What's your firearms history?

Kramer1113

Kramer1113

New member
This thought really hit home with me when I ordered and received my Mosin Nagant. A 1944 Russian version that by its look was really used during the war.
As I disassembled it cleaning away the cosmoline I could see the stains in the wood from where this weapon was held during firing.
This one has been counter bored, a sign that the rifling had been so worn that the armory had redone it.

Looking at a weapon like this I am confident that it fulfilled its primary roll, kill as many Germans or Japanese as possible and defend your owner.

These weapons are a lot of fun to shoot and really don't kick like some say. Ammo is still around and if you take your time you can find great prices.

So does a history like this exist in your firearm and does that mater to you?
 
My wife has a Mossberg 22 cal. Rifle that was produced for the military (model 911) I think it is. I bought it for her just after we were married 54 years ago. It still shoots as a tack driver as it did the day we bought it. It has to be over 65-70 years old, and still in pretty fair condition.
 
I too have a Moisin bought it second hand. It appears it was a surplus gun as it shows very little wear in the action and stock. Shoots later straight and surprisingly the action is smooth as silk. I purchased a 229 SIG, Glock 22, and. Mossberg 500 second hand. The only one I know the history of is the Glock. I know it was an LE trade but not sure which dept. The rest of my guns I bought new.
 
I have a Japanese type 44 carbine that may have been used during the conquest of China or during WW2. the only thing evident on it like most Japanese weapons from WW2 is the crisanthrimum was ground off.
 
Kramer1113 said:
This thought really hit home with me when I ordered and received my Mosin Nagant. A 1944 Russian version that by its look was really used during the war.
As I disassembled it cleaning away the cosmoline I could see the stains in the wood from where this weapon was held during firing.
This one has been counter bored, a sign that the rifling had been so worn that the armory had redone it.

Looking at a weapon like this I am confident that it fulfilled its primary roll, kill as many Germans or Japanese as possible and defend your owner.

These weapons are a lot of fun to shoot and really don't kick like some say. Ammo is still around and if you take your time you can find great prices.

So does a history like this exist in your firearm and does that mater to you?
Click to expand...
I have 2 Mosin Nagant rifles. One is a 1944 M44. The other is a Hex Receiver 1927 91/30. And a Nagant Model 1895 revolver made in 1944 that is like new. Plus a Korean reimported Inland MFG Div of GM 1944 M1 Carbine. And a 1903A3. The 91/30, 1903A3 were bought by me for dad but are mine again.:sad:
 
I have a single shot 410 shotgun that was a wedding gift from my grandad to my grandmother. They were married in 1917. I was the last grandchild my grandad got to see before he died. He told my grandmother that the gun was mine when I got older.

Sent from my ME172V using Tapatalk 2
 
I only have a few guns with any history.
My father-in-law gave me his hunting rifle. It's a Japanese Army rifle that he brought back from WWII and had sporterized.
My dad gave me his guns:
A Mossberg .22 bolt action rifle that he got sometime in the 30s. It's the rifle I learned how to shoot with. We shot it a lot, but it's still in good shape.
A Remington 12 gauge pump shotgun, 28" barrel, full choke. It's in almost new condition, probably hasn't had 100 shells through it. According to the paperwork, the guarantee ran out in 1946.
A smith & Wesson Model 10 .38 6" revolver. During the 40s my dad owned property that was popular for goose hunters. There were times when he felt "out-gunned," since they had shotguns, and he was unarmed. He talked the sheriff about it, and his answer was to deputize my dad. He bought the .38 as a duty weapon. I don't know that he ever wore it much, and it probably hasn't been fired more that a couple of hundred times.
 
I have a garand thats been in my brothers safe for the last 10 years,i may have to go get it and do some research
 
I did have a German Luger that was made in 1910. It had matching serial numbers and was in excellent condition. My wife's mother bought it in the late 1970s from a woman whose husband took it off a dead German officer in the First World War. I sold it to a collector for $2500.
 
Well I usually just lurk and read post but all my firearms have history.
1. My first shotgun is a Winchester 14 ranger. Received on my 21 birthday. Never needed one before then always had access to my dads.
2. My franchi I12 was a gift from my brother after seeing how much I loved duck hunting and the model 14 only shot 2.75 shells
3. My great uncles Winchester model 70, 1936 first year production.
4. Same great uncle's 8mm lebel, wwI war trophy.
5. My grandfathers Winchester model 12 20ga. He traded a truck load of feed for it.
6. My dads first shotgun, given to him on his 21st birthday, savage 12ga. Over/ under shotgun.
7. My moms Remington 1100. This one is extra special to me. I learned how to hunt with this gun. My dad bought it for her as an anniversary gift, big mistake. I would ask dad to use it and every time I'd walk out with it mom would say "you didn't ask my permission"
8. My grandfathers, on my moms side, wwII war trophy Luger
9. Same grandfather went to turn in his ruck sack after the Korean war, officer said we already have your stuff and let him walk off. His stuff included his 1911. He pinned the grip safety down himself shortly after receiving it as issued.
10. My dads colt huntsman, bought when he worked for jc pennys. Paid 20 bucks for it.

It would seem the war guns would have more meaning, but they don't. All these guns have more of a story to tell than I can type. I only hope my first handgun has stories to tell when I hand it down. NIB STI Spartan III 1911.
 
This thread is reminding me of the American Pickers commercial. Reading the History of so many weapons and knowing that each of us has become another step in the lineage of these weapons. In some cases we may be the first step. I can only imagine my son telling the story of my weapons that will become his, and hopefully his son or daughter after him.
When I bought my first home one of the neatest things about it was the Mirror in the Bathroom. The home was built of Oak all cut on site some time in the mid 1800's. The rafters all ran full length of the home and you could still see the saw marks down the beams.
The Bathroom Mirror on a Medicine cabinet had the History of the Mirror written on the back. The Mirror had been a wedding gift in 1886, the exact date was written and the bride and grooms names upon it. Some time later another couples names were listed and the date they received the Mirror.
The list ended with the man who owned the home before I bought it and when he had taken possession of the Mirror. I then added my name and the date the home became mine. I can only hope the people I sold the home to added their names to the Mirror.
I hope that as you recall the History of your weapons you have it written down or have shared it with the next owner time and time again so that its history is as much a part of the weapon as the chamber is.
 
I still have the Stevens single-shot 20 Ga that I bought at the market/liquor store/sporting goods/gas station when I was twelve (1958). I rode my bicycle on the shoulder of Route 66 (no freeways then) six miles with my paper route savings in my pocket to buy it for $23. In the rural southern Missouri community where I grew up, no one gave me a second glance as I rode back home with my gun across the handle bars.

Now, some billion years later, I've owned/sold/traded dozens of firearms; but that old gun serves to remind me that the US was once a sane place.
 
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I have a S&W .38 that my dad's grandfather gave to him. I think it was made in the late 1800's. Then I have a Champion single shot 12 gauge that was given to me by my wife's grandfather. I had never heard of the Champion brand, and after doing some research, I found that they quit making them in 1956.
 
Lowjiber said:
I still have the Stevens single-shot 20 Ga that I bought at the market/liquor store/sporting goods/gas station when I was twelve (1958). I rode my bicycle on the shoulder of Route 66 (no freeways then) six miles with my paper route savings in my pocket to buy it for $23. In the rural southern Missouri community where I grew up, no one gave me a second glance as I rode back home with my gun across the handle bars.

Now, some billion years later, I've owned/sold/traded dozens of firearms; but that old gun serves to remind me that the US was once a sane place.
Click to expand...

The Mindset of the masses at that time in our history, that a young boy riding his bicycle with a rifle across the handle bars had no bad intent and must be taking the rifle some place. End of thought process.
Today, the thought process begins with "That rifle is loaded and he's going to kill someone", and sadly, it may be true in some cases.
I remember when we didn't lock the doors ever, or close the windows. Why would you lock the doors? Your neighbor might need to get in to get something.
I also remember the fear I felt as a child when my parents were desperately searching for the keys to the house. The Black Panthers had purchased a house miles from our house and were building block walls around it with gun slits in the walls. My dad was freaked!
 
The 'historical' weapons I own are:

-1954 T53 Mosin, brought back from Vietnam.
-1943 Enfield No. 4 Mk 1, shady history but it shows wear and may well have seen use by the Brits around the globe.
-1945 barrel/receiver M1 Garand w/ Italian .308 stock converted back to .30-06 length.
-S&W Model 15 .38Spl, USAF Security Police issued in the '70s.
-American Knickerbocker 12ga coach gun, no idea the date of manufacture as the gun is in workable but rough condition... I just think it's cool.
 
My first and current 22lr target pistol is a 1960 vintage Ruger MKI. Pain in the ass to reassemble compared to current models but the pistol, purchased at a pawn shop about 3 years ago was obviously lovingly used or very rarely used and almost new looking. I just get a kick out of target shooting with something that is over 50 years old and as good as new.
 
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