What's your oldest "daily" use shotgun?

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OKRev

New member
Just an informal poll here. I currently have a 1978 12ga. Remington 1100 and a 1992 20ga. Remington 870 that get regular use. I also have a 1953 JC Higgins bolt action .410 that my grandfather bought for $26 when he got home from Korea that I'm getting reconditioned, it doesn't get used much but will make a great squirrel gun for my young ones. Supposedly my grandpa put a lot of pheasants down with it back in the day.

When do you "retire" a gun? All mine are in good working condition and I plan to use them until they aren't. I've also got my eye on a 1924 Belgian made A5 16ga. that is in amazing condition down at the local pawn shop. I might get a brand new shotgun this year, but I really love the old stuff.
 
Model 12

My oldest shotgun that gets the most use is a Winchester Model 12 made in 1937. It is a 12 ga and has a factory 26 inch barrel with a Mod. choke. You don't see that combination much, but it works. The pheasants don't care for it at all.

Lock and Load! :D
 
I have my grandpa's 12ga Wingmaster he bought in 1953, the first brand new gun he ever purchased. I had it re blued but it's in otherwise original condition. I take it on a few walks a year and even shot my first quail with it 8 years ago. Its not an everyday gun because I prefer the sub gauges but it easily could be.
 
Once a season, I make it a point to go out with my first shotgun:

an 1897 Winchester 12 ga, 30 in, full, manufactured in 1933, which I had purchased for me when I was 17 by the guy who taught me how to shoot, and hunt, and in many ways, how to live. :)

I had it re-blued about 20 years ago,not concerned with resale value, but wanting to make it "pretty." I also had the gunsmith go through to make sure every part was tight and in spec.

I want the birds to get out there a bit before I pull the trigger on the knucklebuster. (There have been serious issues with solid hits on close birds:( )

It, and the AYA Matador II, are my "heritage" guns.
 
I have an Ithaca 37 feather with 30" barrel, F. I would guess 1950's era. I shot a few rounds of trap with it this season and enjoyed it thoroughly. No rib, just a little bead at the end of the barrel. I don't use the gun "daily", but I did use it today on a possum that was lurking around the chicken coop. It's a very sweet shooting gun, and it seems to fit me well.
 
Hi all. fun post. The two oldest that I still use is my Purdey 12b, made in 1896 and my J. Blanch 12b circa, 1887. Both these Brits are still going strong. My other SxS's range from a couple years after 1896 to modern day. I'm a huge fan of vintage English guns. But, I never retire a gun, they all get used at least once.

Best!

Greg
 
Toad said:
I have an Ithaca 37 feather with 30" barrel, F. I would guess 1950's era. I shot a few rounds of trap with it this season and enjoyed it thoroughly. No rib, just a little bead at the end of the barrel. I don't use the gun "daily", but I did use it today on a possum that was lurking around the chicken coop. It's a very sweet shooting gun, and it seems to fit me well.
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I have the exact same gun in 20 gauge. Sweet little gun, and not bad on the eyes either!!
 
My go to pheasant gun is a browning sweet sixteen made in 1952. I bought it used in 1964 for $50.00 and I still use it today. I have shot other guns over the years but have always come back to this gun. I guess cause it just feels right. I guess it's proven itself over the years all 3 of my sons plus 2 nephews want it when I'm through.
 
gjw said:
Hi all. fun post. The two oldest that I still use is my Purdey 12b, made in 1896 and my J. Blanch 12b circa, 1887. Both these Brits are still going strong. My other SxS's range from a couple years after 1896 to modern day. I'm a huge fan of vintage English guns. But, I never retire a gun, they all get used at least once.

Best!

Greg
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Amazing guns. Quality never goes out of style. Is that J. Blanch a double hammer?
 
OKRev said:
Amazing guns. Quality never goes out of style. Is that J. Blanch a double hammer?
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Hi OK, no the Blanch is one of the first backaction hammerless guns they made, it has damascus bbls that have reproofed for Nitro powder under the Rules of 1954. Here's a pic of the gun in question

DSCF05171.jpg


I sure like the looks of a backaction gun.

Thanks!

Greg
 
I can't compete with gjw but I like the old guns too. Depending on my quarry, I regularly tote;
'52 Auto 5
'39 Model 12
'37 Sterlingworth
 
dukxdog said:
My most used is a 1912 Charles Daly 16ga.
dalyphez1.jpg


My oldest is a George Taylor 16ga made in 1886
taylor16_002_zpsfc4ed2a7.jpg
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Some really nice old guns gentlemen!!! I don't have any that were handed down, so mine are 90's or newer. I sold my 870 because of the fixed choke and it was a 2 3/4 gun. Which today would not bother me, but I use to shoot a lot of Waterfowl.

Dukxdog, What is the antelope horn made into?:cheers:
 
I think it's Chamois horn. It's one of my whistles. I believe it was made in Europe. Perhaps Germany, Austria or that area.
 
cbass12 said:
I have the exact same gun in 20 gauge. Sweet little gun, and not bad on the eyes either!!
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I looked up the serial number on mine and it looks like it was actually made in 1946. I really like it, and it swings very smooth with a 30" barrel.

Many years ago, my uncle loaned a model 37 to me on my first wild pheasant hunt, and I've had a sweet spot for them ever since. I offered to buy it from him every year when I visited them, and then a few years ago he just gave me his other 37, which he had bought for his father. I'll always treasure it, and the memories of hunting with him.

I haven't bird hunted with the 37 he gave me because it has a lefty safety (My uncle's dad was a lefty). But I've shot trap with it a few times and done some varmint control.

I've tried to get the safety reversed, but the local gunsmith couldn't find a right-hand safety for it. My daughter shoots lefty, so who knows, maybe one day she will take a liking to it.
 
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