troy fairweather
Member
my 1991 argentine mauser, think it's made in 1894. i put on a j.p. sauer & son. 8x57 barrel octagon to round with the full rib. sorry for the bad pis i could take better ones if anyone would like to see better.
Oldest Rifle You Own
- Thread starter Speedo66
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tark
Member
This little #2 rolling block is my oldest. A 32 and complete with three precious boxes of ammo. And a bore that would make a buzzard puke. Despite the latter, it is still fairly accurate. No telling when it was made ., the #2s were made for many years beginning shortly after the Civil War.
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![IMG_5154[1].JPG](/data/attachments/775/775077-8e1d68347bd08169cd8eee21f6750d28.jpg)
Officers'Wife
Member
These two entries, purchased by my great-grandfather sometime between 1900 and 1910. my grandfather had the rifle "reblued" sometime in the 1990's which to me is something of a tragedy. It's nicknamed "the Hungry Rifle" as it's said when I pull it out something is going to be lunch. Despite it's age, once you understand the weapon it will knock pop cans off a fence post at 70 meters all day long.
OP
OP
Speedo66
Member
These two entries, purchased by my great-grandfather sometime between 1900 and 1910. my grandfather had the rifle "reblued" sometime in the 1990's which to me is something of a tragedy. It's nicknamed "the Hungry Rifle" as it's said when I pull it out something is going to be lunch. Despite it's age, once you understand the weapon it will knock pop cans off a fence post at 70 meters all day long.
Nice, what calibers are they? What brand and model revolver?
tark
Member
Looks like a 32-20 to me The bullet weight is the giveaway. That and the straight case.....well...almost straight. A 25-20 would have a visible bottle neck
forward observer
Member
My oldest original would be a Winchester 1873 sporting rifle with octagon barrel and like the OP's rifle chambered in .38-40. Mine was made in 1891 and I am the second owner having inherited it from my paternal grandfather. He was born in 1875 and got the rifle for his 16th birthday. He passed away in 1958, so I got the rifle when I was 13 years old. I took my first deer with it in 1961 when I turned 16.
It shows it's age in that it was a farm tool used for general hunting and to fend off any animal predators well into the 1940's, but the bore would rate close to a 8 or 9 out of 10. It's bright and shiny with no spotting or pits. The front sight blade must have come off at some point and was replaced by a carved piece of wild boar tusk ivory. It's a bit worn down now, but not so much that I can't compensate by raising the rear semi-buckhorns. Consequently, I've left it alone.
Here it is with a mix of Miroku and Uberti made 1873's. It's in the middle behind two Miroku's and in front of a Uberti and a carbine made by Euroarms
P.S. I made a typo on the manufacturing date. Instead of 1881, it should have been 1891.
It shows it's age in that it was a farm tool used for general hunting and to fend off any animal predators well into the 1940's, but the bore would rate close to a 8 or 9 out of 10. It's bright and shiny with no spotting or pits. The front sight blade must have come off at some point and was replaced by a carved piece of wild boar tusk ivory. It's a bit worn down now, but not so much that I can't compensate by raising the rear semi-buckhorns. Consequently, I've left it alone.
Here it is with a mix of Miroku and Uberti made 1873's. It's in the middle behind two Miroku's and in front of a Uberti and a carbine made by Euroarms
P.S. I made a typo on the manufacturing date. Instead of 1881, it should have been 1891.
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Dr T
Member
It depends on how you calculate age.
I have a Mosin M39 built on an 1894 octagon receiver.
I have a sporterized M1898 Krag on an 1898 receiver with the original barrel.
I have a Mosin M39 built on an 1894 octagon receiver.
I have a sporterized M1898 Krag on an 1898 receiver with the original barrel.
Officers'Wife
Member
They are both 32-20. The rifle a 92 Winchester and the handgun a Colt (not sure about the model.) The revolver was a special order in that caliber from the factory.
OP
OP
Speedo66
Member
Great story and rifle history, fantastic that you can trace it to the original owner, in your family no less! My folks came over from Europe around the turn of the previous century and stayed in NYC, so no family firearms legacy.
Oh, and nice collection of '73's!
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OP
OP
Speedo66
Member
Thanks for sharing the photo and the history!
I have several older rifles, the oldest being this Winchester Model 94 chambered in 30/30 manufactured in1898.
The bore looks like a family of hogs moved out of it but it will still deliver acceptable hunting accuracy at 100 yards.
The next oldest is a Winchester Model 1892 that started life as a 25/20 and at some point was bored out to utilize the 32/20 cartridge.
It dates from 1906.
This one here dates from 1910, Marlin Model 1893 chambered in 30/30
And finally another Winchester Model 92 in 25/20, it dates from 1912.
The bore looks like a family of hogs moved out of it but it will still deliver acceptable hunting accuracy at 100 yards.
The next oldest is a Winchester Model 1892 that started life as a 25/20 and at some point was bored out to utilize the 32/20 cartridge.
It dates from 1906.
This one here dates from 1910, Marlin Model 1893 chambered in 30/30
And finally another Winchester Model 92 in 25/20, it dates from 1912.
tommy.duncan
Member
I have a BSA Mk1 #3* Enfield from 1918.
I bought it out of a collection last spring.
I bought it out of a collection last spring.
Random 8
Member
No pictures, as it is in storage right now while my house is worked on. Finn M39 on an 1894 Chattleraunt receiver. Does that count? Was "built" in 1943.
Oldest complete rifle is a Carl Gustav M96 from 1915. Still wins matches. I do have a mystery rolling block. Numbers and markings are sanitized/destroyed and it currently wears a .38-55 barrel, so could be from anytime. Got it really cheap and put away for a project gun. Bore is a sewer and needs some small parts. I did blue pill it with a really long string and a .375 win and it didn't Kaboom.
Oldest complete rifle is a Carl Gustav M96 from 1915. Still wins matches. I do have a mystery rolling block. Numbers and markings are sanitized/destroyed and it currently wears a .38-55 barrel, so could be from anytime. Got it really cheap and put away for a project gun. Bore is a sewer and needs some small parts. I did blue pill it with a really long string and a .375 win and it didn't Kaboom.
someguy2800
Member
Good idea using rubber straps on those hanging targets, I never thought of that!
JWF III
Member
The oldest rifle I have is an 1852 Enfield. I don’t know when it was made, but it is pre-war (War of Northern Aggression). I also have a 8ga SxS percussion shotgun, but that doesn’t count for a rifle.
The oldest that I still shoot is an 1873 Trapdoor Springfield. With a close second going to either an 1873 Winchester, or a Trapdoor Carbine.
Other notable older rifles are 1898 Krag made in 1898. 3, 92 Winchesters. M91 M-N hex reciever made in 1915. M96 Swede made in 1917. Winchester P17 made in 1917. And a DWM P08 made in 1917.
Wyman
The oldest that I still shoot is an 1873 Trapdoor Springfield. With a close second going to either an 1873 Winchester, or a Trapdoor Carbine.
Other notable older rifles are 1898 Krag made in 1898. 3, 92 Winchesters. M91 M-N hex reciever made in 1915. M96 Swede made in 1917. Winchester P17 made in 1917. And a DWM P08 made in 1917.
Wyman
FL-NC
Member
This old US issue 45-70 trap door. With indian tack art on the stock. I shudder when I think of what may have happened to the trooper who carried it.
farmerboy78
Member
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Charlie98
Member
Springfield M1 Garand, SN dates it to may of '42. It is not original, but a crappy FedOrd rebuild... but it shoots, and that's all I care about.
Pic of me shooting in southern NV a few years ago... this was my first 'selfie' I ever took, not even knowing what a selfie was...
Pic of me shooting in southern NV a few years ago... this was my first 'selfie' I ever took, not even knowing what a selfie was...
montanaoffroader
Member
The oldest rifle I own is a Marlin 1881 in .45-70, manufactured in 1887(Top rifle in photo). Exterior is a little rough, but the bore is excellent and it is in good mechanical condition.
The runner up is a Model 94 Winchester in .32 Winchester Special, manufactured in 1906(Second from the bottom). It is in good condition, the bore is not quite as good as the Marlin but still decent.
Steel Horse Rider
Member
I have a Podewils-Linder from 1853, a relic from the Austrian military during the Franco-Prussian war. It was from a collection of a Dutch cigar maker who had it confiscated in WWII when the Germans rolled through the Netherlands, although he later was able to regain possession of about half of his collection. He left it to his grandson who had been born in Canada and we met through mutual membership in an internet motorcycle club which is how I came in possession of it and a Dutch Naval pistol dated 1845 on the cartouche on the grip. There is still another muzzle loader from the original collection in possession of another grandson in western Canada that I hope to purchase in the future when the owner decides he is ready to part with it.....
crest117
Member
My oldest is a Colt 1860 Army .44 that the serial number shows was built in Feb. 1863 but even though it is in good condition I would never shoot it. But I also have an 1873 and an 1884 Springfield Trapdoor rifles that I shoot often. Both of these will shoot within 6 inches at 100 yds and if my eyesight was better I am sure they could do better. Oops,just saw we are talking rifles. Ignore the Colt.
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