FL-NC
Member
I have many that I don't need because I also have something much better or more capable.
Do You Have a USELESS firearm?
- Thread starter H&R Glock
- Start date
- Status
Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
Armybrat
Member
Mine is marked “Colt” on top of the barrel. Shot it several times 45 years ago after my Dad paid $20 for it at a gun show. Didn’t want to wear out the zamak barrel.
WestKentucky
Member
My zamak barrel is toast but I have fired it a lot more than I really want to admit. I will eventually drill it out and put in a barrel liner. With that modification, I have considered cutting dovetails for actual sights. I’m about $60 into this thing and it’s fun as a toy, but realistically it’s nothing more. I did drill it to 22 rimfire depth to take Super Colibri ammo, but not 22LR. I also don’t trust it to the 22 shorts that it was intended to shoot. Its a novelty gallery gun. The Colt New Line is as well. Realistically my S&W top breaks are as well in practicality but they have been and could easily be pressed into service for concealed carry as 38sw is generally oomph enough to stop an attacker. I might lump the 32s&w top breaks into the worthless category. There’s not much pop in those little beauties.
aarondhgraham
Member
Yes I do,,,
And I still have it.
It's one of those cheap Rohm revolvers made in Germany,,,
This one is chambered for .22 short only.
I'll never get rid of it,,,
It was the first handgun I ever purchased with my own money.
Mom drug me to garage sales most every Saturday morning,,,
I was 11 or 12 years old then so this would have been 1962 or 63.
I saw this gun on a table for $5.00,,,
It had the original box, a box of ammo missing 6 rounds, and was kinda cute.
I handed the lady my one and only 5-dollar bill and it was mine.
The front sight fell off before the ammo was gone,,,
The cylinder stopped turning in DA in the 2nd box of ammo,,,
But it still fired in single-action so I wasn't too disappointed with it.
After all, it was a real live fiery-arm,,,
And it was MINE!
Back in 1998 my sister told me she found a box of my stuff in her attic,,,
I had packed it up when I went into the USAF in 1970,,,
Mostly old "Mod" clothes and hippy boots.
This was in a sock in one of the boots.
It just bounces around on my worktable,,,
I keep threatening to make a shadow box for it,,,
And display it with a 45 RPM of "Saturday Night Special".
Aarond
.
And I still have it.
It's one of those cheap Rohm revolvers made in Germany,,,
This one is chambered for .22 short only.
I'll never get rid of it,,,
It was the first handgun I ever purchased with my own money.
Mom drug me to garage sales most every Saturday morning,,,
I was 11 or 12 years old then so this would have been 1962 or 63.
I saw this gun on a table for $5.00,,,
It had the original box, a box of ammo missing 6 rounds, and was kinda cute.
I handed the lady my one and only 5-dollar bill and it was mine.
The front sight fell off before the ammo was gone,,,
The cylinder stopped turning in DA in the 2nd box of ammo,,,
But it still fired in single-action so I wasn't too disappointed with it.
After all, it was a real live fiery-arm,,,
And it was MINE!
Back in 1998 my sister told me she found a box of my stuff in her attic,,,
I had packed it up when I went into the USAF in 1970,,,
Mostly old "Mod" clothes and hippy boots.
This was in a sock in one of the boots.
It just bounces around on my worktable,,,
I keep threatening to make a shadow box for it,,,
And display it with a 45 RPM of "Saturday Night Special".
Aarond
.
Armybrat
Member
CB caps would be a better option for these zamak derringers, but those seem to be more scarce than regular .22 stuff.
Relining it is a good step.
22250Rem
Member
Got a couple here that would be considered useless, ( unless it's for interior decoration, AKA "wall hanger" duty ). The wall hanger eligible one is an old Belgian copy of an English double shotgun. No manufacturer I.D. anywhere on it; just Belgian proof marks, with pitted bores on the Damascus barrels, one broken firing pin, Internals are so worn one hammer won't even stay cocked, and other issues. No replacement parts available for these no name, low budget guns from the late 19th, early 20th century. So it's useless functional wise but at least it would look cool over a fireplace.
.. Then there's the "Defender".... A small, cheap revolver from the 1870's -1880's or so chambered in .32 Short Rimfire. Sewer pipe bore, internals worn out to where it will rarely stay cocked when the hammer is pulled back. Unsure of manufacturer because they were made under the "Defender" name by more than one firm and this one is unmarked. Even if you could obtain some .32 Short rimfire ammo, ( lotsa luck with that), I'm not sure this thing would work even if the hammer could be cocked. This one wouldn't even make a good wall hanger due to its small size.
.
.. Then there's the "Defender".... A small, cheap revolver from the 1870's -1880's or so chambered in .32 Short Rimfire. Sewer pipe bore, internals worn out to where it will rarely stay cocked when the hammer is pulled back. Unsure of manufacturer because they were made under the "Defender" name by more than one firm and this one is unmarked. Even if you could obtain some .32 Short rimfire ammo, ( lotsa luck with that), I'm not sure this thing would work even if the hammer could be cocked. This one wouldn't even make a good wall hanger due to its small size.
.
lsudave
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2007
- Messages
- 1,042
One man's junk is another man's treasure...
You said you can't find parts or a barrel for your Tok. Well, my experience was completely different, and I only used online resources (no local deals that only I might have access to).
My Tokarev currently has a 7.62 barrel sitting inside the slide, with a 9mm barrel now sitting in the case. I went from 9mm to 7.62, because I found and bought surplus Tok ammo at a lower price than I can find 9mm currently; so it's cheaper to shoot and restock that. For point of reference- the only required change is a barrel swap, I am using the same bushing and magazines. I found both Yugo and Romanian surplus, both at or under the 40 cents a rd price point. I can field strip the gun, put the other barrel in, and run 9mm within a minute.
Tokarevs are not limited to country of manufacture, with the exception of the Yugo/Serbian M57. All others are just "a Tokarev", and you can swap Polish, Romanian, Chinese, Hungarian etc parts. China (Norinco) made and sold A LOT with 9mm barrels, which was what I bought in the 90's. The external barrel is the same dimension, I've put thousands of 9mm down the pipe without issue. I bought a Hungarian Tok barrel for under $60 dollars, and the gun can now spit out 7.62 without a hiccup. A little-known fact is that 7.62 Tokarev has the same dimensions as 7.63 Mauser; the Tok rd is HOTTER and will batter a Mauser. But going the other direction, the Mauser rd is softer, and the Tok runs them just fine. Sgammo has Fiocchi new manufactured 7.63 Mauser in stock for 70 cents, which is the best you're going to find for brass 9mm right now online (if you CAN find it).
So, far from useless, I find my Tok to be one of the more useful guns in the cabinet. I can shoot it and replenish my ammo stock, for less than I can a 9mm. When things go back to normal, I can drop the 9mm barrel back in, and keep shooting it for that price.
I just applied this "backwards logic" to another pistol, a Star Super B. I just bought a 9mm Largo barrel for under $50, and added a stock of surplus Largo ammo for 45 cents a rd. Again, cheaper than current 9mm Parabellum. I've ran some Largo down the pipe and it was great.
More 'obscure' calibers run higher than 9x19 Parabellum, usually. Right now, they aren't, and you're not racing against a million other buyers to get whatever pops up in stock.
I know, conventional wisdom is to wait out the panic with whatever we have (and I'm good), but we just don't know for sure what's going to happen with ammo sales online in the future. 45 cents now for functional ammo is higher than it was before, but it might be less than what we see in the next 4 years.
lsudave
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2007
- Messages
- 1,042
As for actual useless, I have a couple of things that I think are seriously non-functional. Have an Iver Johnson Bulldog (I think) in some form of old 38. I think it's 38 S&W. Lockup isn't tight at all, and one of the chambers in the cylinder is a little tight. I have some 38 S&W sitting around, but wouldn't risk shooting it except the old "clamp it down and tie a string to the trigger, and go stand behind a tree to pull the string" method. In a worst case scenario, I would rather throw it at an assailant than shoot it at him. Hmm, maybe I could leave it loaded (with 9x19 Luger) and use that method, and hope he picks it up and tries to use it... he'd blow his hand off.
Also have an old double barrel wallhanger that I inherited, got the damascus steel barrels. I can't even get it to open. That, and some old percussion single shot that I honestly don't know if it's even real (or ever was). Was over my parents' fireplace growing up.
Also have an old double barrel wallhanger that I inherited, got the damascus steel barrels. I can't even get it to open. That, and some old percussion single shot that I honestly don't know if it's even real (or ever was). Was over my parents' fireplace growing up.
bassjam
Member
I have one useless firearm. Dad grew up shooting a Marlin 39 Mountie. Sometime when he was an adult, someone he knew was selling a Marlin 1892 and he bought it thinking it would be a nice companion to the 39 but never shot it.
Once I started getting into shooting I discovered I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with it, which surprised me with the long sight radius and fine irons. I insisted on using it though because I liked the old school sights compared to the scope Dad kept on his 39 Mountie, so Dad and I took it to my great uncle for help who was the gun "expert" in our family. He quickly discovered that it tumbled bullets. Upon inspecting the bore we found out it's badly corroded, making it more or less useless. I've thought about having a gunsmith put in a bore sleeve, but it doesn't seem worth it to ruin an old antique just to make it shoot-able. For awhile it was a wall hanger on my fireplace, but for the time being it just sits in the very back of my safe.
Once I started getting into shooting I discovered I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with it, which surprised me with the long sight radius and fine irons. I insisted on using it though because I liked the old school sights compared to the scope Dad kept on his 39 Mountie, so Dad and I took it to my great uncle for help who was the gun "expert" in our family. He quickly discovered that it tumbled bullets. Upon inspecting the bore we found out it's badly corroded, making it more or less useless. I've thought about having a gunsmith put in a bore sleeve, but it doesn't seem worth it to ruin an old antique just to make it shoot-able. For awhile it was a wall hanger on my fireplace, but for the time being it just sits in the very back of my safe.
indy1919a4
Member
WOW, That may be to purdy to even shoot.. Even in the day you whip that out at a desperado, he or she would stop in their tracks and just admire it as a piece of art and the owner as a gentleman of distinction and taste.
JN01
Member
You need to mount a red dot on that.
Truly useless, non-functional guns are great for gun "buy backs", turn them in and thank the organizers for their donation to the Second Amendment Foundation/NRA/GOA.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
The Rubys were made by many different manufacturers during and after WW1. My Dad has one produced by Gabilondo (Llama), which is actually pretty nice- many were rough or even dangerous.
We shot the snot out of it when I was a kid. I dont recall it ever jamming......
indy1919a4
Member
You need to mount a red dot on that.
Truly useless, non-functional guns are great for gun "buy backs", turn them in and thank the organizers for their donation to the Second Amendment Foundation/NRA/GOA.
Gosh if I turned my guns in to some Yankee gun grabber, My Grand dad and great grand dad would climb out of their graves and string me up by the thumbs..
Hell... I really would fear Uncle three toes, he would just escape and do worst to me.. (shutter)
Speedo66
Member
I had one that almost got me twice. Once it slam fired, and once when dropped it went off. I figured it was time to get rid of it before there was a strike three and I was out. Completely.
I mentioned it to a dealer and he said he'd buy it for his personal collection as is. Gone.
aarondhgraham
Member
Something I forgot to mention in post # 55,,,
I had the gun in my glove box when my Pop found it,,,
He asked me what happened to the front sight.
I told him I took it off so it would clear my pocket faster.
He said: "That was a good idea. Now when someone takes it away from you and shoves it where the sun don't shine,,,
It won't hurt nearly as bad coming out."
It's been over 50 years so that's probably not an exact quote,,,
But it's close enough.
Aarond
.
I had the gun in my glove box when my Pop found it,,,
He asked me what happened to the front sight.
I told him I took it off so it would clear my pocket faster.
He said: "That was a good idea. Now when someone takes it away from you and shoves it where the sun don't shine,,,
It won't hurt nearly as bad coming out."
It's been over 50 years so that's probably not an exact quote,,,
But it's close enough.
Aarond
.
Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
I'd probably pay as much for the ammo as I did for the gun. pinfire stuff is dang hard to find. Mostly corroded and beat up anyway.
Fun to have a little history sitting around.
Palladan44
Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2020
- Messages
- 1,897
I have an old colt trooper that i paid 200$ as parts gun.
It looks like it was covered in rust at one point, because its pitted as all hell.
I decided to polish it to a high gloss and blue it....that project turned out less than satisactory due do me being an amateur and went into it with "polishing the turd" additude the whole time.
Once i got it together, the revolver was out of time in single action. Not worth the money to retune, and there being a huge amount of wear on a lot of parts, i assumed a complete rebuild of the lock would be necessary.
Ill take some blame for this guns uselessness, coupled with its ugliness.
It looks like it was covered in rust at one point, because its pitted as all hell.
I decided to polish it to a high gloss and blue it....that project turned out less than satisactory due do me being an amateur and went into it with "polishing the turd" additude the whole time.
Once i got it together, the revolver was out of time in single action. Not worth the money to retune, and there being a huge amount of wear on a lot of parts, i assumed a complete rebuild of the lock would be necessary.
Ill take some blame for this guns uselessness, coupled with its ugliness.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
230RN
2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
If you ever get that thing running, you might begin to appreciate top-break revolvers. Ambidextrous, fast to shuck shells with a flick of the wrist, and fast to reload with a loading device. Faster anyhow, even without a reloading device.
Years ago I got a little antique nickel-plated Smith top-break in .38 S &W chambering, figuring it was a nice addition to my antiques, and when I finally got some ammunition and tried it, the above advantages came to light and I was delighted with the little rascal.
At the time, .38 S&W ammo dried up again, and I tried (I had a machine shop) to remanufacture brass for it out of .38 SPL cases, but the dimensions were far enough off that it was impractical.
The Russians developed a modern .357 Magnum top-break revolver specifically for the US civilian market, but the story, as I heard it, was that importation of it was banned, deity curse it !
Uberti makes several top-break revolvers, but I don't know if those are importable, or what.
https://www.uberti-usa.com/top-break-revolver
(Includes an interesting short ( 1:03 ) video on top-breaks.)
Terry, 230RN
Last edited:
deadin
Member
I no longer have the hand or arm strength to rack the slide on this....
There is a Raven.25 auto buried behind my grandparents old place. First pistol I owned. Broke the firing pin. Internet wasn't big back then. So I took it apart and buried it in different places. Tried to dig it up a few years back. I guess the earth reclaimed it. Or there is a armed fox running things.
If1HitU
Member
My Jennings .32 auto,it's broke but for some reason I have never gotten it fixed or gotten rid of it.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
