Oldest Rifle You Own

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The '03 at the top is my oldest, dates to 1911.

 

[OrangeCat]

I guess I have to chime in here and join everyone else that has a Swedish Mauser.

Mine dates to 1905 and the barrel receiver and bolt all match serial #s the bolt was turned down and the receiver was tapped for optics.
Not to mention the Ramline stock.

I also have a '03 a3 that looks pretty stock.
But I believe the dates on that are around 1915 not sure.

 

[mdauben]

I've got an old trap door Springfield. I inherited it from my father, but I'm not really sure what the manufacture date or providence of the rifle are, as old military weapons are not a particular interest of mine and I only keep it because it used to belong to my father.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

One of my oldest rifles was a 1867 vetterli converted to centerfire, but I traded it off about two weeks ago.
I would have to check my M91 Mosins, but I think my MLE 1886 M93 Label, made in 1895 is my oldest.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Hmmm.
Bubba's 1873 Trapdoor is the senior dated rifle of the bunch, followed by an 1888 Commission with Turkish updates.
Then a whole horde of rifles from 1891 to the turn of the century.
There are a few smith-assembled guns in the bunch but none of them bear dates.

 

[J-Bar]

Mine is a wet-behind-the-ears young’un compared to most of the old timers here; a Winchester 1895 in .30-‘06, dates to 1927. I inherited it from an uncle. He and his son, who has also passed, took a lot of elk and deer out of the Colorado Rockies with it. I have not shot it, but it may get some exercise later this year.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I guess I have to chime in here and join everyone else that has a Swedish Mauser.

Mine dates to 1905 and the barrel receiver and bolt all match serial #s the bolt was turned down and the receiver was tapped for optics.
Not to mention the Ramline stock.

I also have a '03 a3 that looks pretty stock.
But I believe the dates on that are around 1915 not sure.

If it's an 'A3 then it dates to the '40s.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

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.


View attachment 833012

An aside here: Western Field sold some good stuff back in the day! I have a much-loved Heym-manufactured mid-length Mauser 98 sporter in 30-06 bearing the Monkey Wards Western Field brand. A guy could do worse than buying a mail order rifle in the '60s.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Dave,
Thanks for posting that picture. A butter knife bolt handle Mauser in a Mannlicher is my grail gun.
Yours is a beauty.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Dave,
Thanks for posting that picture. A butter knife bolt handle Mauser in a Mannlicher is my grail gun.
Yours is a beauty.

Thanks! The photo doesn't show it of course, but it's been glass-bedded and has a Timney trigger.

Surprising number are still floating around -- there's one on Gunbroker right now:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/795793383

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Thanks! The photo doesn't show it of course, but it's been glass-bedded and has a Timney trigger.

Surprising number are still floating around -- there's one on Gunbroker right now:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/795793383

With the bedding and trigger I'll bet yours is accurate.
Thanks for the gunbroker alert but I'm not in the position to be buying these days...

 

[BigBlue 94]

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.

Yeah the barrel has been replaced. 8x57 doesnt fit, and the bore is under .300", exactly how far I dont remember, but around .284 iirc. A 7x57 case fits perfectly in the chamber. Once I get done wrenching on this bronco, and get back from Moab in early May, I'll be casting the chamber.

It sits in a unique Fajen stock and is topped with a Pecar-Berlin scope.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

With the bedding and trigger I'll bet yours is accurate.
Thanks for the gunbroker alert but I'm not in the position to be buying these days...

No worries -- you have other chances to find one later.

 

[Obturation]

Ive got a marlin '97 made in 1906, unfortunately its been at the gunsmith FOREVER, so no pic. Also have a martini cadet that im not sure on the age but shes old - converted to 22 rimfire in the 60s https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?attachments/20140912_070706-jpg.817882/

 

[BigSteve57]

My oldest is my M1917 Eddystone 8/1918 which belonged to my father in law and which I bought from his estate when he passed away.
It was the first rifle I ever shot and he taught me to shoot it after he learned his son-in-law to-be never held a rifle!
I acquired the bayonet some years later.

 

[OrangeCat]

If it's an 'A3 then it dates to the '40s.

Thanks I don't actually know much about it, it looks a little short to me and has a little rust on the sling swivels but otherwise looks okay so I have avoided messing around with it.

 

[Chuck R.]

Converted Martini-Henry Schuetzen rifle in 8.15x46R originally made sometime before 1900. Still shoots really well.

 

[OrangeCat]

Checked the 03 a3's serial it looks like it is 1943.

 

[Nature Boy]

Western Field sold some good stuff back in the day!

I have an old bolt action Western Fields that inherented from my great uncle.....but it’s a 20ga so doesn’t fit the criteria

 

[eastbank]

ORANGECAT, here,s toby, my orange cat. he,s just about four years old and weights in a 15.5 lbs.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Checked the 03 a3's serial it looks like it is 1943.

Pics?

 

[OrangeCat]

This is ''my" stray he gets fed under the impression that he chases armadillos and gophers. He points pretty good but he is gun shy and won't heel so I can do my job with the .22.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Converted Martini-Henry Schuetzen rifle in 8.15x46R originally made sometime before 1900. Still shoots really well.

View attachment 833197

LUST! My own rifle in this chambering is also an ex-military turned into a pretty single shot (Wehrmannsgewehr), but if this were a dance all the boys would be in line around yours.

 

[OrangeCat]

Pics?

Sorry it got put in my stepfather's "investment" safe

I just recorded the serial

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

This is ''my" stray he gets fed under the impression that he chases armadillos and gophers. He points pretty good but he is gun shy and won't heel so I can do my job with the .22.

I usually have an orange kitty in my lap helping me use my PC -- he's annoying one of the other cats right now.