5 oldest guns i own- "Modern firearms in good working condition"??

[Palladan44]

The 5 oldest smokeless powder guns that i own that function, and their backstories.
Remington Scoremaster .22 circa 1937- My ex girlfriend gave me this when she discovered it at her late grandfathers farm. Its a tack driver, and i still use it today as my go-to for small game or pest control.

Remington model 10-Riot. (Believe it has been modified to this configuration)12ga. Circa-1930s Purchased at a gun show around 2014 for 85$. It walked in the door and I made the deal in about 3 seconds. I test fired it with some light target loads, and she works just fine. It sits in the safe.

The Remington .22 and the 12 gauge are both basically patina finished. Theyve had rust on them so much over the years, and theyve been polished over and over so the steel is an even brown patina in most places. I like the look.

Winchester Model 94 in 30 WCF (30-30) circa 1948- purchased at a gun show in about 2010 This also walked in the door at the show, asking 500$ which was no problem, given that its condition is 90%. Great rifle, and a near twin to my fathers model 94 he used to hunt deer with.

Smith and Wesson M&P "hand ejector" 4th change, .38 special- circa 1916- this was my first handgun! My father purchased for me when i was 16 years old, it was 175$+transfer fee (i could shoot it under supervision until age 21) Its cylinder locks up very very tight, and the smithing on the gun in my opinion is finer than similar weapons made later. Its apparent that parts are hand fitted and tuned, and polished, just outstanding craftsmanship. That said, there is considerable holster wear on the right side of the gun, indicating that this gun was a duty weapon, probably carried by a right hand officer.

Colt M1911a1- probably 1943 colt mfg.(slide) and 1967 colt mfg.(frame) . The barrel is dated 1984. Its a "parts" gun, which ive heard were very common as the 1911 hung around in service needing replacement parts as decade after decade rolled on. Whats to say about this other than its awesome to have some American history. Another thing about it, is it has been modified a few times over the years post military including a new aftermarket hammer (so ive been told) and mainspring housing. So based on all this, this gun makes it out to the shooting range. And it functions flawlessly. If i had a 100% original M1911a1 i probably would not be shooting it much, if at all.
Purchased/traded this gun about 15 years ago for 350$ plus a Mosin-Nagant rifle if i recall correctly.

One moral of the story... If i had these guns in my posession as my only weapons, i could accomplish just about every task id ever need to practically accomplish, and still enjoy shooting a hell of a lot. Period. Makes me wonder what all the other guns are even for....

To wrap this up, enjoy shooting your vintage firearms!! Its always best they are inspected for function by a competent gunsmith and thoroughly cleaned. There are many different ways firearms can become hazardous especially for reasons of wear and tear, rust/corrosion or the like. Where to draw the line on that can be a very difficult thing to determine.
What really is the definition of "modern firearms in good working condition"? Stay safe.

 

[KY DAN]

Oldest I carry frequently is a colt 1908 25 acp pistol.

A friend did the serial number search and has told me its either lateb1908 or early 1909. So at least 111 years old.

I don't think glock or any other plastic fantastic will enjoy the same life span and still be serviceable.

 

[.455_Hunter]

My general cut-off for defensive use is post-1900.

My 1908 production Colt New Service in .38-40 is just as capable for duty use today as it was 100 years ago.

I don't even think twice about carry of my WWI era firearms.

 

[Speedo66]

My earliest modern guns aren't very old. A '40's Springfield 5100 12ga. SxS shotgun, a '71 Browning BLR lever action in .308.

Oops, not to forget a '43 Underwood M-1 Carbine.

My WWII FN P-35 High Power, S-42 Luger, and Remington-Rand 1911 are all gone.

 

[wiscoaster]

My oldest: Swede Mauser M96/38 short rifle 1900 (bottom):
View media item 3287
(top one is 1903)

 

[natman]

Martini Henry from 1873.
Webley Mk1 in 455 from the 19th century
Krag sporter, probably from the 19th century
My grandfather's Winchester 94 in 30-30. He bought it new in 1926. I'm the second owner. The receiver blue has faded away, like it does on most 94s of this era, but otherwise it looks new.
Two Remington 11s, one in 12, one in 20. The 20 was my grandfather's hunting gun for decades and it's well worn. He bought the 12, took it out hunting and missed three times. He put it away and hunted with the 20 for the rest of his life. The 12 looks brand new, as it should because it's only had three rounds through it.

 

[Barbaroja]

1926 Lefevre Nitro special SxS 20ga
1934 Remington model 34 .22 s/l/lr
1950 Savage model 340 30-30win

Wish I had more old guns to list! Everything else is post 1979

 

[huntsman]

I sold off all my pre-war double guns so oldest I have are Dad’s guns from the 50’s

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The 5 oldest smokeless powder guns that i own that function, and their backstories. View attachment 955747
Remington Scoremaster .22 circa 1937- My ex girlfriend gave me this when she discovered it at her late grandfathers farm. Its a tack driver, and i still use it today as my go-to for small game or pest control.

Remington model 10-Riot. (Believe it has been modified to this configuration)12ga. Circa-1930s Purchased at a gun show around 2014 for 85$. It walked in the door and I made the deal in about 3 seconds. I test fired it with some light target loads, and she works just fine. It sits in the safe.

The Remington .22 and the 12 gauge are both basically patina finished. Theyve had rust on them so much over the years, and theyve been polished over and over so the steel is an even brown patina in most places. I like the look.

Winchester Model 94 in 30 WCF (30-30) circa 1948- purchased at a gun show in about 2010 This also walked in the door at the show, asking 500$ which was no problem, given that its condition is 90%. Great rifle, and a near twin to my fathers model 94 he used to hunt deer with.

Smith and Wesson M&P "hand ejector" 4th change, .38 special- circa 1916- this was my first handgun! My father purchased for me when i was 16 years old, it was 175$+transfer fee (i could shoot it under supervision until age 21) Its cylinder locks up very very tight, and the smithing on the gun in my opinion is finer than similar weapons made later. Its apparent that parts are hand fitted and tuned, and polished, just outstanding craftsmanship. That said, there is considerable holster wear on the right side of the gun, indicating that this gun was a duty weapon, probably carried by a right hand officer.

Colt M1911a1- probably 1943 colt mfg.(slide) and 1967 colt mfg.(frame) . The barrel is dated 1984. Its a "parts" gun, which ive heard were very common as the 1911 hung around in service needing replacement parts as decade after decade rolled on. Whats to say about this other than its awesome to have some American history. Another thing about it, is it has been modified a few times over the years post military including a new aftermarket hammer (so ive been told) and mainspring housing. So based on all this, this gun makes it out to the shooting range. And it functions flawlessly. If i had a 100% original M1911a1 i probably would not be shooting it much, if at all.
Purchased/traded this gun about 15 years ago for 350$ plus a Mosin-Nagant rifle if i recall correctly.

One moral of the story... If i had these guns in my posession as my only weapons, i could accomplish just about every task id ever need to practically accomplish, and still enjoy shooting a hell of a lot. Period. Makes me wonder what all the other guns are even for....

To wrap this up, enjoy shooting your vintage firearms!! Its always best they are inspected for function by a competent gunsmith and thoroughly cleaned. There are many different ways firearms can become hazardous especially for reasons of wear and tear, rust/corrosion or the like. Where to draw the line on that can be a very difficult thing to determine.
What really is the definition of "modern firearms in good working condition"? Stay safe.

Nice!

I wish Id kept my Model 10. Be careful, though, it is possible to trip the sear before the bolt is fully in battery and have the gun fire when the slide is pushed all the way forward.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Smith and Wesson M&P "hand ejector" 4th change, .38 special- circa 1916- this was my first handgun! My father purchased for me when i was 16 years old, it was 175$+transfer fee (i could shoot it under supervision until age 21)

I am sorry.

 

[WestKentucky]

I could easily get by with only guns that are over 100 years old, but they are not my best by any stretch. You have a very interesting collection of vintage arms though, and it is a group to be proud of.

Since folks are listing their toys,
These are late 1800s guns in my safe...
Colt new line 22
32 safety hammerless S&W
38 single action S&W Later than a baby Russian but not by much
38 safety hammerless S&W
3 single shot 22s
16 ga “white powder wonder” single shot chopped to 18.5” and reworked.

My oldest center fire rifle is likely my Marlin 62 .30 carbine or my grandfathers marlin 336. I need a vintage centerfire rifle but I’m not up for paying the money asked for a savage 99 or WW1/WW2 milsurps.

 

[Palladan44]

I am sorry.

State law at the time.

 

[Hookeye]

Had a '35 Sav 99 in .300 Savage and a '28 Remington 14 in .35 rem.
I need scopes so they went bye bye.

Now I have a '63 Remington Model 760 in .35 rem (3rd yr hunting it, bucked out last 2 yrs).
Got a '63 Sako L579 in .243 win last week (but it had Garcia era rings so waiting on Leupolds).
And just put a glossy 3-9X on my '67 Ruger pre B in .280 rem.

 

[.455_Hunter]

State law at the time.

I managed to be just ahead of most of those "feel good" laws in the 90's, and was able to be armed as needed from about 14 on forward.

 

[Oldman11]

My oldest will be:
Springfield trapdoor carbine 45-70
Springfield trapdoor rifle 45-70
Remington rolling block carbine 44-40
Remington rolling block rifle 7mm
Three smith Wesson revolvers 32swl
Smith Wesson revolver 32-20
Smith Wesson k32 masterpiece
All are great shooters

 

[23tony]

By far, it would be my dad's old Mossberg 500. Took me awhile to determine what it was, actually, since it's marked with Sears branding. Not ancient, but it's from some time in the early 70's.

 

[velocette]

1885 Whitney Rolling Block, relined in .32-20.


1917 Enfield 30-06, (US rifle of 1917) sporterized properly.

 

[MikeInOr]

My oldest: Swede Mauser M96/38 short rifle 1900 (bottom):
View media item 3287
(top one is 1903)

I was lucky enough to be in on the great surplus market of the 80's and 90's. Of all my surplus long arms the Swedes are by far my favorite!

 

[theotherwaldo]

Lessee - that would include an 1888 Commission rifle, an 1889 Belgian Mauser, an 1891 Argentine Mauser, an 1894 Swedish Mauser and an 1895 Chilean Mauser.

I have older stuff but they are all black powder.

 

[entropy]

Currently my oldest is a 1916 Sestroryetsk M91


Used to be an 1899 Ishevsk M91:



Which now resides in that guy's safe.

 

[bannockburn]

Not many old guns to speak of. My Dad never owned a gun and my brother and I were the first ones to have them in our family. Oldest one I have is a U.S. Model 1898 Krag Jorgensen that was given to me by a very good friend of my Dad's. I managed to restore it to looking fairly decent as it might have appeared when it was first built. Still need a sling for it but I think I will probably forego looking for a bayonet (probably can't afford one anyways).


My S&W M&P .38 Special revolver, dating to somewhere in the early to mid 1940s, was not a Victory Model in as much as it doesn't have the letter V prefix before the serial number nor does it have any government acceptance markings. More than likely it was issued to a security guard at some bank, a defense contractor factory, or else some non-military installation.

 

[bangswitch]

Never really thought about it before this thread; my oldest gun isn't really all that old, even though it is pre-WWII. Oldest I have is a 1932 dated Mosin-Nagant 91/30.


next would be a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 Auto, made in 1943:


After that is a Savage/Fox Model B 20 gauge double shotgun, dated to 1950:


Tied for 4th and 5th would be another Savage/Fox Model B double shotgun in 16 gauge, and a S&W Model 57 no dash .41 Magnum revolver, both from 1968:

 

[Steve Milbocker]

An 1893 Marlin in 30-30. It was built in 1900 and I’m hunting deer in Michigan with it right now

 

[Daveboone]

My go to hunting rifle is a 1933 mfg sporterized 98 Mauser, original 8mm. Back up /woods wandering is a fifty year old Model 94. Most likely my Colt 911 will be accompanying me. On occasion my Krag 30-40 will see the woods though.

 

[JTHunter]

Hhmm, let me think.
The oldest would be a Colt .38 cal revolver that I was forced to retire due to the cylinder no longer locking up. I found that its poor accuracy was due to this problem after I shot it ! It was probably made around 1903 and was rumored to be an old cop's duty gun that my grandfather later kept on a shelf under his cash register.
Next would be a Colt .32 ACP made in 1911 and another inherited gun. I don't know this guns history but the rifling in its barrel is well worn, adversely affecting its accuracy. But it functions flawlessly.
Then there is a S&W "Mod. of 1905 - 4th Change" in .32-20 that appears to have been made in the mid-1920s. It is in near perfect shape (95-98% est. BB value) but is a relatively low-powered round that is hard to find.
This would be followed by a Savage-Stevens Mod. 311, 12 gauge SxS w/ double triggers from the early '60s. Not only did I have a gunsmith modify it by putting in screw-in chokes (which is what the Mod. 511 did a few years later), I have used it for hunting in preference to my Mossberg 500 pump. With different chokes, I can hunt two different animals (rabbits & quail) with different loads OR the same game at different ranges. It is also the first gun I grab for HD as one side has a 3" OO Buck and the other has a 3" #4 Buck. That's a cloud of 55 pellets.
There were two guns that I owned in the '70s and '80s that I no longer own, a Ruger .22 pistol (the one with the round receiver) and a Marlin Golden 39A .22 levergun.
Next is an Astra Constable in .380 that I bought in 1975. The Ruger was traded for the Astra.
Lastly, the 5th "working gun" would be a Remington 700 in .243 that I spent almost a year working up reloads to improve its accuracy. It now has a 200 yd. zero and, shooting single rounds from sandbags and laying the rifle down between shots, I was able to put 7 shots in a 1.5" wide x 2.5" vertical.
There were other, older BP guns (flintlock & percussion cap, both rifles and a SxS shotgun), that my father had but "were stolen" according to his 2nd wife. She also claimed that the 1911 and the M1 he kept when he left the NG were among the guns and swords stolen.