Vintage Pistol for Home Defense

[andrewdl007]

I may have missed a previous post on this, but does anyone here use a vintage pistol (say over 50 years old) for home defense? I know a lot of older designs are still being made, but the originals may not be able to handle the hotter rounds or might have feeding issues on non-ball ammo. I’ve kept a 1917 Colt .45 in my bedside table as well as a French .32 over the years. If you do keep a vintage pistol or other on hand what is your preference?

 

[Whiterook808]

I kept an East German Makarov at my bedside for a while. I still have that gun, but it lives in my safe. My Beretta M9 has taken its place.

 

[AZAndy]

The bedside gun is a shotgun, but I've been known to carry a 1956 Chiefs Special now and then, mostly so its feelings don't get hurt. My oldest gun is a S&W M&P from 1918, but the six inch barrel means it doesn't get out much.

 

[Hasaf]

I have no idea how old my Makarov is; but it remains my daughter's "go to" gun.

 

[Bob Meyer]

I have a Colt Model 1911 45 auto that my uncle carried in WW I and my father carried in WW II. It was made in 1918.

 

[Striker]

1964 vintage S&W Mdl 15 is one of the house guns.

 

[jrmiddleton425]

Never use anything for self-defense you aren't willing to have the police take as evidence. Just my $0.02. The older stuff is great if you're shooting for fun or bumming around the woods.

 

[WestKentucky]

I have but not anymore. A Glock 42 and an 8.5” ar15 do guard duty now.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I have a Colt Model 1911 45 auto that my uncle carried in WW I and my father carried in WW II. It was made in 1918.

I would have on display under bullet proof glass protected by invisible lasers and dogs that shoot lightning out of their eyes.

 

[Jim K]

It is a rare situation in which any reasonably modern cartridge handgun would not be suitable for self-defense because of its age alone. The Colt M1917, for example, would be just as good as any modern revolver of similar power. A 50-year old French .32 would be just as good, if it is reliable, as any more modern pistol in that caliber. When it comes to choosing a useful handgun, age alone is rarely a deciding factor; only when age is combined with other factors, like the durability of flat springs, does it enter the equation.

(FWIW, I wouldn't call 1964 exactly an antique!)

Jim

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I did when I didn't have anything else other than my grandfathers old stuff.

I don't anymore as they are sentimental to collect dust in a drawer or get collected by LEO if something happened.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

I have used my stevens 520 as a bedside gun quite a bit, but that’s not a handgun. I more regularly use my hi-power clone, a near-identical copy of a mid-60’s iteration of the original.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

I would have on display under bullet proof glass protected by invisible lasers and dogs that shoot lightning out of their eyes.

And sharks with frickin' lasers!

 

[LNK]

I don't remember if my Sistema Colt is from 1949 or 1950. But it works good and resides in my nightstand.

 

[ThomasT]

Older guns like a 38 Special can handle the "Hotter" rounds made today because the 38 Special loads from in the past were as hot or hotter than the weak crap being sold today. Have a look at this.

http://shootingwithhobie.blogspot.com/2009/01/p-phenomenon-by-saxonpig.html

 

[GRIZ22]

I've kept a Brazilian 1917 S&W made in 1937 as a bedside gun.

 

[Sarge7402]

I have two a 1920ish Colt Army Special in 41Colt and a 1965 or so Charter Arms Undercover in .38 Special

 

[.455_Hunter]

I usually limit my active defensive guns to newer than 1900.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I have in the past when they were all I had. 1917 Colt, 1953 Commander.

 

[bannockburn]

Back in the day when I didn't have much to choose from in terms of a dedicated home defense gun I relied on a vintage S&W Model 10 for the job, along with several speedloaders and a 3 D cell Streamlight flashlight.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The bedside gun is a shotgun, but I've been known to carry a 1956 Chiefs Special now and then, mostly so its feelings don't get hurt. My oldest gun is a S&W M&P from 1918, but the six inch barrel means it doesn't get out much.

Yep. Mine is an Ithaca Model 37 with an after-market Deerslayer barrel.

 

[tipoc]

I may have missed a previous post on this, but does anyone here use a vintage pistol (say over 50 years old) for home defense? I know a lot of older designs are still being made, but the originals may not be able to handle the hotter rounds or might have feeding issues on non-ball ammo. I’ve kept a 1917 Colt .45 in my bedside table as well as a French .32 over the years. If you do keep a vintage pistol or other on hand what is your preference?

I usually check out any firearm I use with the ammo I intend to use for it, for whatever purpose I intend to use it for. That's the case no matter it's age. If it's self defense I choose a good defensive round and make sure it's gonna work in that gun and that I'm satisfied. I won't use a gun that's mechanically on the edge for self defense. Neither will I use a gun that is too valuable to me in some other role. I currently have two guns that are over 50 years old that I routinely have available in a defensive role.

 

[Bigmike79]

My dad used to keep an old school Ruger Blackhawk 357 in the night stand. I'm sure the thing was probably closed to 50 years old.


We have a Glock 42 with an extended mag in the night stand these days. It's my wife's pistol, and she's home alone quite often.

 

[22250Rem]

I choose not to use a vintage pistol in that role, as I can easily keep a more modern carry pistol handy. If a gun got fired in self defense and someone got shot it will wind up in police custody for who knows how long. I realize that a carry pistol is subject to this and accept that fact. So a carry pistol will also double as a home defense pistol. I have a 1916 P.08 German Luger that could be used for home defense but I don't like the idea of turning it in to the local police property room. Besides the fact that my carry pistols are the ones that I'm the most practiced and proficient and familiar with.

 

[Airman Basic]

I know some kids who think Robert E. Lee fought in Vietnam.