Oldest Rifle You Own

[kwg020]

We have a 32 caliber squirrel rifle that has an unknown origin but it appears to have been built just as percussion caps showed up so I'm guessing 1860's. It has always been in the family. The first time I saw it was in the middle 1960's and it was close to 100 years old then.
kwg

 

[Offfhand]

I can't lay claim to this rifle because it belongs to my wife and has been in her family for multiple generations. Same with the Pocket Model 1849 London Colt. The rifle has 42", 7-groove barrel of about 32 cal. Weight is 8 lbs. There is no maker's marks and I've made no effort to research, but the maker obviously had an eye for graceful lines and delicate contours. Too delicate in fact, because the slender wrist cracked cracked somewhere in time and was repaired by another long ago repairman..

 

[KansasLaw]

Probably a Shilo Sharpes rifle. It was inherited from a family member. I'm guessing it was from the 1800's. Maybe 1874?

 

[eastbank]

top target is with my baby sharps in 44-40 at 50 yards from a rest with peep sights, bottom target is with my Winchester model 53 also in 44-40 from a rest with open sights. the load I shoot is a 200 gr JFP at 1600 fps that's safe in newer rifles, not in my older rifles 1873 Winchesters ECT. I shoot 200 gr cast bullets at 1150-1200 fps at less that 11,000 psi in them. the ground hog was shot on the way home on a friends farm at around 50-60 yards.

 

[CapnMac]

Seems like I'm a piker.
Had to sell my 1936 Colt1903. So, oldest is the 1943 S-C 03A3. Next after that is the 1945 Saginaw M-1 Carbine, with the 1949 Mossberg M44 close behind.

 

[Captcurt]

That would be my grandfather's Model 60 Winchester. It has been through a bike wreck, re-blued with cold blue and the stock was re-finished by a 15 year old novice, (Me). The old rifle isn't worth a $5 bill, but I wouldn't take million for it.

 

[morcey2]

For a long time the newest rifle I owned was a 1952 (53?) Hungarian M44. Then I picked up a couple of AR15s and a 80's-90's Savage 110. Oldest is a Finnish M91 with a Tikka barrel but a 1907-ish receiver. (I think it's 1907.) Second oldest is an Argentine 1909 DWM Mauser.

Matt

 

[OrangeCat]

Took the 03 a3 out to see if it still works.

Knocked a Coke bottle out of the tree at 40 yards on the first shot. I don't really intend for it to be a shooter but still a pleasant surprise. Probably not hugely impressive but I didn't have to mess with the sights at all.

Hers a few pics of it.

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• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

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• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

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• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

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• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

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• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

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• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

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• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Winchester 1885 from 1892. Sorry no picture but really a nice rifle.

 

[BobABQ]

Compared to some of the firearms posted here mine is a youngster!

My oldest is a 1908 Swedish Mauser. It is a lot of fun to shoot.

 

[mavracer]

1896 Krag made in 1898. Someone cut the barrel back to 24" and made it look something like an 03. I went ahead and made it look like a DCM carbine.

 

[Speedo66]

Took the 03 a3 out to see if it still works.

Knocked a Coke bottle out of the tree at 40 yards on the first shot. I don't really intend for it to be a shooter but still a pleasant surprise. Probably not hugely impressive but I didn't have to mess with the sights at all.

Hers a few pics of it.

IMG_20190331_131019925

• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

IMG_20190331_131045790

• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

IMG_20190331_131412830

• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

IMG_20190331_131420926

• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

IMG_20190331_131442256

• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

IMG_20190331_131452489

• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

IMG_20190331_131556611

• OrangeCat
• Mar 31, 2019

Well, they were used as sniper rifles. Yours is a beauty, thanks for all the pictures.

 

[KeithNyst]

1900 Savage Model 1899B, full octagon in .303 Savage

 

[Offfhand]

My Westley Richards double had its 100th birthday 15 years ago. But even today it doesn't seem old, because Westley Richards still makes essentially the same model. Which goes to prove that fine gunmaking is never out of style. Caliber is .400/.360 WR Nitro, which was a fairly poplar a century ago, especially in India, where the Maharajahs favored it for tigers..

 

[BigBlue 94]

1900 Savage Model 1899B, full octagon in .303 Savage
View attachment 834285

I have 2 "model 99s" that I dont know a thing about other than one is in 22 sav hp and the other 300 sav. I know the 22 is older, maybe marked 1899. I love them. So smooth and graceful.

 

[Steve51]

My oldest rifle is the one my Great, Great Grandfather carried to the California gold rush in 1849. It is a .40 caliber muzzle loader but I have no idea when it was made. I have shot it on a few occasions. I also have the knife he carried with him.

 

[sean m]

1871/84 mauser stamped 1886. Imported from South America about 15 years ago. Would be curious to know what the old girl has seen over the years.

 

[Enfielder]

As you look at the dates and the related tech, just reflect on that there was no bitter debate around which muzzle loader was best for bear the first time some wahoo crossed paths with a grizzly after they decided it was a good idea to go trap for fur in the Rockies.

 

[25-20 WCF]

Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle, medium frame chambered to .44 WCF. Made in 1890, that’s 129 years ago. Still shoots factory ammunition, but rarely,

 

[KnightHawk]

Well top to bottom:
Savage 1899, Deluxe pistol grip, checkered, "Perch Belly" butt stock, 26" half round - half octagon, with a locking tang receiver site, a #12 leaf sight on the barrel, and a 5B folding globe front site. Rifle is in great shape with a very good bore. Made between 1904 and 1911.
Next is a Winchester 64A
Third is a Colt Lighting medium frame 44-40. Nice original gun that's turned brown. Very good bore, just a couple of almost rough spots. British proof marks.
Fourth is a 250-3000, 1899 Savage Deluxe pistol grip checkered "Perch Belly" butt stock. This rifle is also a take-down. Manufactured 1914 -1921
Fifth is a Winchester 92 in 44-40, standard everything, 24" octagon barrel, very nice bore. 1903 date of manufacture

Got a couple of other old rifles I'll try and get pictures of:
2 or 3 more older Winchesters, a saddle ring carbine, a 32 spl half round - half octagon rifle, a 1895 30-40 beater boat gun, and a 03 A3 Springfield by R.F. Sedgley in 30-06, beautiful Rifle.

 

[Garandimal]

Just pulled a coupla ratty ole turn-of-the-last mum'ed Type 30 Arisaka's in 6.5x50mm out of the freezer.




GR

 

[Ignition Override]

Three WW2 Lee-Enfields: a pair of #4/Mk. 1 and a #5 so-called "Jungle".

Know the subtle method to determine that your Jungle is actually a #5?
Turn rifle upside down, look at the mag well. Then look at the metal Forward of the mag well. In a basic #4 or in many "Fake #5s", modified years after WW2, the metal follows the edge of the wood.

In a true #5, the wood does Not match the contour of the metal (at least not in my #5s). The (red) book on Enfields written by Bratton does not even mention this.

 

[Nature Boy]

My Westley Richards double had it's 100th birthday 15 years ago. But even today it doesn't seem old, because Westley Richards still makes essentially the same model. Which goes to prove that fine gunmaking is never out of style. Caliber is .400/.360 WR Nitro, which was a fairly poplar a century ago, especially in India, where the Maharajahs favored it for tigers..View attachment 834286 View attachment 834287 View attachment 834288

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Nice display, Knighthawk!

 

[.455_Hunter]

My oldest right now is an 1869 production Trapdoor Springfield in .50-70 with an 1865 dated lock plate. The gun has seen heavy usage based on the patina and stock, but the bore is perfect.