ZipDrive wrote:Out of your collection, what is the oldest functioning firearm that you have?
Mine is a late 1940's Winchester Model 74. The serial number's weren't recorded well enough to give an exact date, but a good ballpark between '46 and '50.
If you give me the serial number, I can tell you the year it was made.
My oldest one is probably my 20 gauge bolt action shot gun. A JC Higgins, and it has no serial number on it, so that would make it (at least) pre-70's, right?
Now for non-functioning, I've got a teeny little 32 rimfire revolver that the curator at the NRA museum told me was probably made by Crescent between 1880 and 1900. To be fair, he said it probably would work fine if I could get ammo for it (springs felt good, everything is pretty tight). I just don't need to do that.
NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
NRA Certified Shotgun Instructor
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor
1876 Dutch Beaumont Vitelli bolt-action. 11mm/.44 caliber black powder brass cased rounds. The rounds are $40 for 10, but when I shot them? Like setting off a cannon. AND ACCURATE!
I wouldn't have wanted to be on the receiving end!
No docs to prove the story, but my aunt gave it to me, who got it when someone owed her money, and it was his grandfather's supposedly from the Spanish American war. A "trophy".
1888 Trapdoor until I can make some paper rolled cartridges for a Civil War Galliger Carbine or the late 1700's front stuffer pistol but I need hammer and flint.
With the exception of one rifle, all of my weapons are about 2 years old. Its not as glorious as some posted here, but I'm proud to say I bought it new in 1989 and I still have it. It is a Benjamin Sheridan multi-pump, single shot, bolt action 4.5mm pellet rifle. It has a maple stock and a nickle plated barrel.
I put about 2,000 rounds through it while target shooting and small game hunting. It is as strong and true as the day I bought it.
dorminWS wrote:Probably that "Black Army" 1911 Colt that was made in 1918, I guess.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I reckon that now my oldest gun might be a Mauser C-96 Broomhandle, 7.63 x 25 manufactured between 1915 and 1921. But the "Black Army" Colt 1911 could also still be my oldest.
"The Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference." -Thomas Jefferson
Gun-crazy? Me? I'd say the gun-crazy ones are the ones that don’t HAVE one.
I have a wonderful 2nd Model Brown Bess, original flint, made circa 1767 that I have shot--awesome weapon! I have also shot my 1st Model Paris LeMat, circa 1862, and my 1st Model Griswold and Gunnison percussion revolver, circa 1862.
wpoppert wrote:1917 Mauser G98 or 1917 Steyr M95/34 (yes, I bought the Steyr against Kreutz's recommendation -- too good a deal to pass up -- don't judge me!)
Oh, the gun is fine and dandy; but did ya buy ammo for it yet?
The straight pull takes getting used to if you're accustomed to the more common turn-bolt action.
I have two that my dad gave me. First is a Winchester Model 66 .22lr tube fed from stock. Self loader plastic chassis. For something from the sixties or so it shot dam accurate after sitting in a closet for god knows how long. The other I don't dare shoot. Lefever Arms side by side 20g. Dual trigger, internal hammers, breech load. Works, but there's some center rib separation at the breech so I don't have the nerve to try live ammo. My dad says it was used when his dad gave it to him when he was 7. Don't know where it came from or how old it was.
