Vintage pic thread: Your oldest firearms

USMCSGT0331

USMCSGT0331

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Mar 23, 2013
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#1
This is the vintage section, so how about an all encompassing vintage thread. Your task is simple, show us your oldest firearms. Tell some stories, teach some history, share some pics; all vintage guns are welcome here.

To kick off this thread, I'd like to share something that is very old. Circa 1360-70's, approximately 650 years old! This is an original band-iron hand cannon that was found at the Aljubarrota battlefield in Portugal (the battle took place on August 14, 1385). Due to the extreme age of this firearm, only the barrel remains. It was originally mounted to a primitive stock called a "tiller," the end of which was tucked under the arm of the shooter.

There are a few older Chinese firearms, but I'm only aware of 1 older European firearm - the Loshult Gun. The Loshult Gun dates to about the 1340-50's and is much larger than this hand cannon. Aljubarrota barrels weight about 3+ pounds, whereas the Loshult Gun tips the scales close to 20 pounds. The earlier Loshult Gun is cast bronze, but the Aljubarrota guns were made from bands of iron that have been twisted and forged around a mandrel.

You can see the iron twisting in the pics below, the last pic is a composite that shows what the gun looks like "unwrapped." The 4th pic shows the inside of the barrel, with light shining through the touch hole in the rear (lol).

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Loshult_Gun.jpg

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#4
A 1941 date Walther P38. It has Swastikas stamped in it and everything. Its a surprisingly nice shooting gun. Ill try to dig up some pics
 
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#5
The oldest Sniper rifle I have is a design that was first used by the US Marines in 1917 and the US Army in 1918.

The only A5 Marine variant discussed in books is the Mann Niedner and it's long been assumed that was the main Marine sniper rifle during WWI. But when we went back and researched it, the Mann Niedner was more a variant during WWI and the main one used would have been the one done by Winchester.

In 1917 Niedner mounted 150 rifles at the Philly Arsenal, but was caught making un-american comments and was investigated as a German Saboteur, including an investigation by the FBI that his rifles were sabotaged. This cancelled Niedner's contact in late June 1917 to mount scopes. On July 2nd 1917 the contract to mount 500 A5 scopes was given to Winchester. Winchester mounted 500 scopes on m1903's provided by the US Marines. These shipped to France by fall 1917 and it appears they shipped to the 5th Marine regiment.

The Army also procured 900 of these rifles in early to mid 1918 bc of delays in the WRA model of 1918 sniper, and a 4000 Warner Swasey order that wasn't fullfilled. There were no differences in the Marine vs Army versions. The blocks on these rifles were called the Winchester Springfield Marine mount.

Here is the rifle in France in late 1917, though it coule be possibly as late as the first 2 weeks of 1918.




The rifle in the picture is a pre 1910 M1903. As evidenced by the highwood stock and no reinforcing clips in the handguard. Below is an original 1909 with Winchester Springfield MArine mounts (blocks). One of four known to exist. One is at the museum at Cody, and two others in private hands besides this one. Even thought this could be Army since there is no difference between the version the Army and Marines received, I do believe it's Marine bc of very close serial hits to documented Marine sniper rifles. But without a direct serial hit, it will be impossible to prove. This is probably one of my favorite rifles because this is an example of when you actually research something at the National Archives, many of our books have screwed up a lot of our history.




 
#6

Its got to burn your soul that the period photo is not clear enough to read the serial number of that Marines rifle.

Those two look like identical twins if not the same rifle.
 
#8

You have no idea. The original pictures are on glass plates. There were two pics taken of this Marine. I even paid a researcher almost a $100 to go to the archives, pull the 2 glass plates and make high definition scans of them in the hope I might notice a scratch or dent in the stock and be able to find the same one in mine. But no luck, you can't make out anything for certain.
 
#12
Here's my very oldest, though it's a project in progress. Parts for these are a bit hard to find. But what I can tell this is a Smith and Wesson Model 1-1/2. I have a few parts put away for it but had this handy for a pic. I bought this when i was 12yrs old at a gun show from a parts box for $10. 4 digit serial on the butt. I'm still hunting a cylinder, grips and other small parts. From what I can tell it's from the mid to late 1800s. Maybe very late/post Civil War.

 
#13
My oldest working firearm that's not in my father's safe is this fine old rimfire. It's a Mossberg 42m(b). This one is not US Property marked like a lot of these were. This one has no serial number, it wasn't filed off or anything like that. It's never had one engraved and maybe some of these didn't have serial numbers? Cant say for sure. Its surprisingly accurate and very reliable. I've carried it all over, had it buried in mud, it's been through the ringer. Still has the factory sights and is original down to the screws in the scope mount and target sight tapped holes. It is the rifle my kids learned to shoot with. One of my very favorites. I've dated it to between 1945-1947 manufacture. But cant confirm that. I've also heard it may be older? It's a fine gun anyway and will soon have an original Mossberg scope/mount mounted. I am also looking for an original Parker Hale peep sight like the British lease trainers were fitted with. The camp sling is of course not original, but it's my father's old sling and its comfortable.
 
#16
My oldest gun ain't all that old but it's cool, totally functional and loved. Inherited a Colt 1903 Model M built in 1918 and carried by 3 generations of my Wife's kin. Pocket carried by her Grandfather on Saturday Night Go to Town trips in the 1930's and used hard and put away dirty.



Hasn't got much finish left but it shoots like a top especially at rapid fire point shooting. Locks up solid and has never missed a lick...like a sharp pair of scissors it just works. .32 acp and all original. She's 100 years old this year and my Wife and I will run 100 rounds thru her here shortly as a celebration of 100 years of protecting her (and our) family. This gun has a Soul.

VooDoo
 
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#17
My pic hosting site is down, but I have a muzzleloader (fowling piece?) which was carried by my great-great-great grandfather in the Ontario Militia during the little-known post-Civil War Feinian Raids, when Irish-American Civil War veterans attempted to invade Canada in an ill-fated attempt to goad Britain into diverting troops from Ireland so that the Irish could re-take the homeland. After a couple years of attempts US Grant decided it was not worth inflaming Britain and cut off supply lines at the border, ending the raids.

My GGG grandfather subsequently came to the US and brought the rifle with him. I built a shadow box for it, including the belt and buckle from his uniform.

This rifle is not functional. I've inherited all of my extended family's firearms and have multiple early 1900 examples in working order, mostly 22s and shotguns.
 
#18
Our oldest firearm is a Tanegashima Japanese Matchlock. Hard to date as these were made from 1543 until the mid 1800s. Guessing it was made in mid-1700s.

Auction description
Silver Inlaid Japanese Tanegashima Matchlock Arquebus
Manufacturer: Japanese
Model: Matchlock
Type: Rifle
Gauge: 52
Barrel: 41 3/8 inch octagon
Finish: black/silver/brass
Stock: hardwood
Item Views: 866
Item Interest: Active
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 204
Class: Antique
Description:
Tanegashima arquebuses, named after the island on which they were introduced by shipwrecked Portuguese explorers in the mid-16th century, were used into the late 19th century, long after matchlock firearms had been replaced by flintlock and percussion arms by Europeans and other western countries. The barrel has a block front sight, a pair of silver inlaid dragons, and a traditional grooved block rear sight. The stock features a mix of brass and silver accents with engraved floral, rabbit, and smoke designs. There are also some untranslated markings on the left side by the breech.

Rating Definition:
Good with attractive aged patina on the silver and brass, dark patina and mild oxidation on the barrel, and mild overall wear. The stock is very good and has minor scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.

 
#19
Our Swiss Jaeger Rifle .70 caliber. Has leaf folding sights up to 400 (I suppose yds). Could have been a sniper as it has no bayonet. Set trigger. It was made as a flintlock in the 1700s and converted to percussion early or mid 1800s. Perfect operating condition. I use pure lead round ball and about 85 gr of FFG Black powder.It has an unusual wing bolt to allow sideplate to be removed for cleaning. It could have been used by the Hessians against the British, American Revolution. I shoot it often. Figured walnut that may be original.
 
#22
Beaumont Vitali. First working bolt action magazine rifle so I’ve been told. Was given to me as a Christmas Present in 1969. I had asked for a beater double barrel shotgun that I could sort of refinish and hang on the wall. A “collector” sold her this instead. He was a real piece of cake. I visited with him and asked if he could verify that it shot an 11mm Mauser round. He became QUITE Indignant that I would question him. He was a misinformed ASSHOLE

The Beaumont Vitali was chambered in two rounds, NEITHER of which is compatible with the 11mm Mauser family. While I actually have loading dies for one of the rounds, I have never attempted to gather all the components necessary to shoot this rifle. The bore looks like a poorly tilled garden plot.

As I really wanted that shotgun, my mother could not understand why I was disappointed with a rifle that I did not really like and had no use for. its too long for a paper weight, too expensive to shoot, and well, not much else to say. I suppose it makes a nice conservation piece hanging under the deer. Otherwise, it fits no where else. But it was a gift, one of the last gifts from my mother that I sill have. We lost her in 1997.

Surprisingly another actually showed up in Jackson Parish. A gun dealer paid a poor black man $50.00 for it when they were selling for $500.00 on Gunbroker. I lost a lot of respect for that man, sure he’s in the business and needs to make a profit. However, seriously undervaluing an item from a misinformed fellow who obviously had little education and had no idea of how to value it, shows a serious lack of integrity and morals. If he cheated one, how many others?

Anyway here she is. Still in working order, with a good mainspring. (Noted to be a weak point of the rifle). That mainspring is housed inside the bolt handle. There is no obvious reason that he could not be shot, but at this stage, what’s the point, the bore is ruined and any accuracy lost.




 
#23
I have a 22-250 built on a Mauser action from Oberndorf dated 1916. I need to redrill and tap the scope mount holes, as they weren't holding on by much when I removed the mount.

I don't have any pics of the whole rifle. I will get some when I get the optic remounted.




My second oldest is my Winchester model 75 built in 1941. Very nice rifle in really good shape. Shoots decent, as well.

 
#24
Looks like a 75T with the heavy barrel.

They shoot well.

Irons only on mine I should play with some .22 it’s been a while since I had one out.
 
#25
We have this old timer shooting nrl22 with a Winchester 75T, complete with 8x unertl. He hangs with us cz shooters all day long, not so much against the voodoo’s, but he gives no fucks. Does it with waaay more class and style.
 
#29
Colt Lightning circa 1883 or 1884(the revolver in the middle) is now my oldest. Used to have some older, had an 1865(estimated) Colt 1860 Army BP recover for a long time.
 
#30
Pardon the super shitty photos, but I just grabbed this out of the safe since I just found this thread.

This is my 1881 trapdoor carbine. Only the faintest remnants of the inspectors stamp and proof remain, so it was issued. I did get a chance once to speak with someone who lives for these guns, and he noted that the 1884 Buffington rear sight was probably a retrofit before the rifle was issued to a volunteer troop for the Spanish-American war.

I have a couple of guns that I wish I could hear their stories. This is one of them.

 
#34
Remington No. 4 Rolling Block, 4-5 digging serial number which makes it 1880’s production. I’m waiting for the gunsmith to recline the barrel and fix the extractor.


I have a New York RB action, but it has been rebuilt into a 40-65 for BPCR and Cowboy Long Range , no pics.
 
#35
please do not take this as a criticism, but it is a critique of SPELL CHECK. . :mad:

I embraced computer technology very early on. I love everyone they can do for us. But I sure hate it when it goes that one step too far. They’re nothing more then damned adding machines. They need to quit trying to be electronic replacement brains.

My Beloved Brenda and I are apart, especially considering yesterday was our 51st Anniversary. (Be back tougher soon) I tried to call her earlier in the day, but she was away from her phone. So, I sent her a short voice mail. When the voice mail printed out instead of Brenda, it used the “B” word. Pissed me off to no end.

Looking at your really neat rifle. I have known others who have Relined the barrels of Rolling Blocks and made them shooters again. No finer purpose for a rifle then to be used for what it was intended, to be fired on target again.

I wish you good luck with your “shooter” and fine collector piece all in one.
 
#36
No problem on the grump about spell check. I missed the change on reline.

The smith has been looking for another extractor, but has only been finding 32RF not 22RF extractors. I finally told him to go ahead and tig weld it up and re-cut the groove for the rim. He’s probably put more unpaid hours in searching post work than he would have welding, machining, and fitting.
 
#37
My oldest (sniper) rifle is this Swedish M41B. Made in 1900 by Mauser in Germany for the Swedish military, as part of the then new M1896 rifle contract. Presumably converted into an M41 sniper rifle in the 1941-42 era, and re-built into the updated M41B configuration in the mid-50s. Shown here is its matching 1941 German Ajack (4x) scope as well, with a "B" suffix indicating it was rebuilt in West Germany circa 1955(ish).




Fortunately for collectors, the Swedes took pretty good care of these old rifles over the decades, and the M/41 ammo they used was non-corrosive from the get-go, so bores are usually pretty nice too. That's my oldest rifle, that also happens to be a sniper rifle too...
 
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#42
The Swedish m/42 AGA scope was domestically produced by the Swedes after they couldn’t obtain more AJACK scopes from Germany after Hitler shut off the pipe. And with the expanding Swedish army, due to global conflict, they had to get more scopes for their Swedish m/41s.

They produced it and found that the rather anemic 3X magnification, field of view, and cost of manufacturing, left a lot to be desired. So they stopped making it after only 2 years. Later, the same Swedish firm designed and produced the m/44 AGA. This scope looks reminiscent of a long PU scope, but much more than that. It was simpler to make, therefore cheaper, and even utilized on m/41B rifles after 1955.
 
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