What is the oldest gun that you have fired?

[kje54]

I've fired quite a few replicas but the earliest original I fired (only once, it hurt) was my friend's 1871 Martini Henry.

 

[nofendertom]

Back in the mid 1980s I got to shoot a BAR from the 1920s. Not mine, I shot it at a shooting range.

 

[tommy.duncan]

The oldest I have fired is an 1884 manufactured Trapdoor,

I want one of those really bad!!

My oldest would be my Springfield 30/40 Krag (1895) then my No.1 Mk3 SMLE (1918).

I have a Colt 1903 in 25acp made in 1908, but I haven't shot it yet.

I don't have a picture of my Krag...(I will post later).

 

[JmacD]

Own? The Mexican Mauser. I believe it’s from 1933. Fired? The 30cal model1917, or the old 45-110 and 50-120 I shot(one of them was a replica/clone, but i dont recall which) One shot of each; NEVER let me hear anyone complain of the recoil of a 45-70

 

[49willys]

My 1899 finn mosin

 

[MEHavey]

This one....

Colt Special Model 1861 Contract Rifle-Musket

during all my years with the N-SSA

Thousands upon thousands of rounds....

 

[entropy]

Not entirely sure. Of those I owned, an 1899 Ishevsk Mosin Nagant M91.
But I test fire guns at work all the time, I fired a Martini Enfield. 303 that probably started life as a .577 in the 1870s, a .44-40 Win. 1873, probably made in the 1880s, an Enfield Mk 1, the one with the crooked forend.

And a No. 1 1/2 .22 LR Rolling block of indeterminate date.

 

[CapnMac]

My "winner" would likely have to be the 6 pounder field gun my old reenactment group had, as it was 1862 production.

Centurions:

Colt 1903 made 1915 aged 110 (still in the safe)

M-1903 made 1918 aged 107 (sold)

Colt 1903 made 1924 aged 101 (sold)

Close:

Hartford Made Sistema 1926 made 1927 aged 98 (sold and sorely missed)

Smith-Corona 03A3 made 1943 aged 82 (in the safe)


All of my Carbines & Garands (not all in photo) are 70 to 80 years old.

 

[Archie]

I have shot a French Lebel rifle. Not sure when manufactured, but designed in 1888. Kicks like a "mulet".

For pistols, a 1900 FN pistol (the first pistol designed by J. M. Browning).

 

[James K2020]

@James K2020 - That 1st pistol displayed is actually a Miquelet lock, of Spanish/Brescian origin in design, they were one of the 1st 'flint' ignited locks, pre-dating the true French flintlock form.

View attachment 1261968

Yes, that is correct. The engraver is Scarafon that you can see above the sear. Could never find any info on him. There are some nice markings all over. Seems to have been a hunting pistol based on the animal references. I had to shoot it left-handed after the mechanism gave me a nasty slice across my index finger when firing it. Very sharp and the short grip kept my hand too close. Here's some more pix.

 

[Riomouse911]

Nothing too old, as the oldest shotgun, rifle and handgun I have fired are roughly 100 years old or so:

My inherited Winchester Model 12 16 gauge shotgun dates from the early 1930’s. My Mother’s Grandfather bought it around the time he bought the family ranch, which was purchased a few years post-depression.

My inherited Remington Model 4 .22 LR is from roughly 1915-1917. It was my Dad’s Father’s first gun, he got it as a kid to hunt hares-rabbits for food in the Nevada desert. (He, his brother and my Great-Grandparents arrived here in the USA from Scotland in 1912. They mined gold in Searchlight until the mines petered out.) That gun has a lever for takedown, which was discontinued in 1927 and replaced with a takedown screw.

Handgun-wise, my Colt Officers Model Heavy Barrel .38 Special revolver dates from the late 1930’s.

Stay safe.

 

[Odd Job]

According to this page:

Baby Browning

The oldest I've owned is a Baby Browning, made some time around 1946. It has a 61*** serial number.
Oldest I've fired will be a black powder rifle, I don't know the date of manufacture.

 

[CajunBass]

Colt Pocket Positive, in 32 New Police from 1919. I think there may have been a couple of older Smith and Wesson's but I don't remember them specifically.

 

[DeepSouth]

My sharps pepper box, dates to the late 1850’s iirc. Neat little thing, I wish someone would start making it again.

 

[Odessa]

That I owned was a WWI Eddystone 1917. That belonged to others, several pre-WWI Colt semi-autos.

 

[stonebuster]

Some of these really old guns, especially the ones handed down through several generations and still used are amazing. I thought my 1950 Pre-Model 10 snub nosed 38 was old but now I know it isn't. It's young like me. Both of us shipped Sept. 1950.

 

[EMC45]

To date the oldest is the Colt 1903 I just cleaned up for a buddy. Made in 1905, shoots great -

 

[bannockburn]

A U. S. Model 1898 Springfield Rifle Krag Jorgensen. Use to make up some wax bullets on top of blank rounds. Always got a kick out of running them through the box magazine!

 

[AlexanderA]

The oldest gun I have is this Near Eastern miquelet. However, attempting to shoot it would be the height of stupidity: (a) the sear is worn to the point where it won't hold the cock, (b) no trigger guard, just a ball trigger, and (c) the barrel is probably severely internally rusted, and thus apt to blow up. This is the very definition of a wall hanger.

 

[CowboyTim]

Have to check the exact year, but I've shot a sporterized Mosin that my grandpa bought in the 50s that was made in, I believe, 1893.

 

[tark]

My #2 rolling block was made shortly after the Civil War. It is a .32 rimfire. Has a good bore. I am carefully hoarding 150 rounds of ammo made by Navy arms in brazil a few decades back.

 

[entropy]

I worked on one of those about 6 months ago, but had no ammo to test fire it.

 

[Spencer Wong]

Nice pickup on that Winchester 94 those old levers are tough as nails and still get the job done. Oldest I’ve shot was an 1895 Mauser in 7mm. Smooth as butter and still surprisingly accurate. There’s just something about running a piece of history that modern guns can’t match.

 

[mm93]

Oldest cartridge gun is my Remington Rolling Block Sporting Rifle in .44 Long CF made in the early 1870's.

Even older is my Carlos Gove made SxS muzzleloader shotgun 14 ga. made in his Denver shop sometime in the early 1860's. Damascus barrels, high grade wood, and some light engraving on metal.

 

[Hokkmike]

Very cool responses - GREAT reading... Thanks all!