What is YOUR oldest firearm?

[Sugar River]

An English 14 Bore Caplock Rifle, circa 1867.
Shoots quite well with a patched .678" round ball.

 

[Yaworski]

This morning I was thinking about this question. It occurred to me that even my newer guns are pretty old. My Mk II is 42 years old. My Colt GM is nearing 50. My Dan Wessons are over forty.

 

[PapaDetail]

Colt 1863 Rifled Musket and civil war items. The small musket is a GAR NH reunion item. The cannon is a working scale replica of one of the 3 Apostles VMA cadets used during the civil war.

 

[GLASSMAN]

I have 3 rifles all about the same age I believe.
First is a Trapdoor Springfield from mismatched parts I was gifed by a Trapdoor collector.
Second is a Martini-Muscat in 577/450 that was brought out of Pakistan long ago with Pakinstani
stamped/engraved embelishments. I have 2 rounds for this, one that is hand wrapped.
The third is a Remmington rolling block, octagonal barrel in I believe is .25cf
These should all be 1870's about.

 

[gonepostal]

Winchester US Model 1917 Enfield made in1917. Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless made in 1928. Mauser C96 Broomhandle made 1935

 

[GSP7]

Most all my rifles are pre 64 , many 1950s 1940s 1930s and many 1898 mausers

 

[Terry Morgan]

1858 Austrian Lorenz musket, owned and shot since 1961, though less often lately. And an1883 old Trapdoor, shot with mild IMR 4759 smokeless loads.

 

[p345Fan]

My oldest was a Trapdoor Springfield from 1888. I only had it for a few months because I gave it to my son for his birthday.

Now my oldest is a late contract Smith-Corona 1903A3.

 

[Neon Vernon]

Mauser 71/84 marked Spandau 1888. Mechanically sound with a good bore. I've never shot it, have dies but no brass.

 

[Terry Morgan]

My oldest was a Trapdoor Springfield from 1888. I only had it for a few months because I gave it to my son for his birthday.

Now my oldest is a late contract Smith-Corona 1903A3.

Those Trapdoors are fun to shoot. Mild smokeless loads are find. I've shot mine for decades with smokeless. IMR 4759 is great IF you can find it.

 

[41Dude]

I tried to get another picture but I gave the rifle to my son.
Lee-Enfield #1 mk III from 1922.
Look at all of the proof marks

 

[foolslife]

1915 Winchester Model 1903.

 

[p345Fan]

Those Trapdoors are fun to shoot. Mild smokeless loads are find. I've shot mine for decades with smokeless. IMR 4759 is great IF you can find it.

Thanks for the info. I bought him two boxes of Steiner for Trapdoor. He is going to reload. He will get a few more boxes and keep the Starline brass.

 

[ChrisL]

Husqvarna 1896 Mauser Carbine in 6.5x55 Swede. Still in full military dress, shoots under MOA with factory ammo (heavy round nose flat base bullet).

 

[Jennygirl]

I have a 1858 Mule Ear Rifle/Shotgun. I also have a 1869 Springfield Trapdoor and a 1876 Dutch Beaumont. I love old guns.

 

[Lt Choate]

I have a 1858 Mule Ear Rifle/Shotgun. I also have a 1869 Springfield Trapdoor and a 1876 Dutch Beaumont. I love old guns.

That's cool that you have an old Trapdoor and especially one from that era. I have been looking for one that has a good tight latch that I could live shoot. So many of the ones still around have a lot of slop and play when trying to seat the cartridge.

Having studied (a bit) Custers disastrous demise and visited the battlefield, I have heard that while those were pretty reliable rifles in 1876, at the time of the battle, much of the ammo they were issued had corrosion on the cartridge and when they were fired, it was very difficult to remove the spent shell. Often they had to take a knife and pry it out of the barrel. Of course, had they worked flawlessly, the end result would have probably been the same as the numbers were just too one-sided.

Anyway, glad you have one.

 

[M118LR]

I J break-top.

 

[jkbrecht]

A 1887 Winchester Model 1886 lever action rifle in .45-70.

 

[Jennygirl]

That's cool that you have an old Trapdoor and especially one from that era. I have been looking for one that has a good tight latch that I could live shoot. So many of the ones still around have a lot of slop and play when trying to seat the cartridge.

Having studied (a bit) Custers disastrous demise and visited the battlefield, I have heard that while those were pretty reliable rifles in 1876, at the time of the battle, much of the ammo they were issued had corrosion on the cartridge and when they were fired, it was very difficult to remove the spent shell. Often they had to take a knife and pry it out of the barrel. Of course, had they worked flawlessly, the end result would have probably been the same as the numbers were just too one-sided.

Anyway, glad you have one.

Thank you, actually I have 3 Trapdoors and 2 Dutch Beaumonts. I also have a handmade Afghan Sniper Rifle. It is old but I can’t remember the date, need to look at it.

 

[wheelgun1958]

Most likely my K31 Swiss.

 

[Sam Summey]

1911 Colt commercial model made in 1917.