Any love for the older more experienced handguns?

Do you shoot or carry an older handgun?

  • Yes both shoot and carry an older handgun.

    Votes: 38 46.9%

  • Yes, shoot but do not carry an older handgun.

    Votes: 39 48.1%

  • No, I prefer something that is new.

    Votes: 4 4.9%
  • Total voters
    81
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
I decided to take your reference to "carry" as a meaning "conceal carry" and chose:

"Yes, shoot but do not carry an older handgun."

If you meant just carry (as in around the farm, while hiking, etc), then the nod goes to my assortment of old revolvers.
 
GBExpat said:
I decided to take your reference to "carry" as a meaning "conceal carry" and chose:

"Yes, shoot but do not carry an older handgun."

If you meant just carry (as in around the farm, while hiking, etc), then the nod goes to my assortment of old revolvers.
Click to expand...

That's fine but I hadn't really considered "Concealed" vs "Open" carry since Open Carry is both legal and not terribly unusual down here in south Texas. Either method would be equally appropriate for the poll.
 
Most of my guns are 35 to 40 years old. The newest is an S&W M&P 9 I bought for competition. Recoil is lower than my .45 and the greater magazine capacity means I spend less time reloading. Although I hold a CCW permit, I don't carry very often. If I did, my EDC would be a Kahr CW380 or P380 because it disappears best in my pocket. If I had to worry about a specific threat, I would upgrade to a P365 in a belt holster.
 
I shoot and carry my mkIII BHP, circa 1992. It is an old design, but I don't think it's "old", at 27. Though, with all the wear and scratches and dings it has, and the patches of sweat induced surface rust, it's starting to

my C series BHP, circa 1972 would do too, but it has more sentimental value, so I won't carry it out and about, but it does get fired periodically.
 
I have a couple of newer handguns but i would rather shoot the older guns. That goes for long guns also. Don't ask me why, because i have absolutely no idea. I'm the guy who walks into the gun show, goes all the way to the back where there is a table with a pile of old beat up,worth little, worn out rifles and shotguns and never even notice hundreds of new, very fine guns. If i could i would takem all home, clean them up, fix them up the best i can and give them a good home. Weird uh? I don't carry because i don't feel the need is worth the risk. Just me.
 
By 'old' gun I assume you mean older designs. I carry a (lightweight) Commander (.45 ACP) daily. My second handgun is a Smith and Wesson M1955, in .45 AR (that's auto, rimmed, not Armalite). Obviously that model of Smith and Wesson dates from 1955, but it is the same essential design of S&W revolvers since the turn of the last century. Directly inspired by the 1917 S&W in .45 ACP.

I do have some new fangled sidearms. Like a S&W M39.

I did have a new Glock 17 issued to me for a couple of years. It always shot and always hit where I pointed it. But it has no soul.
 
Archie said:
By 'old' gun I assume you mean older designs. I carry a (lightweight) Commander (.45 ACP) daily. My second handgun is a Smith and Wesson M1955, in .45 AR (that's auto, rimmed, not Armalite). Obviously that model of Smith and Wesson dates from 1955, but it is the same essential design of S&W revolvers since the turn of the last century. Directly inspired by the 1917 S&W in .45 ACP.

I do have some new fangled sidearms. Like a S&W M39.

I did have a new Glock 17 issued to me for a couple of years. It always shot and always hit where I pointed it. But it has no soul.
Click to expand...

Actually I meant older as in "Born on" date and not simply newly made versions of an old design. For example I'd consider a 1911 made before the end of WWII "Older" but a 1911 made this year as a new gun.

In the Colt/Smith 45acps I enjoy shoot my Smith 1917s and my Colt New Service.

Smith Brazilian Contract 1917 and a Joe Pardue folder:
standard.jpg

Colt New Service made in 1919:
standard.jpg ​
 
Back when I was first starting out I didn't have a lot of choices when it cam to guns I was going to carry. At one time I had a new Charter Arms Undercover and an Astra Model 600 for my rotation! Carried a Colt Combat Commander (bought new in the late '70s), for a number of years til I replaced it with something smaller and lighter. Same with a Ruger Speed Six I use to have.

Nowadays I pretty much stick to my newer guns, like a Kahr CM9 or a S&W Model 638, and keep the others mainly for range use.

hUvdtcf.jpg

SlSg8OH.jpg
 
bannockburn said:
Back when I was first starting out I didn't have a lot of choices when it cam to guns I was going to carry. At one time I had a new Charter Arms Undercover and an Astra Model 600 for my rotation! Carried a Colt Combat Commander (bought new in the late '70s), for a number of years til I replaced it with something smaller and lighter. Same with a Ruger Speed Six I use to have.
Click to expand...

How is the Astra 600 doing?
 
The last gun I bought and I do mean the last, was in '17 and it was a 1967 S&W Model 10-5 snub nose.
Is that 52 year old; old enough to qualify?
 
That's what I'm talking about. It's like cars. Give me a classic, "thats anything before the 90s to me" and i go nuts. They have class. Give me a car today and i go ho-humm. They just have ic and no class. To me, todays guns are fancy and expensive but are missing something. I can't enjoy shooting. But give me a 20, 30, 40 or older and i can have a ball shooting. I don't know if i hit on what you are talking about or not. But that's just my penny's worth.
 
P5 Guy said:
The last gun I bought and I do mean the last, was in '17 and it was a 1967 S&W Model 10-5 snub nose.
Is that 52 year old; old enough to qualify?
Click to expand...
I'd say a half century certainly qualifies as "mature & experienced". And the "K" frame snubs are great handguns.
 
We need more PRON!

Today I am carrying my Beretta 1935 32acp. It's a fairly modern example since it was proofed in 1955.

standard.jpg
​
I'm working on getting my JP Sauer & Sohns 38h back in use. The grips finally gave up and just kinda sorta crumbled up and blew away so I have a replacement set of the original grips headed my way.
 
jar

How is the Astra 600 doing?
Click to expand...

I don't rightfully know as I sold it many years ago. It was a well made pistol I will give it that but it was just too brutal to the web of my hand after 50 rounds!

Straight blowback in a 9mm. is still not a good idea; never has been, never will be!
 
bannockburn said:
jar



I don't rightfully know as I sold it many years ago. It was a well made pistol I will give it that but it was just too brutal to the web of my hand after 50 rounds!

Straight blowback in a 9mm. is still not a good idea; never has been, never will be!
Click to expand...
Yup. Certainly memorable though.
 
I own less than 5 handguns and all but one of them were manufactured after 2010. The oldest handgun I one is a S&W 4006 that couldn't be older than 30 years
 
The newest gun i own is a 2014 Beretta handgun. The oldest i can be sure of is a 1959 Pietro Beretta Shotgun. I do have a winchester 67 with no serial # so i have no way to pin down the age. At least before the 60s. I have several others not so new or so old. But do get more kick out shooting the older ones. And i don't mean as in recoil.
 
jar

bannockburn said: ↑
jar



I don't rightfully know as I sold it many years ago. It was a well made pistol I will give it that but it was just too brutal to the web of my hand after 50 rounds!

Straight blowback in a 9mm. is still not a good idea; never has been, never will be!​
Yup. Certainly memorable though.
Click to expand...

Oh not so fond memories to be sure! I still wince just a little bit every time I see one!
 
Corpral_Agarn said:
Love my older guns. I extend that to old designs as well.
I carry this on occasion (circa 1936):
View attachment 854159
View attachment 854160
Working on a hoslter for this circa 1986:
View attachment 854161
View attachment 854162
I ride with this one:
View attachment 854163
Click to expand...
C.A., I have a similar M&P that my Great-Uncle carried as a duty gun at LVPD from 1945-1965. It still locks up tight and shoots well with standard .38 Spl loads.

Your specimen has a bit less holster wear than mine tho, nice stuff :thumbup:.

Stay safe.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Handgun for older lady
2
Replies
26
Views
926
Shadow 7D
S
R
  • Locked
Inherited Handgun
Replies
21
Views
2K
LKB3rd
L
F
  • Locked
I notice that most revolver and 1911 guys are older.
2 3 4
Replies
94
Views
4K
Sean Smith
S
O
  • Locked
  • Poll
Handguns Under 21
Replies
11
Views
1K
isp2605
I
C
  • Locked
Old Duty Handguns
Replies
12
Views
1K
berettaman
B
Back
Top