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

[MICHAEL T]

Colt revolver My father bought used off a sheriff in IL who had taken from a bootlegger . My father bought it as he was delivering booze in the windy city and that was against the law at that time period . I shot it about a year ago chewed up a fence post SA at around 25 yds
Was the home defence pistol till he passed away .

 

[ilcylic]

I don't own one yet, but I stand to inherit my g'g'grandfather's Sheriff's service revolver. Still perfectly functional. My father has it now, along with the appropriate bullet moulds.

 

[bragood]

I aquired a Remington model 6 22 single shot that was made in 1903. All I had to do was get a stock made for it and oil it a lot. It shoots fine but I usually dont shoot it because I have a few more fun toys.

 

[KC0QGL]

Win. model 1897 shotgun

I own a Winchester Model 1897 with a very low serial # I would guess made in 1900 or 1901. It is a two barrel set with all serial #s matching and in good working order. I have only owned it about a year but its probably my favorite gun.

Smithiac

Check this site.



http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional_info/winchester_1897_shotgun.htm

1898 & 1899 .30-40 Krag, 1906 Win. .22 pump & 2 old .22 single shot rifles with NO markings. All still in good shooting order.

 

[sniper5]

1899 M96 Swedish Mauser. All matching, great shape. LOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEE it. Shoots better than I do.

 

[streakr]

Several. My favorite is an 1889 32-20 Marlin lever made in 1893. Shoots modern and blackpowder ammo without a hitch.

s

 

[fitz47]

2 30-40 krags model 1894 and model 1898

 

[PTK]

My Vetterli

My Beaumont-Vitali.

Video of the Beaumont-Vitali.


So... yes.


I fire them both fairly regularly now, the accuracy on the Beaumont-Vitali is astounding (more accurate than I am, end of story!) while the Vetterli still puts most modern guns to shame. I don't know the history of either, I bought both recently on consignment at a local gunstore - they were simply marked "antique rifle". I got a really great deal - I've already spent many times the cost of the rifles on ammunition and reloading supplies!


EDIT: I forgot to mention, I'm thinking about taking one or both of these deer hunting in the next year or two. I figure, either has MORE than enough energy with a nice big fat lead bullet, as long as I place it properly.

 

[StrawHat]

I use an 1866 Trapdoor that I put into different wood.

Also shoot an 1865 Burnside.

There's others but those two get a lot of shooting.

 

[geojap]

I have a Swedish Mauser M96 that is 102 years old. It shoots unbelievably well and it a beautiful rifle.

I have owned several M91 Russian and Finnish M39 Mosin Nagants that were originally made in the 1890s. They all shot perfectly.

 

[woerm]

working up to that

Give me about 2 years.

1910 Colt .32(1903)

r

 

[Sam Adams]

Finn M39, receiver manufactured in Tula, Russia in 1898. I bought it a few years back, and I've both used it and will use it in the future (though likely only to hunt targets). 7.62x54, the oldest military cartridge still in active service with modern armies (the Russkies use it as a sniper round, and they and the Chinese use it for machine guns).

It is no family heirloom, but I intend to make it one for my kids and grandkids. It is older than my grandfather, who was born in Russia in 1901. This thing is now 110 years old, and I intend for it to continue to be a firing weapon when it is 150 years old (and I have a bunch of brass for it, and it uses standard .30 bullets).

 

[NavArch]

Colt SAA

Made approximately 1903, according to the serial number. Belonged to one of my great-grandfathers when he was a deputy sheriff in that time frame. The cylinder bushing was somewhat loose when I got it, so I had a replacement made for shooting purposes (kept the original, of course). Apparently it had been "rode hard and put away wet" at least one too many times and the bore is in really bad shape. The finish is almost all gone, but that doesn't matter. It's family. I bought some cowboy load ammo and took it to the range. Nice feeling.

The best story about it involved my great-grandmother, the barnyard, her chickens, and a hawk that was converted from a flying machine to a total wreck. No person or animal messed with grandma's chickens. My Dad, then 5 years old, was very impressed.

 

[S&WKING]

if we could find paper 16 guage shells for an old sidebyside shotty thats old but not sure how oldbut it was my grandpas dads gun

 

[Navy joe]

I'm curious,

Was it an heirloom

Do you Know it's history

Do you still fire it

How does it's accuracy and quality rate against modern ( not Jensen,Jimenez,Lorcin, Llama) firearms.

I think pictures would be cool but I'll leave that at your discretion

M1897 16 ga made in 1900. Probably was a heirloom but I got it at an estate auction. What I know is by looking up the SN, made the year 16ga was introduced. Heck yes I still fire it, now I need to figure out how to hunt doves without my wife knowing I'm shooting pretty birds. Accuracy and quality compared to any modern pump it is certainly as good, the craftsmanship doesn't come like that anymore.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

if we could find paper 16 guage shells for an old sidebyside shotty thats old but not sure how oldbut it was my grandpas dads gun

Modern plastic shells will work fine -- assuming the gun is proved for smokeless powder.

 

[benEzra]

1905 hex-receiver Mosin Nagant, rebarreled by the Finns in 1942 at the VKT arsenal in Jyväskylä. The receiver proofmark is the imperial crest of the czar.

How's it shoot? Darn well.

 

[lwrnc1963]

Webley MK II made in 1895. I still shoot it and have even carried it on my ccw on the rare occasion.

 

[mjb]

My Dad gave me a German Luger DWM 9mm made in 1910 for Christmas a few years ago. He got it on a trade, and the guy told him mthat his grandfather brought it back from WW1. The stamped markings on the handle indicate that it was a navy pistol. It is in excellant shape and still shoots good.

 

[Run&Shoot]

1896 Swedish Mauser made in 1906 that I bought many years ago when they first became popular for about $110. Still shoots sweet. In fact I took it out to the range when my son-in-law and daughter visited us in June. It was his favorite of the rifles.

A ratty old 1893 Spanish Mauser that my Grandfather bought when he was a young man. It was the last rifle he had in the house before he was incapacitated by age and poor health. I last shot it about eight years ago after replacing a couple of springs. Dinky, rough sights.

A 1894 Winchester carbine made in 1913 (only 95 yrs old) that still shoots fine and is used for hunting occassionally. The last time we really worked it over was at a big family shoot fest in 2004 with my brother in California.

 

[TimboKhan]

I own a couple of working firearms that are a century old. One is a .22, one is a .32. Both get shot regularly.

 

[TXSWFAN]

I guess they'll work. I'm not going to find out. Two NIB S&W .38 Safeties, 4th Model. Circa around 1898.

 

[NickEllis]

that'll take the cake, TXSWFAN

 

[Poor East Texan]

I shudder to think what them babies cost! I'd bet several more modern weapons could be had.

They sure look nice however!!!!

 

[jkingrph]

My Vetterli



My Beaumont-Vitali.


Video of the Beaumont-Vitali.


So... yes.


I fire them both fairly regularly now, the accuracy on the Beaumont-Vitali is astounding (more accurate than I am, end of story!) while the Vetterli still puts most modern guns to shame. I don't know the history of either, I bought both recently on consignment at a local gunstore - they were simply marked "antique rifle". I got a really great deal - I've already spent many times the cost of the rifles on ammunition and reloading supplies!


EDIT: I forgot to mention, I'm thinking about taking one or both of these deer hunting in the next year or two. I figure, either has MORE than enough energy with a nice big fat lead bullet, as long as I place it properly.
__________________
The Vetterli looks just like mine, a 1871 Swiss. Originally the cartridge was I think 10.4x54R or 41 Swiss. If you shoot it I presume like mine it has been converted to centerfire. I use 348 Win cases to make acceptable cases for use and load cast bullets for 44 mag (.429) Mine has one of the best looking bores of any rifle I have ever seen, especially considering it is roughly 135 years old. The sights are calibrated for very long ranges so it's hard to shoot at shorter ranges. I generally bend a piece of copper wire around barrel and front sight to make a temporary higher front sight.


Neat vieo of the Beaumont. Makes me want to get my Vetterli out.