making from the 1st quarter of 1943.
And a Remington M1903A3 from mid 1943.

Most of my guns are 30+ years old, but I only have one that is over 100. This is my 1898 Krag, which the serial number dates to 1899 manufacturer. It was sporterized by someone else but I finished it with some bedding and stock modifications and I made the scope mount for it. The barrel is original and horribly rough and pitted, but somehow it shoots amazingly well with the right loads. I think I’ll take it out today.

1906 Model 94 w/ 22" Octagonal barrel in 30 Win



Next would be the Model 97 Win 12 ga 30" full - 1914


Next after that one is the 1916 Newton rifle - 1st model in 256 Newton

My reworked Martini (Marteenie) has a 1876-dated receiver, which predates anything else I have right now. The runner-up would be my Webley MkI revolver (left) from the early 1880s, which is in more intact, original condition if you overlook the .45 ACP shaved cylinder and reblue the importer did back in the 1950s. Not sure why my oldest stuff is British.

Bbear said:

1906 Model 94 w/ 22" Octagonal barrel in 30 Win
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Next would be the Model 97 Win 12 ga 30" full - 1914
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Next after that one is the 1916 Newton rifle - 1st model in 256 Newton

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Newton envy -- kudos!

Yea, I've wanted one forever. Now I got one.

Mine is an Inland M1 carbine barrel marked 2-44 my father brought back from the Korean War.

This rifle was a .40 that I had freshened to a .45 by Mr Hoyt from Pennsylvania.
It us also s family heirloom, one generation behind the rifle in post #4.

I have shot it some, but it needs trigger work as they are not reliable.

I don't have pictures, but mines a Marlin 1897, iirc it was made in late 00's or early 1910's. It still cycles and shoots, but the bore is pretty eroded and it tumbles bullets.

Mine is a youngster by comparison, a Western Field Model 45 dating to around 1936. .22 S, L, LR magazine fed, made by Mossberg for Wards. It’s presently scoped using a side mount using an old Japanese Tasco.

Late 20's Winchester model 57 .22 bolt action. Lovely little gun that everyone enjoys shooting.

Oldest I have now is a t-99 Sporter dunno age it was early war config, oldest I've had that I dated, was a 41 or 42 izzy.
Next up would be a '75 Remington 700.

I don't own tend to own guns for the history, and find more modern rifles to tend to be more critter friendly. There are a few tho, that I wouldn't mind having.

Swedish 96/38, dated 1911.

I no longer own any mil surps, so the oldest currently is an early Remington 700 ADL in 7mm Rem Magnum. The cartridge and rifle were introduced in 1962, so I'm thinking 1962-65 vintage. It was my FIL's favorite hunting rifle.

I guess I should add a few other that are 100+ years old.

1884 Trapdoor
1890 Commission Rifle
1906 Swedish M96

U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1898 Krag-Jorgensen:

BigBlue 94 said:

Third oldest is a Gewher 98 made in the J.P. Sauer and Sohn factory in Suhl in 1916. It's been sportsterized with an unmarked barrel that I believe is 7x57.

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Big Blue; that barreled action with the Gwr 98 stamp started life as a 7.92x57mm mistakenly called 8mm Mauser. Unless the barrel has been replaced, it should still be in that caliber. Logically, 7x57mm would be a very easy barrel swap, as the head fits the bolt and the size of the cartridge would suit the original magazine and such very well. One can easily check the barrel by seeing which caliber bullet will not quite fit completely in the muzzle.

I collect WWI infantry rifles and carbines. So my oldest are around the turn of the last Century. I do have a Modelle 1886 Lebel, but I don't know when it was actually made.