What gun have you had the longest?

[MSD2343]

My Dad bought me this Ward’s Hercules (Stevens Model 5100) 20 gauge side-by-side in 1970 as my first pheasant hunting gun. I believe it was made in the early 50’s and is a very decent looking piece. Still shoot clays with it now and again.

 

[OFT II]

A Winchester model 67 that I got in 1958. Used to be a good shooter but now the sights are worn out. They just keep getting fuzzier and fuzzier.

 

[ladder13]

Over 40 years

 

[stu1ritter]

Model 37 bought new in 1977. Went to work with me everyday in my Mercedes shop and retired in 2000. Still shoot it occasionally.

Stu

 

[Bald1]

A Cooey Repeater 22 bolt action rifle with tube magazine. It was my grandfather’s. He passed in 1969 so my father had actual possession of it for a long time.

The first firearm I ever bought was a Browning A-500G 12 gauge. Mostly used it for duck and goose hunting on occasional trips to the Delmarva peninsula while I lived in Virginia. It always worked no matter how cold or wet it was. Funny - I need to trim the herd a bit but selling that one never occurred to me.

TinMan, do you know any history of Cooey? I was given an old 20ga single shot by my hunting buddy who lives in Canada. It literally had the worst trigger ever. I kept it as a “camp gun” under my bed at my Cabin. Sadly it was stolen about 10 yrs ago (yes they caught the 2 perps). I always assumed it was a store brand gun. Perhaps Canadian Tire.

 

[H Richard]

A Winchester Mod 37 single shot .410 shotgun, (Red Label). Given to me by my father in 1948.

 

[CH4]

I've possessed my grandfather's M11 Rem 20 ga, M8 Rem in 30 Rem, M77 Winchester and Savage 1899 since I was a young boy of 9 or 10.

 

[Papa Lee]

K-22

My 1951 K-22 that I acquired in the mid 1970's. One of the most accurate revolvers I have ever owned.

 

[biku324]

Stevens single shot 410 from 1966 - had it every day since Christmas, 1966.

 

[Simson-Suhl]

Winchester model 63 22lr, 1950
Walther PPK 7.65/32acp 1966

 

[Skyhunter]

Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 gage, 30" full choke bought new in 1966 for $95.00 plus tax from Jones Gun Shop in Greenville, MS. Only the Head Jumpmaster knows how many ducks fell to that shotgun.
I later bought a 26" Improved Cylinder barrel for bobwhites - it was tough hunting them with the full choke barrel and not much left when I connected! LOL!
I haven't hunted or shot the 870 in years, but it's still ready any time I am.

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[xfarfuldog]

A semi auto Mossberg 22 rifle when my father died in 1970. A Python I purchased in 1989 after the police academy.

 

[shovelhead]

Hamilton 27 .22 Rifle. Given to me when I was 4 yrs old in 1954. Belonged to my father and my grandfather before me.

Beautiful gun. Always wanted one of those. They were manufactured about 35 miles from here in Plymouth Michigan. Last one I saw “in the wild” for sale was in a pawn shop on Central in Albuquerque when I lived out west in the 80’s. It was in a bucket of cheap guns and tagged $65. Couldn’t justify the expense but regret not buying it still today.

Haven’t seen any around here for sale. Hamilton’s building is still standing today unlike the Daisy Air Rifle factory around the corner having being leveled and replaced by condos (surprise!) years ago.

If anyone is interested the original developer had planned and actually left the main entrance facade standing with bracing and had planned to incorporate that into a pavilion but a bankruptcy ended that. After several years the wall was demolished and a historical marker put up in its place.

But back to the subject at hand, my first was a 87A Stevens originally owned by my step great grandfather, next to my mother and then to me in ‘64.

 

[Narragansett]

My oldest is or was a 1971 Browning Hi-Power that I bought new in 1971. Just passed it to #1 son 3 weeks ago.

I have a Ruger 77V, 582 Remington ( I think number is correct ), Winchester M97 Riot gun, Sako Mauser 30-06, Browning Safari Grade 30-06 that were all obtained 1975-1978. None have been shot since 1980

 

[Narragansett]

Remington 512 .22LR. 42 years and counting.

I have one of them in 98% condition made in 1942. Also have 5 model 510's. Super guns

 

[extex]

Nylon 66 in the 60s.

 

[Max-BB]

All from my Father in about 1970..
- nylon 66
- single six w both cylinders
- model 49 lever 22

Gave the 49 to my son for his daughter to learn on.. if intersted. THe other 2 still reside in my safe.

Well over 50 years- strange to say that.

Best,

 

[A10]

My first was a Winchester 94 Mom and Dad gave me for Christmas, I think I was around 10 at the time. I passed it along to a friends son when he turned 13 so it doesn't actually count here....

The oldest I still have is a Ruger Single Six, which I asked Dad to buy me at a local sporting goods store. This was around 1970.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Browning HP P35. I bought it for my high school graduation in 1972. Paid #114.00 new in rug. Still have it.

As an addium....Lee Juras's Super-Vel ammo was in it's heyday back then. I shot a lot of it. Was impressed by Lee's 111 gr soft point(9mm) as it would shatter an 8 in concrete block.
Did a lot of squirrel hunting back then. Most big coons would bow-up at a regular .22 LR. A 9mm FMJ would knock them out the tree without tearing them up. We ate a lot of BBQ'd coon back then.

 

[desi2358]

The first gun I bought with my own money was a flintlock pistol purchased from a friend of my dads. I was 16 and fascinated with ancient weapons, compounded by having just read through the Hornblower series. Still have it and shoot it now and then. I have a few family guns but they didn't really become mine until some years later. A couple have already been passed on to my kids and hopefully the grandkids will enjoy them as well.

I have bought and sold or traded a bunch of guns over the years, including just about every other gun I bought as a young man. I do still have a Colt Targetsman 22 that I bought from a hardware store in Memphis many years ago......... Despite having sold it, not once but twice and buying it back both times! Not going to let it go again!