Who Here Owns A WORKING Firearm That Is > 100 Years Old

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XDKingslayer: The model 1 1/2 you have is not the Model 1 1/2 "First Issue" (1865 to 1868) or "Second Issue" (1868-1875) revolver, and it's not a .32 rimfire. First of all, look at the patent dates on the barrel. You will note that your gun has patent dates as late as 1877, so your gun had to have been made AFTER that date. What you have is the Model 1 1/2 Single Action Revolver in .32 S&W, one of 97,574 guns that were made from 1878 to 1892. The main difference in the later Model 1 1/2 was that it was a top-break design, while the earlier ones were tip-ups.
If you want to shoot it, try .32 S&W Shorts. I wouldn't use the .32 S&W Longs, as they may be too powerful for this old gun. 32 S&W Short ammo for the gun should be available at any good gun shop.
For more information, look in Flayderman's book for his # 5G-033.
 
100 years

I have a William Evans double rifle on a Webley & Scott action that was made in 1907 or 1908. It's a shooter although I have not gotten around to working up a proper load for it. The original cartridges are currently made of unobtainium so it's a roll your own proposition. I bought it.

Also have a handed down in the family 20 gauge Whitney Safety Arms double gun. No plans to shoot it.
 
I have a Prussian Mauser 71/84 (11.15x60R or ".43 Mauser) made in 1884 that works great, and I love shooting.Accuracy seems fine, but I havent really even adjusted the sights, or tried playing with loads, but I suspect it is capable of pretty good accuracy up to 100yds or so with a little work. As for quality, it's really solid and simlple, and is a good and realiable as Mauser's are known for.

It started out as a rust barrel and receiver with trigger group. I spent over 6 months restoring it with original parts.Lots of fun, and came out at about 1/2 the average cost of buying a complete, unmatching one. Still missing 1 part though. Cant find an original, or even a reproduction of the magazine tube follower, so it's a simgle shot until I get one, or find enough details to maybe make my own. Still a riot to shoot with loads that duplicte originals with a 370gr LRN bullet, paper patched, over 77gr of Goex Fg. Neat guns and has lots of Prussion crowns stamped on it that are in amazing shape considering the age, and condition t was in when I got it.

Also neat because you dont really see that many people with them (not that they are rare or anything, just not much interest in them for whatever reason)
PrussianMauser71-84.jpg

Oops, forgot I also have a 1900 C.G. Swede Mauser

Swede 96
SwedeMauserm96fullwithbayo.jpg
 
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I have a Winchester 1892 .25-20 that was made in 1904 it belonged to my wife's great grandfather. My father-in-law gave it to me when we got married.It's in the bottom row second from the right. My wife deer hunts with it.
 
Trap door Springfield from about 1875. I still shoot it occasionally. It must have had good maintenance to have such a good bore after several decades of black powder shooting. I use mild 400 grain, 1200 fps loads that duplicate the old black powder load.

Remington derringer in .41 rimfire. Actually I'm not sure how old it is. I was advised by several folks not to shoot it, though it looks just fine.

Both of these are family heirlooms, but the story behind them is unknown.
 
XDKingslayer: The model 1 1/2 you have is not the Model 1 1/2 "First Issue" (1865 to 1868) or "Second Issue" (1868-1875) revolver, and it's not a .32 rimfire. First of all, look at the patent dates on the barrel. You will note that your gun has patent dates as late as 1877, so your gun had to have been made AFTER that date. What you have is the Model 1 1/2 Single Action Revolver in .32 S&W, one of 97,574 guns that were made from 1878 to 1892. The main difference in the later Model 1 1/2 was that it was a top-break design, while the earlier ones were tip-ups.
If you want to shoot it, try .32 S&W Shorts. I wouldn't use the .32 S&W Longs, as they may be too powerful for this old gun. 32 S&W Short ammo for the gun should be available at any good gun shop.
For more information, look in Flayderman's book for his # 5G-033.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info bigjohnson. I'll have to find that book too. Any idea what this piece is worth? It's priceless to me, that's for sure.
 
Um... Buncha Gew88s, buncha pre-1899 Mosins, a 1905 DWM Gew98, my Carcano's 100 as of this year, my Steyr M95 long rifles are all more than a hundred, some '93 Turk Mausers, and my Martini-Enfield.

Sold my G71, Peruvian 91, and some other stuff older.
 
I own an original flintlock duelling pistol, which had to have been manufactured before 1805...because that's when the maker died.

I'll be shooting it at the World Muzzle-Loading Championships in 2 weeks. It will shoot just about shot-for-shot with the very best custom flint pistols made today.

The problem, of course, is the shooter.
 
M91 Tikka with an 1896 Russian receiver. Works great. Also a Nagant from 1899, though it was also rearsenaled. I use it with the .32 ACP cylinder mostly.
 
1905 Garl Gustafs Stad Gevarsfaktori, Swede 96 Mauser. And a model 94 Swede, but the barrel is from the 1950s aftermarket. Have also had other Swedes, but I don't think any others prior to 1908.

Had an '88 commission rifle made in 1890, but sold it. It shot well.
 
1894 Winchester 32 Special made in 1906. It belonged to my best friend's father. It's a nice shooter, although I haven't shot it in years.

A Stevens Favorite 1894 made in first year of manufacture. I bought it in Tulsa and had the barrel re-lined. I shoot it occasionally.

I have a Winchester Model 90 that my great-granddad bought new for my granddad. It was left to me when my dad passed away in January. I'm not sure if its 100 years old yet though. I shot it about a month ago. When I was a teenager I used to buy a couple boxes of 22 shorts and take it plinking out in the prairie.
 
I've got a Swede Mauser model 96/38, made in 1900 by Mauser. I don't it's specific history, but generically I've figured out a few things.

The Mauser-built rifles were the first 30,000 of about 500,000 M96s. In the mid-30s about 30,000 of those half-million were selected to be cut down to be prototypes for the M38. Mine was one of those. It also got the special sight modification to adjust for the shorter barrel (before the Swedes decided it was just cheaper to put a correction table on the rifle).
 
My 1865 Spencer carbine 56-50 will shoot under 3 inches at 100 yards on a good day. I think that is really good for a weapon that was designed in the infancy of metalic cartridges and breech loaders. The sights are terrible and don't do it justice. I've often been tempted to put a scope on it to see what she'll do.:uhoh::eek:
 
Two Swedish Mausers. One made in 1899 and the other in 1900. The 1899 was made by Mauser Obendorf and the 1900 by Gustav. Both are excellent shooters, easily equal to or better than any of my modern rifles ( Rem 700, Ruger M77 MKII). Also a Side x Side shotgun made in 1903, but VERY light loads only, and not very often. The shotgun belonged to my Father-in-Law and was given to me shortly before he died. The two Swedes were bought as part of my Mauser collection/addiction and currently have two younger brothers in the safe with them.

Jay
 
Not QUITE 100yrs old. Made in 1911, my grandfathers M92 Winchester rifle in 38WCF. He was a part time Deputy Sheriff in Quitman County Mississippi. I also have his New Service revolver in the same caliber!! Don't know what year it's from, yet.
Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
 
A couple of trapdoor Springfield's in .45-70 and an 1866 second Allin conversion in .50-70 Government.
All get fired a couple times a year, and I even got a deer with the .50-70 a few years ago.
 
XDKingslayer...According to the latest Flayderman book a pistol like yours should bring $185 to $375 depending on condition. Based on the photo in your post, I would say it's much closer to the $185 mark.
 
(1) US Model 1816 .69 caliber musket, converted to percussion, made by Eli Whitney in 1841 and carried by my great-grandfather, Shields Priestly Holladay, who was a member of Company F, 5th South Carolina Reserves.

(2) Remington rolling block military musket, .45-70 caliber, made sometime between 1867 and 1888. Will shoot a 1 inch group at 50 yards.

(3) US Model 1861 Special Musket, .58 caliber, made in 1864 by Lamson, Goodnow & Yale of Windsor, VT. It has a pristine bore, and is an absolute tack-driver.

(4) Winchester Model 1873 Rifle. Made in 1888. Octagonal barrel, full magazine, caliber 38-40, and is a reasonably good shooter (3 inch group at 50 yards).
 
mod 1900 rem SXS 16ga shotgun, shot my first deer with this old gun.was hunting with it in 1975 , found out how old it was and now its safe a queen
 
1907 Stevens model 14.5. I also have shotgun from the late 1800s that is working but is not safe to shoot due to the Damascus barrels.
 
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