Oldest firearm you own?

If it fires black powder, it is discussed here.
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Darryl
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by Darryl »

TacticalFlash,

French Model 1853 or 1867 musket with a "Snider" Conversions (aka "ZULU" shotguns)

French muskets converted.

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Burrhead
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by Burrhead »

OK here are my two oldest weapons my 1881 Vetterli and my 1879 Model Reming Rolling Block in 43 Spanish. I sure love old rifles and this has been a real eye candy thread so far. JYD I shoot my Vetterli you ever going to do the same? I found a cool thread on reloading to make rim fire cartridges for them using BP 22 blanks.
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millman
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by millman »

Nice rifle Burrhead. I still like those camo shoes too. :)
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Burrhead
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by Burrhead »

Thanks Millman about my only complaint is I can't get an easy picture of the whole rifle especially the Rolling Block with that 36 barrel. but ya I like them both and I shoot them on occasions, just not a lot.
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mrb7
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by mrb7 »

Mine is my great grandfather's Stevens 12 gauge. Not exactly sure the model or year. I know it's from around the turn of the last century, and it's missing the front lower stock for the barrel.

I've been hanging on to it for decades trying to decide what to do with it.

It isn't really valuable on the market I don't think, but it's valuable to me. None of the rest of my family wanted "that old thing" when grandma was getting old. (His daughter - she held on to it. It meant something to her.)

So I snatched it and put it away.

But do I try to make a replacement stock? Or leave it dysfunctional? Even if I made a stock it isn't safe for modern ammo.

I could go ask gramps. He's been out behind the farmhouse for 80 years, but I'm unlikely to get much useful advice.
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

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It's a Stevens, these were popular on every farm in America back then and well into the 20th century, parts are around. Sounds like you need a forend assembly, Stevens made a lot of different model shotguns, you will need to find the one you have. Call Numrich Arms, if they don't have it start haunting gunbroker, and ask at the local gunshops how might have some old parts shotguns hanging around. Post up some good, clear pics of the gun, and it's markings in the shotgun section, I might have one like it and can give you an idea of what you are looking for.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
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mrb7
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by mrb7 »

Junk Yard Dog wrote:It's a Stevens, these were popular on every farm in America back then and well into the 20th century,
That's why I don't think it has much "market" value, although it has a lot of value to me personally. Gramps wasn't wealthy, so there's no way he could have bought a nice gun. I'm sure he bought the best he could afford, which was adequate, but in reality nothing special. Something that the hardware store in town had.

Junk Yard Dog wrote:parts are around. Sounds like you need a forend assembly,... Call Numrich Arms, if they don't have it start haunting gunbroker, and ask at the local gunshops how might have some old parts shotguns hanging around. Post up some good, clear pics of the gun, and it's markings in the shotgun section, I might have one like it and can give you an idea of what you are looking for.
I'm still working on a job in WA and the shotgun in at home in Charleston. If we finish this job before I die I'll get home and post some pics in the appropriate section. Right now I've been living in this hotel since January, and I'm starting to think I'll see the Second Coming before we finish.

MB
"The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by desdem12 »

Those are nice Burr!! The camo shoes didn't work though, we can see them. :vcool: :vcool: :vcool: :lol:
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by Marcus »

3 old bronze hand cannons - probably 600-700 years old.
Next oldest after that is a so-called "Potsdam" musket made at the Prussian Neisse Arsenal in 1808. Kicked Napoleon's butt with von Bluecher, later served in the U.S. War of Northern Aggression, then was one of the old muskets the government supplied to friendly Indian tribes here Out West after the war.

Then a real nice, traditional, original 1830's Pennsylvania "Kentucky Rifle". This was one of the early ones made as percussion, instead of flint or a flint to percussion conversion, but still has all the sought-after features like patchbox, full length stock, silver inlays, tiger-striped wood, etc.

Lots of various percussion rifles and pistols after that, from the 1830's up through Lincoln's Invasion of The South and the late 1860's - early 1870's "Wild West" period. They are American History you can hold and admire.
Last edited by Marcus on Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by Buckhead »

millman wrote:Nice rifle Burrhead. I still like those camo shoes too. :)



:chuckles: :chuckles: :chuckles:

I was just thinking the same thing. Are they hard to find in the morning?
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by Buckhead »

The oldest I have is an 1849 colt pocket revolver .31 cal 5 shot. It is the one on the bottom.


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Junk Yard Dog
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by Junk Yard Dog »

Burrhead wrote:OK here are my two oldest weapons my 1881 Vetterli and my 1879 Model Reming Rolling Block in 43 Spanish. I sure love old rifles and this has been a real eye candy thread so far. JYD I shoot my Vetterli you ever going to do the same? I found a cool thread on reloading to make rim fire cartridges for them using BP 22 blanks.
Burrhead
I just picked up a 1879 Argentine Rolling block, that one would be on the range right now if my test ammo had made it here, I have a die set coming with it, and how well it shoots will determine how much I spend on the bullet mold. The Vetterli is next, now that all of them are out of storage and my part rifle has given up it's bolt I am ready to send it out for conversion and some brass.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by racerguy00 »

I have a French Tabatier breech loading conversion built on an MDLE 1857 lock. It was further converted into a so-called ZULU shotgun. I'll have to dig it out sometime.
On Facebook? Check out the non-sporter preservationist group at: OOOPS. Deleted by Facebook because it's evil to even discuss collectible firearms on social media these days.
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by desdem12 »

I was looking at tabitiery rifles yesterday. The rifle before the gras. Nice. You are hiding the good stuff i see. :vcool: :vcool: :vcool:
The commerce which maybe carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue renders a knowledge of these people important ~Thomas Jefferson~ (to- Lewis and Clark)
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by Junk Yard Dog »

The Zulu, cool, Bannerman special, cheap shotguns for the last of the homesteaders heading into the west. Never fire it with modern ammo, but low brass black powder shotshells should be OK if there are no cracks in it.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by racerguy00 »

It's in good shape, came out of a relatives attic. Shot it years ago with BP shells. The only markings besides the date inside the lock is MODOC on the barrel. Id much rather have one not converted to shotgun for sure! Forgot about this one actually Des, I don't get it out much.
On Facebook? Check out the non-sporter preservationist group at: OOOPS. Deleted by Facebook because it's evil to even discuss collectible firearms on social media these days.
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by Junk Yard Dog »

I have an eye out for the French original, they are rare, and expensive when they do come up.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by etprescottazusa91 »

Buckhead those three colt revolvers are great :Drool1: :bravo:
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kz1000
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by kz1000 »

1911- Frommer 1910
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Last cleaned in 1914 in Budapest Image
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Re: Oldest firearm you own?

Post by SA1911a1 »

kz1000 wrote:1911- Frommer 1910
Image
Image
Last cleaned in 1914 in Budapest Image
That pistol is so ugly it is cute! I love it.
Aut Pax Aut Bellum
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