Which long gun for fireplace décor?

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There were a number of incidents related where people who neglected safety concerns caused guns to fire, resulting in tragedies.

Just happened up here last night. Somebody was showing off a rifle and killed a guy. Police are calling it a homicide.

One involved a boy and his friend at the home of the former. They had a family heirloom muzzle loader rifle on wall holders. They actually knew the real date of the last time the rifle had been used! The kid brought the rifle down, jokingly aimed it at his friend ("ha ha all good fun and all that") cocked the weapon and pulled the trigger.
And killed his best friend.
One hundred + years.... the rifle had hung on a wall. Doing nothing. But, loaded : BECAUSE THE GUN'S LAST OWNER HAD CLEANED IT AND LOADED IT, ANTICIPATING FUTURE NEED.

But he could never have guessed what his great, great grandson might do in a future he'd never live to see.

I believe that is the main premise of Gary Paulsen's book "The Rifle"
 
I have a 99 savage in .308, Pop has a .300 Sav, but from the 60's. With the recent posts on the thread, had to mention them.

While I do like those, I'd suggest something from the early days of semiautos. Think about a Remington Model 8, one of the first commercially produced semi-auto rifles, beginning just after the turn of the last century, in something like the 35 Rem.
I had a Mauser 93 (cocks on closing) in 300 Savage. But it was hack job of a sporter conversion so it was a POS. Traded it for next to nothing.
 
For wall hangers I have an 1897 Winchester pump; it was built in 1898 and a beats me how old, an Iver Johnson 12 gauge single barrel hammer shotgun. The serial is 48XXXX.
I also have a 1700s Pennsylvania flintlock and some other early 1900s family "heirlooms" which I keep in a safe. They are either too valuable or too valuable to me to hang on the wall.
To me, family "heirloom" firearms are too valuable with too many memories to be wall hangers so they belong in a safe.
 
I bought a 91/30 for a wall hanger/lamp gun, but it's so fun to shoot I can't do it. I bought an M-95 for decor and lost it at a yard sale to someone who doubled my money but paid 1/3 of what they go for now. Dad's old A H Fox double is too precious to risk. I may end up crafting a punt gun replica out of black pipe and pallet wood.
 
They ran a worm screw down the barrel expecting to find a ball but all that came out was paper. They kept digging out more paper until a load of shot came out. After the shot more paper came out. After more paper the powder came out. They put a little of the powder in a pile on the driveway and touched a match to it. It flamed right off.

My friend got another picture frame and put some heavy cloth inside. He scattered out some of the paper pieces, the shot and the powder on the cloth and has that hanging beside the shadow box. The paper was in small pieces but it appeared to come from a catalog for sheet music.
 
Think about a Remington Model 8,

People look at mine for a while, then say something like "What happened to the lever?"

Well, it *does* have that old-school "levergun" look with the straight stock and schnabel.

For extra points, do a "Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rifle out of my hat!" by taking the pieces out of an obviously too-short bag and assembling them. I suspect many Model 8 owners never knew they owned a takedown rifle...

And finally, in most of the pictures you can find of John Browning holding a rifle, most of them seem to be a Model 8. Considering how many famous rifles he designed, it's interesting to note the one he seemed to be photographed with the most is the one few people have even heard of.
 
1870 Berdan?
http://www.russianwarrior.com/STMMain.htm?1890weapon_index.htm&1
M1870berdanshowcase.jpg
 
I think it is tough to come up with a long gun that says :Alaska! better than a good old Winchester model 94. I cant imagine having to worry about having a rifle stolen off of my mantle: if that was the case, I would be more worried about the rest of the house...
Find a well used / abused 94 for a good price,give it a good coating of wax and hang it. A regular wipe down will keep it clean enough, if it isn't a gun you are concerned about. At my camp I hung a single shot Stevens .32 long rimfire on a beaver skin stretching board, and it looks just fine, and up at my camp I hung a hundred year old but still operating Stevens 410 single shot, that has great patina and color to it. It actually was bought as an inexpensive varmint gun for the camp, but looks great on the wall and I just give it a good Rem Oil wipe down whenever I think of it. I insist all my wall hangars must be shooters too. An early Stevens single shot in 20 or 12 gauge would look fine, and they can be had very inexpensively (around 100 bucks here in NY).
 
To me, family "heirloom" firearms are too valuable with too many memories to be wall hangers so they belong in a safe.
I agree. Originally, I wanted to put an heirloom up there, but I just decided the risk was too great. The only exception being a late 40s production, refinished (so zero collector value) Mod 94 30-30.
 
I agree. Originally, I wanted to put an heirloom up there, but I just decided the risk was too great. The only exception being a late 40s production, refinished (so zero collector value) Mod 94 30-30.

I have a 1897 (made in 1898) Winchester pump; not a family heirloom nor would I shoot it. I have a liking for Browning designs; Ithaca M37s, Hi or High Powers, 1911-A1 etc.

Cabin Decor1.jpg
Although, I don't have a picture yet; I have an old Iver Johnson single barrel hammer shotgun; SN 764XX. It used to be on my grandmother's porch to shoot what needed shot. Although, it is a family heirloom, I consider it to be unsafe.
 
My take...?

I’d hang a flintlock rifle such as a Kentucky or Pennsylvania long rifle with powder horn and possibles bag.

Growing up, a friend of mine grandparents had a French Charleville Model 1763 Flintlock Musket with bayonet mounted on the end. I always thought that was cool!

As for Alaska vis a Russian heritage...so obvious...mount an AK! Functional, practical, & historical!
 
If I was to hang a gun over a fireplace it would be the Damascus triggerless double barrel that belonged to my grand father. it has a very weird butt stock. It has no cheek piece. The stock drops away the comes back to fit your shoulder. Surprisingly with out the cheek piece it comes with your eye looking straight down the barrels.
I am not sure of the maker. It is stored in my gun safe at my hunting camp so no pictures either.
 
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