How old is your gun? Show us yours

dodderangler

Afaik my shotgun was bought by a relative if mine in late 70s early 80s and was passed to another relative then my fathers friend and when he passed away my father got the gun off his wife and it was my first gun. I was 10 at the time. It's been thru the wars and dropped many a game bird. I shot my first pheasant with my father with this gun. Could only use the rear trigger because it couldn't reach the first one.
I cleaned it up proper tonight and this is the results. Feel free to show your guns and age lads. It's a baikal o/u 28" twin trigger. Same since new except a new forend.
Is there anyway of finding out when exactly it was bought? Gun dealer and serial code perhaps?
Anyway result of hour cleaning.







Result

Nekarsulm

Afraid no pics, as she is gone to her eternal rest. But my first gun was an Ivor Johnston "Champion" single barrel hammer gun. It was never in my name, as it was really my dads, and his dad's before that. Probably dated from the 1920's or 30's.
It had the legend "Ivor Johnston Arms and Cycle works, Fitchburg, Massachusetts" stamped on the barrel.

The first box of cartridges I fired through it were Eley Alphamax, the old cardboard tubed ones........

Username Exists.

My first s/s purchased in 1994, traded in a single barrel my father insisted i bought as my first gun to teach me composure!, sat in the gun locker for the last 10 years after I purchased an u/o.
For some unknown reason the u/o was not throwing up to the eye this last season like it used to, I have no idea why.
Mid season I took the old s/s out of the locker and have been converted back.
Loving shooting with the side by side and am considering trading the u/o in for a nice s/s.
I'm also considering trying to restore the s/s I have. I have tightened it up a bit and might look into restoring the timber.
It's nothing special. A Spanish gun, an Astra imperial made in 1954. It's rough, it's loose, it doesn't look great but it shoots great.
If you check the web you can get info on the various stamps on the gun and possibly a year of manufacture.

meathstevie

A 1969 Liege manufactured Browning A5 12g 3". Mechanically sound as a bell and the wood could do with some serious tlc.

The rifle is a CZ 550 in .308, wouldn't think it's three years old but the concept is 19th century, massive Mauser style locking lugs and big extractor claw on the bolt.

goss101

Have a 1976 Valmet u/o. Was my fathers first gun, was always kept well but i refurbed it myself two years ago, "I" think it looks well and still shoots great and I bring it out the odd day for the pigeons/crows to give the 686 a rest!!!

Username Exists.

goss101 wrote: »

Have a 1976 Valmet u/o. Was my fathers first gun, was always kept well but i refurbed it myself two years ago, "I" think it looks well and still shoots great and I bring it out the odd day for the pigeons/crows to give the 686 a rest!!!

Stock looks great, any tips or just sand and varnish?

Username Exists.

dodderangler wrote: »

Is there anyway of finding out when exactly it was bought? Gun dealer and serial code perhaps?

Probably not when it was bought but a quick google says that on a Baikal's serial code the first two numbers are the year of manufacture.

goss101

I put up a thread about it when i did it, but basically yeah loads of sanding with different grades of grit all the way down to brown paper to finish and then stain and i think it was 9 coats of birchwood casesys tru oil i used. leaves a great finish, very hard wearing and if you don't like the shiny finish you just give it a polish and it comes up matt.

Username Exists. wrote: »

Stock looks great, any tips or just sand and varnish?

Username Exists.

goss101 wrote: »

I put up a thread about it when i did it, but basically yeah loads of sanding with different grades of grit all the way down to brown paper to finish and then stain and i think it was 9 coats of birchwood casesys tru oil i used. leaves a great finish, very hard wearing and if you don't like the shiny finish you just give it a polish and it comes up matt.

Found that thread, thanks.

ormondprop

No idea how old it is but my father bought it second hand over 40 years ago and left it to me a few years ago when he bought another shotgun, its an old BSA , i know feck all else about it

BrownTrout

ormondprop wrote:

No idea how old it is but my father bought it second hand over 40 years ago and left it to me a few years ago when he bought another shotgun, its an old BSA , i know feck all else about it

what cartridge are you using for the fox?

thehound

my father in law has a johnston single barrel with a rifled barrel on it great little gun seen plenty of action

ormondprop

BrownTrout wrote: »

what cartridge are you using for the fox?

have some cheddite 42gr 2's and 36gr saga 1's and sone 36gr alphamax bb's i'd have a bunch of them in the pocket and use any two that i grab first, never had any problems with any of them, father usually uses alphmax bb's other lads that hunt with us use anything from 3's to bb's i think everyone uses 2 3/4 cartridges, and never fail to stop a fox aslong as you do your part behind the gun.

Often hear lads saying you need mad heavy 3" or 3 1/2" cartridges for foxes but you don't unless your trying to hit them a mile away

kermitpwee

I would say your gun is only proofed for 2 1/2 cartridges dud to its age. It has been resleeved from what I can see. Nice gun. 28g would be enough for it!

ormondprop

kermitpwee wrote: »

I would say your gun is only proofed for 2 1/2 cartridges dud to its age. It has been resleeved from what I can see. Nice gun. 28g would be enough for it!

Don't know if you're talking to me or not but mine is proofed for 2 3/4 and barrels have never been sleeved, all i really use it for anymore is for foxes so usually heavy enough cartridges going through and have never seen any excess wear or damage to the gun from them

kermitpwee

ormondprop wrote: »

Don't know if you're talking to me or not but mine is proofed for 2 3/4 and barrels have never been sleeved, all i really use it for anymore is for foxes so usually heavy enough cartridges going through and have never seen any excess wear or damage to the gun from them

Cool! If you look at the start of the rib there is a slight cut about an inch down. That is usually a sign of a resleeved gun. Anyway lovely gun. My own guess is that it was resleeved and proofed from 2 1/2to 2 3/4as due to its age it would have been 2 1/2 for sure

meathstevie

If it was resleeved in the UK it would also be marked and re-proofed as such with a stamp saying exactly that.

Resleeved or not, BSA made some seriously hard wearing stuff. A lot of UK gamekeepers had them as their tool of choice because they were affordable quality.

A lot of the more expensive UK gunmakers by the way had a habit of putting a lot of stuff together from parts mass produced in Birmingham.

In all fairness you have to understand mass produced probably as using techniques and processes that in their modern guise come quite close to how the likes of Beretta, Browning and so on make guns that'll cost you a fair chunk north of 5k these days.

ormondprop

I'll take a closer pic if i can but thats just part of the bsa logo on it

Grizzly 45

Belgian single barrel .410 poachers shotgun.Est to be 120 years old.Still works fine.
Savage O/U 22 mag/20 ga pre serial number model so about early to mid 1960s appx 50 years old .
There are still museum pieces like match and wheel locks that are over 400 years old that still could fire .Its not how old the gun is,but how it was looked after that says whether it is shootable or not.

meathstevie

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Belgian single barrel .410 poachers shotgun.Est to be 120 years old.Still works fine.
Savage O/U 22 mag/20 ga pre serial number model so about early to mid 1960s appx 50 years old .
There are still museum pieces like match and wheel locks that are over 400 years old that still could fire .Its not how old the gun is,but how it was looked after that says whether it is shootable or not.

You're on the money there, a correctly maintained good quality gun of let's say around a century old is by far preferable over some of the new so called entry level crap on the shelves today.

bluezulu49

meathstevie wrote: »

You're on the money there, a correctly maintained good quality gun of let's say around a century old is by far preferable over some of the new so called entry level crap on the shelves today.

Have to agree wholeheartedly with you meathstevie. My gun of choice is a 1902 Cogswell and Harrison with 2 1/2 inch chambers which I purchased in 1981, five years after I first saw it. No other gun I have handled has suited me as well.

This gun was sleeved in the 1970's and the joint between the original barrel and the new tubes is now clearly visible due to 33 years of wear on the bluing.
There is no corresponding mark in the rib and I suspect that the original rib was re-used.
I will photograph it in daylight and put up the pictures.

bluezulu49

The fact that it is sleeved can be clearly seen in the close up pictures of the barrels.

Tawny Owl

Although I dont have a photo as yet I have just applied for a BSA Majestic in 30-06 yesterday, where could I get info as to where to look on the rifle so I could age the rifle, I know it was in storage in the Phoenix Park for over 30 years. and has sat in a safe for the last 8 years. in great condition not a mark on the barrel it looks like it's a mauser bolt set up.

useurowname

bluezulu49 wrote: »

Beautiful..just beautiful.

bluezulu49

This one belongs to my son. A 1947 Brno Model 1, .22 rimfire. Amazingly accurate rifle.

mrbrianj

BSA owners website gives a list of dates that you can work out from the serial no. Thanks Tacfoley for that.

I also have a BSA sxs from the thirties. 2 1/2 inch chamber only.

Btw any sleeved guns I have seen the mark was visible on the barrel, no reason to cut the rib- I think anyway

Tawny Owl

mrbrianj wrote: »

BSA owners website gives a list of dates that you can work out from the serial no. Thanks Tacfoley for that.

I also have a BSA sxs from the thirties. 2 1/2 inch chamber only.

Btw any sleeved guns I have seen the mark was visible on the barrel, no reason to cut the rib- I think anyway

Thanks what do I type to fine the details of BSA owners web site.

cruisedub1

Not in its original configuration , but it's a Model 1917 Enfield manufactured around 1919/20 . It was sporterised sometime in the 1950's . Still in the original caliber , 30.06 .

Tawny Owl

cruisedub1 wrote: »

Not in its original configuration , but it's a Model 1917 Enfield manufactured around 1919/20 . It was sporterised sometime in the 1950's . Still in the original caliber , 30.06 .

Lovely looking Rifle mine has that white bead as well.

Aya xxv

my wife bought me an aya xxv for my 40th turns out the gun was a year older then me! have had new winchesters benellis beretta and browning and fabarm but am done with all that now i would ope to still be knocking snipe with it on my 80th

BrownTrout

AV Marroccini of Italy.
Made in 1986, Dad has it since before I was born.
Only licenced it before Christmas and already I've put more rounds through it in less than a year than Dad did all the years he has had it according to him!

rookman

BrownTrout wrote: »

AV Marroccini of Italy.
Made in 1986, Dad has it since before I was born.
Only licenced it before Christmas and already I've put more rounds through it in less than a year than Dad did all the years he has had it according to him!

Very nice.

LB6

Anschutz Match 54 -
1964

shooterjay

i have a unique x-51 , late 60's ? cant post pics but its a beautie.

Tawny Owl

Tawny Owl wrote: »

Although I dont have a photo as yet I have just applied for a BSA Majestic in 30-06 yesterday, where could I get info as to where to look on the rifle so I could age the rifle, I know it was in storage in the Phoenix Park for over 30 years. and has sat in a safe for the last 8 years. in great condition not a mark on the barrel it looks like it's a mauser bolt set up.

Hi All,
The Super phoned me last Sunday evening asking to give him 2 reasons as to why he should grant this rifle, now to say I was P###ed off with is comment is an understatement, but anyway its granted and I should have the paperwork in the next few days, where I will then collect and post a photo.;);):D:D.

323

Have this 17 years or so, only found out how to determine the age from the serial number recently.

1963, Browning FN Safari Grade, in .270 Win.

[IMG][/img]

tac foley

My oldest rifle is a MkII Snider conversion from a P53 rifle, dated 1862. Does that count?

tac

tac foley

@TawnyOwl - As it is a British-made rifle it will have good and clear and dateable proof mark stamps on the barrel and action. Post pics and we can date it.

The Unique rifle [made in the Basque region of the Pyrenees in Hendaye] will also be dateable. Early 1960's pre-dates the CIP Agreement, and IF the rifle came via England then it would have had to have been proofed prior to sale to the public.

tac

Tawny Owl

tac foley wrote: »

@TawnyOwl - As it is a British-made rifle it will have good and clear and dateable proof mark stamps on the barrel and action. Post pics and we can date it.

The Unique rifle [made in the Basque region of the Pyrenees in Hendaye] will also be dateable. Early 1960's pre-dates the CIP Agreement, and IF the rifle came via England then it would have had to have been proofed prior to sale to the public.

tac

Thanks for replying I cant wait to get the Rifle, as I also own a .243 still waiting on the approval letter so I can go to the Post Office, thought I would at least have it before the weekend, but looks like its on a desk somewhere.

Cheers.

Tawny Owl

Got the BSA 30-06 today has some marks but I cant date it, has on the barrell
BP BV NP all with the crown above them under that it has NC41GRs

Mr.Flibble

Tawny Owl wrote: »

Got the BSA 30-06 today has some marks but I can't date it, has on the barrel
BP BV NP all with the crown above them under that it has NC41GRs

This page http://www.airgunspares.com/store/content/87/BSA/ (scroll down for c/f) may be of interest, although the codes don't gel with the "number" you've given. What's your serial number (or some of it), and is your barrel original?

Tawny Owl

Mr.Flibble wrote: »

This page http://www.airgunspares.com/store/content/87/BSA/ (scroll down for c/f) may be of interest, although the codes don't gel with the "number" you've given. What's your serial number (or some of it), and is your barrel original?

Stripped the barrell out of the stock yesterday to clean grease and dirt, and a bolt that was too long needed filing down it was hindering the removal of the bolt, I think I saw some other marks on the underside of the barrell, I will check over the weekend and up load the photos.

tac foley

This being a BSA rifle, it will have Birmingham Proof House marks. They take the form of two crossed sceptres, and three letters/numbers in the spaces, in addition to later circles as shown below. There should also be a calibre, eg .243 Win, and a chamber length in inches, eg 2.05", chamber pressure expressed in long tons per square inch, eg 19.5 TONS PER [square symbol]".

The other stamps mean -

BP = Birmingham Proof

NP = Nitro proof

V = view [posh for inspection]

Please tell us what the letters are in this fashion -

? X ?

Clue - A X B - the number '1' appears in the lower space. This combination dates from January 1950, with #1 - senior examiner. The higher the number, the less senior the 'rank/seniority' of the inspector.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo -

A X B = 1950 - to Z X B = 1974 - there is NO letter I to save confunglement with number 1.

If there is a circle instead, without sceptres, as in A B - this dates from 1975 to K B 1984

After this date, again with crossed sceptres, beginning with L X C [1985] and ending Z X C in 1997.

Your rifle is likely to fit in the middle era.

tac

It wasn't me!

323 wrote: »

Have this 17 years or so, only found out how to determine the age from the serial number recently.

1963, Browning FN Safari Grade, in .270 Win.

[IMG][/img]

Now that's a beauty.

tac foley

What a real pleasure it is to see such a beautiful rifle made of wood and steel, with its original iron sights at front and back and all that lovely polished action parts.

The only thing that spoils it somewhat for me is that somebody else owns it.......................however, I'll send you my address, just in case you are ever feeling generously disposed

tac

tac foley

@Tawny Owl - if your gun has BP, NP and so on, then somewhere on it it MUST have the crossed sceptres as well - usually on the barrel adjacent to the action ring, and on the action adjacent to the barrel.

That, Sir, is the law.

The NC41GRNS stands for the recommended load of 41gr of 'a' non-specific nitrocellulose propellant - not a lot of use unless you know the type of powder though.

tac

Tawny Owl

tac foley wrote: »

This being a BSA rifle, it will have Birmingham Proof House marks. They take the form of two crossed sceptres, and three letters/numbers in the spaces, in addition to later circles as shown below. There should also be a calibre, eg .243 Win, and a chamber length in inches, eg 2.05", chamber pressure expressed in long tons per square inch, eg 19.5 TONS PER [square symbol]".

The other stamps mean -

BP = Birmingham Proof

NP = Nitro proof

V = view [posh for inspection]

Please tell us what the letters are in this fashion -

? X ?

Clue - A X B - the number '1' appears in the lower space. This combination dates from January 1950, with #1 - senior examiner. The higher the number, the less senior the 'rank/seniority' of the inspector.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo -

A X B = 1950 - to Z X B = 1974 - there is NO letter I to save confunglement with number 1.

If there is a circle instead, without sceptres, as in A B - this dates from 1975 to K B 1984

After this date, again with crossed sceptres, beginning with L X C [1985] and ending Z X C in 1997.

Your rifle is likely to fit in the middle era.

tac

Thanks for all the info I dont have the two crossed sceptres anywhere on the Rifle, its a 30-06, I did take it apart over the weekend and found stamped under the barrell the following, B2 and some other marks photos to follow, home computer giving trouble at the moment.

Tawny Owl

Hi tac can you tell from these marks how old the rifle is please.

Will upload more.

Tawny Owl

More photos.

Tawny Owl

Yet more

tac foley

@Tawny Owl - Your images are about forty times bigger than my 27" screen - I can't read them, sorry.

However, YOU have the gun in your hands and can see the serial number - the prefix letters on the serial number give the date -

7B .30 .'60 Springfield Hunter L.A. Imperial 1956 - 1964
7D Imperial Featherweight 1957 - 1959
7E Majestic 1965 - 1971
7G Majestic 1960 - 1966
7L Monarch 1st Pattern 1966 - 1971
7M Monarch 2nd Pattern 1968 - 1972

That's all I can help you with.

tac