Show us your Guns!

[BigFitz]

My grandfather's gun collection as it stood in the late '50s/early '60s. He died young in 1963, and most of it disappeared or was sold off to pay bills at that time, unfortunately.
Anyone able to ID what he had?

Here he is, with some of it visible in the case to the left.

The revolver in the bottom row looks like an H&R break top .22, and the automatic to it's left looks like a Star 9mm.
The little automatic in the middle looks like a baby Browning .25acp and the little revolver to it's right might be a Rohm 22.
I would be willing to bet the large revolver at the top is a Colt New Service. Calibers varied but I would guess it's most likey 45 Long Colt or maybe 455 Webley. At first I thought it might be a Colt 1917, but the barrel looks too long for that model.

Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[MikePotts]

"The Art Of Manliness"'s guide to concealed carry - pretty standard material until you get down to the tailoring stuff at the end;

http://artofmanliness.com/2012/09/26/guide-to-concealed-carry/

MP

 

[Atticus Finch]

Two of the long guns are Winchesters...a pump action Model 6 is third from the bottom...and a lever action Model 1894 is just above the Model 6. The Model 6 is a .22; the Model 94 is most likely a .30-30, but it could also be any of several other similar, 19th century calibers.

AF

 

[Atticus Finch]

The two single-shot shotguns at the bottom appear to be Stevens/Savage models. One is a 12; the other appears to be a 20.

AF

 

[Atticus Finch]

Granddad seems to have been a deer hunter. Not much in his collection for wing shooting, so he probably didn't do much duck or upland bird hunting.

AF

 

[bulldog1935]

here's my Smith with water buffalo horn target grips

Uberti replica of Remington baby rolling block (No. 2) with Malcolm scope

Uberti replica of Winchester 1885 falling block with Creedmore sights

 

[David Conwill]

A couple of historical firearms questions for you to fill in my gaps of knowledge. I’m pretty well versed in military arms, but I’ve never paid much attention to civilian until recently.

1) What would have been the most popular deer rifle of the early (pre-WWI) 20th Century? Winchester Model 1894 in .30-30? Sporterized Trapdoor Springfield? Sporterized Krag?

2) What would have been the most popular .22 LR for use as a plinking/small-game/youth rifle of the same period? I have been unable to find any references to potential candidates while researching the history of that round.

Thanks in advance, folks!

 

[bulldog1935]

David, I believe the '94 in .30-30 is the correct answer for #1.
(Trapdoors were never quite popular - ask Custer).

Most popular .22 would likely be Stevens Favorite falling block or Remington #6 rolling block.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/remington_rollingblock_no6.htm

 

[Doublegun]

I agree with bulldog: it has been said that the 30-30 has probably killed more deer in the US than all other cartridges combined. Model 94 was probably the most common rifle at the time. As for a .22, no idea. Probably a hardware store variety bolt action. Probably millions made by Remington, Stevens, Marlin and companies long gone from memory.

On a related note, I'll ask the same question of shotguns. My father bought a Springfield made 20-ga, single-shot shotgun for about $3.00 in the late 20's. Typical gun of the time: single-shot, exposed hammer, Modified choke, 28" barrel, maybe even a case-hardened receiver. It wasn't much to look at, certainly not of the quality of a Parker, Fox, LS Smith, Ithaca or Remington, but it was enough gun to put a lot of meat on the table in his house and the houses of his neighbors during the depression. Today that gun resides in my gun safe, but behind a number of graded Parkers and I am at times almost embarrassed by my "greed." That single shot was good enough for him and he was a better man than I.

 

[bulldog1935]

A search on gunbroker for antique .22 rifles showed many pumps - Winchester 1890 and Colt Lightning, followed by Flobert break-action, then Remington rolling block, and bolts after that. Certainly a limited sampling, but I looked for a good Stevens Favorite for a year or so.

I have a guess on the shotgun, too - probably Stevens, maybe Savage, but eventually the output of the two companies combined without a doubt. Certainly Parker ran the most ads (and was also eventually owned by Stevens/Savage) , but I think more people could afford Stevens

here's a great tool for searching
http://books.google.com/advanced_book_search
set it for Full View Only and limit the dates, and you get great periodical ads and catalogs.
on most of them you can clip them just like I did above.

that search turned up in American Rifleman, Vol 54, 1913
http://books.google.com/books?id=Xp...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[DeaconKC]

Also, the Crescent Arms Company made tons of shotguns under many names for hardware stores, auto parts stores, etc.

 

[bulldog1935]

Also, the Crescent Arms Company made tons of shotguns under many names for hardware stores, auto parts stores, etc.

yes, my dad has one of those that he found in an old house in the woods in TN.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Anyone have any experience with Chiappa Firearms?
I'm thinking on maybe picking one of these up tomorrow,
http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/2459/spec
Looks like The Real McCoy, and shoots cheap and plentiful .22 LR ammo, but I am unfamiliar with the company and the quality of the firearms they produce. Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[bulldog1935]

Chiappa has a good reputation, and I can tell you recent Italian barrels across the board are excellent.
I have an 1873 replica in .357 that with cowboy loads and tang sight will consistently group about 2.5 inches inches at 100 yds.

With my Uberti 1885 .22 and Creedmore sights, I was able to dial in a bullseye at 75 yds - that's hitting a dime.

here's the sight image on the Creedmore with my favorite front sight insert

but still, 75 yds is a long way away

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Thanks Bulldog. I like the looks of Chiappa's replica rifles. All of them look to be fine guns. Here's another carbine I am considering.
http://www.hi-pointfirearms.net/carbines/carbine.htm The 995TS 9mm, made in the USA by Hi-Point. Actually less expensive than the Chiappa M1 knockoff by almost 100 dollars. Although I much prefer wood stocks and real metal parts to polymers, I am leaning toward the Hi-Point at present because of price, higher caliber ammo, and the fact that it is made in this country with a lifetime warranty.

 

[rocketeer]

I have a question for you gun experts.
I have only ever had an old farmers percussion cap shotgun and had a go with a Remington pump on a range so am a bit of a know nothing about handling guns.
OK, there is a new film out with Mel Gibson, as with many films these days the actor 'Fires' his pistol holding it sideways rather than butt downward. Is this a movie makers piece of fiction or does using an automatic pistol in this way have any standing in the use of firearms

 

[1961MJS]

Thanks Bulldog. I like the looks of Chiappa's replica rifles. All of them look to be fine guns. Here's another carbine I am considering.
http://www.hi-pointfirearms.net/carbines/carbine.htm The 995TS 9mm, made in the USA by Hi-Point. Actually less expensive than the Chiappa M1 knockoff by almost 100 dollars. Although I much prefer wood stocks and real metal parts to polymers, I am leaning toward the Hi-Point at present because of price, higher caliber ammo, and the fact that it is made in this country with a lifetime warranty.

Hi Nick

I would tend to steer away from really inexpensive guns unless they're very common (.38 Snubbys and Ruger Mk II's), very simple (Single Shot break open shotguns), or made in China (SKS). I've never seen one of those Chiappas in my local gun stores. If really want a carbine to plink with, I suggest a Smith and Wesson MP-22 for $500.00 or a Ruger 10/22 for roughly $300.00 (used). If you want home protection, I suggest a short barrelled 12 gauge pump shotgun that you can hunt with.

The Chiappa guns, especially the cowboy guns are well respected. On the other hand, buying a common gun helps with resale value, and you can get replacement parts etc much easier.

Just more to consider.

 

[DeaconKC]

Major, the High Points have a great reputation from those that actually own and shoot them. Talk to the Moderator Burner at www.surplusrifleforum.com he has had them and will not steer you wrong.

Rocketeer, Hollywood started using that after seeing SWAT entry teams use that style, but it designed for guys carrying an armored entry shield, so they can see through the view slot on the shield. Otherwise, it is just "Hollyweird" showing their usual incompetence when it comes to firearms.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Thanks for your replies gentlemen. Both guns are on sale at a local dealer here until the end of the week. At this point I am leaning toward the Hi-Point because of price, warranty, and the fact that it is made in this country. Also, for a short range, (25 to 150 yards or so maybe) weapon against varmints of most types, I think the 9mm is a better round with more stopping power than most .22 LR rounds. It seems to be loosely based upon the German MP-40 design in some ways, which excelled as a shorter range gun. It's construction is even similar in that it uses stamped metal parts. Our own GIs would collect them after battles and keep them not only as souveniers but also as backup weapons. I'll be getting a C and R license soon, so I'll be able to get a genuine M1 carbine if I can find a good deal online.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

:eusa_doh: Double posted just now. So to make up for it I'll just edit and post this link to "Box 'O Truth". http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/theboxotruth.htm
A website with lots of tips and some experiments that dispel common movie myths about guns. If you haven't seen it already, it's got a lot of useful info.