Which long gun for fireplace décor?

Status
Not open for further replies.
How about a trophy Type 99 Arisaka with bayonet?
Now THAT'S and idea I never would have thought of!

I could do a whole WWII Alaska theme. Add in a Colt Woodsman pistol (standard issue for Castner's Cutthroats.) a pair of sinew and wood snowshoes. yeah
 
How about a trophy Type 99 Arisaka with bayonet?
....... I could vote for that as well. I have fond memories of an Arisaka over a fireplace at an uncles rec room in the 50's & 60's. Except I'm not sure if it was type 99 or type 38. Back then all I knew was that it's "an old Jap WW2 rifle". Even though I spent a lot of time looking at it.
 
Cabin Decor.jpg

Winchester Model 1897 shotgun built in the early 1900s. It has been in the family forever; however, more of a wall hanger than a shooter.
 
It sounds like it is time for a trip to the gun show. Set a budget before you go... like you said you don't want something high value that will make you sick if it is stolen. Then look for a piece of art, functional or not, that will give you the look that you want.

I have an old Frank Wesson 2 trigger single shot .32 rimfire that isn't worth much because ammo hasn't been available for a very long time but will be a great wall hanger some day.

You know they make a brass adapter case?

https://www.ammoland.com/2017/12/32-rimfire-obsolete-round/#axzz671jQklAd

http://www.hlebooks.com/32rfkit/prices.htm
 
I am prone to the flintlock for a fireplace gun. Whether it be an old Russian , British, French, or American their military muskets of the flintlock time period all look about the same. Nobody is going to look at the markings closely so if you can find an old beat up one of any country it should work nicely .
 
I would have to say a rifle that has been hard used and worn out in its service to your family. The idea of a firearm – even a non-firing reproduction – as decoration leaves me somewhat cold. Firearms are tools… Like any tool they should either be used or be given a place of honor in memory of the people that use them so long and so well. We have my great great grandfather's Sharps above our mantle. It is so old they no longer make the ammunition for it and even if they did you would be taking your life in your own hands to fire it. But it is a proud momentoe of the dour old man with only one eye that died in 1959 but still left his mark on this farm.
 
...We have my great great grandfather's Sharps above our mantle. It is so old they no longer make the ammunition for it and even if they did you would be taking your life in your own hands to fire it...

Not sure which model of Sharps you have but many of the old ones are still being used. Ammunition may have to be hand crafted but that is a small price to pay to return a tool to service.

Kevin
 
Not sure which model of Sharps you have but many of the old ones are still being used. Ammunition may have to be hand crafted but that is a small price to pay to return a tool to service.

Kevin

Perhaps, but if you had such a relic from your family history would you take the chance? Especially since there are newer tools that will do the same job available. It's on the same level as what my uncle said when he was teased about his blacksmith tools... "If the good Lord in his wisdom had intended me to use hot chisels he wouldn't have inspired the invention of the cutting torch."
 
This company sells non-firing replicas.

http://www.militaryheritage.com/muskets.htm

Non-Firing State

We sell historically accurate muskets and pistols in a non-firing state. This allows us to comply with various local, state, national and international firearms regulations, along with shipping company policy restrictions. A certified gunsmith may decide to alter a musket or pistol to a firing state by drilling the vent hole and test firing it. We are not legally responsible for any changes from its present state. Please read our Conditions of Use and Legal Disclaimer. The customer is expected to be aware of the laws of their locality that govern products of this nature.
 
This company sells non-firing replicas.

http://www.militaryheritage.com/muskets.htm

Non-Firing State

We sell historically accurate muskets and pistols in a non-firing state. This allows us to comply with various local, state, national and international firearms regulations, along with shipping company policy restrictions. A certified gunsmith may decide to alter a musket or pistol to a firing state by drilling the vent hole and test firing it. We are not legally responsible for any changes from its present state. Please read our Conditions of Use and Legal Disclaimer. The customer is expected to be aware of the laws of their locality that govern products of this nature.

Yeah, I'm familiar with those guys. I've long thought of buying one of their guns and drilling the touch hole as my way back into blackpowder. (I used to own an EAA Enfield.)
 
Firearms are tools… Like any tool they should either be used or be given a place of honor in memory of the people that use them so long and so well.

I fully agree. And we talked around this idea earlier in this thread. I think the conclusion I came to was the risk of theft, albeit minimal in our new neighborhood, is too great in comparison to the sentimental value of any family heirloom gun I might choose to display.
 
I like the Hawken 50. Something in a muzzle-loader, which is a little more complicated than just taking it off the wall, and loading cartridges into it, for the sake of safety.
 
Yeah, the girlfriend has already insisted on a trigger lock, but I could convince her otherwise with a muzzle loader.

Yeah. Those muzzle loaders can be really dangerous.
Instead of a trigger lock you might want to anchor it to the wall with Bolts and Nuts.
images.jpeg-4.jpg
You wouldnt want any drunken reinactments of Davy Crockett's last stand at the Alamo?;)
 
Last edited:
Interesting thread and ideas. Unfortunately my fireplace is in the living room and a rifle wouldn't fit it's decor. But If it did I have a old Flobert single shot that would look nice. It was my great, great grandfathers "rat gun". It's either a .32 or 9mm rimfire. Outside is nice but the rifled bore crusty. This pic is from the net but looks like it's twin except mine is the Warrant(trapdoor) action..
j95v14fdnv021.jpg
 
Yeah. Those muzzle loaders can be really dangerous.
Instead of a trigger lock you might want to anchor it to the wall with Bolts and Nuts.
View attachment 875832
You wouldnt want any drunken reinactments of Davy Crockett's last stand at the Alamo?;)

We had a large gathering for Thanksgiving. One of our guests was quite concerned that the flintlock on the mantel was available to my ten and eleven year old sons. I offered him $100 if he could figure out how load and fire it - everything necessary for the task hangs on the wall next to the rifle. I normally am not such a rude host but the gentleman was strident - and I kept my money.
 
-There's always another war trophy from Japan - the Nambu 7/8 scale school training gun. Almost totally harmless.

I doubt that any of them got to the Aleutians, though.
Mine looks good on the wall. Pity that I couldn't find the bayonet - they cost FAR more than the gun itself... .
 
Pity that I couldn't find the bayonet - they cost FAR more than the gun itself... .

That seems to be the way with bayonets. Wartime Garand and carbine bayonets that are complete, with scabbard, are fetching some pretty stupid high prices these days. I won't ever own one now, not because I can't afford it, but because, to me, they just aren't that valuable.
 
-There's always another war trophy from Japan - the Nambu 7/8 scale school training gun. Almost totally harmless.

I doubt that any of them got to the Aleutians, though.
Mine looks good on the wall. Pity that I couldn't find the bayonet - they cost FAR more than the gun itself... .

I have one of the 7/8 School Training rifles. One day I’ll get around to making a wall display with it and some other rifles.
0CB7AEA5-3AA1-4604-8D3A-02EB2579AD2A.jpeg 58AD9D4B-D74D-4A19-B791-7834A27E36D7.jpeg

In that video, Ian was a little off on his info. The School Trainers did not fire blank cartridges. The Japanese used wood or paper bullets in blank rounds and the will not fit in the action. The trainers used a gallery round that used very little to no powder to propel a small projectile.
Here’s a pic of Japanese ammo. The two on the right are gallery training rounds.
FDC16465-6B2E-4F8D-9C89-DC9FC88CA3CC.jpeg
 
I once saw an old double-barreled shotgun hanging above a fireplace in a bar,,,
It was painted white and labeled "For Weddings Only".

Probably not what you would want to do,,,
But short of a muzzle-loading rifle of some ilk,,,
A "Twice Barreled Carbine" would probably look very appropriate.

Aarond

.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top