Times are tough, life is hard especially if you’re elderly and on a paltry fixed income.
You may also be an easy target for bad guys.
I’ve seen old timers with a variety of old handguns kept for defense, often war souvenirs but not always.
The most interesting was a brass 1858 Remington reproduction cap and ball,
but I’ve seen a French 9mm Unique brought home from Viet Nam, a Polish Radom from WW2 as well as a 1917 S&W, a Walther P-38, another Walther PPK a German Luger a few Browning Hi Powers and a Colt Pocket Automatic, all owned by senior citizens of both sexes.
Have you come across situations like this? If you didn’t have the bucks for your Glock and not the opportunity of saving any because of medical bills, would you consider relying on your Granny’s pearl handled .38?
I think that it would be fine to carry anything made in the past 50 years, as long as it is from a reputable brand (Beretta, Colt, Ruger, S&W, etc.), in good condition, and practical to carry. I agree that it would be better to sell/trade an “antique” gun, and buy something newer to carry.
Im planning this weekend to see about getting into cap and ball, my current focus is for a 1860 Colt .44
I have my grandfather firearms, most are old, except for the hi-standard that jams a lot and perhaps the single shot 22lr rifle simply because a single shot of .22lr is not ideal.
The others would be more than sufficient, 30-30 lever, 38spl revolver (taurus 5 shot and colt 5 shot police issue), or the 1897 shotgun…
Absolutely correct, use what you have. If it works & you trust it how can you complain. I’ve got brand spanking new Ruger that I wouldn’t trust as a paper weight.
As in ‘‘would I trust a new firearm’’ with out testing.
currently my wife’s CC Charter arms ‘’‘The Boxer’‘’ is in for repairs.
after 200 rounds of practice ammo it failed 4 rounds in a row
barely marking the primer.
This an interesting topic to me. I have discussed this with my Dad regarding his model 1894. Since it was originally designed for a black powder cartridge, we have had reservations concerning the chamber pressures. We haven’t found any cowboy loads on the shelves yet. I did find a trusty handloader to fill our need.
Wouldn’t the same be true for turn of the century firearms? SAMMI wasn’t around, and modern ammunition generates higher chamber pressures (if my understanding is correct) than back then.
I understand that this is a discussion about true antique firearms, so this wouldn’t include replicas.
Any firearm that is reliable and functions with current ammunition is useable for self defense. You do not need the latest and hottest ammo in a close encounter unless it is a bear. I often carry a light 38 spl revolver loaded with 148 grain wadcutters. Light but very under rated load primarily used for target shooting. The blunt face acts much differently than a round nose. Standard pressure JHP does not always expand in short barrels.
Many of those older pistols and war souvenirs you named may well be collector pieces that could easily bring the price of a new pistol. Browning Hipower is not one to dismiss. WW2 Lugers and Walthers could bring enough for a few guns.
I wouldn’t feel poorly armed with a 100 year old 1917 Colt or S&W revolver in .45 acp with a handful of half moon clips. That is, provided it is in decent shape. Obviously even a new gun that doesn’t work all the time is far worse than a reliable old-timer that one has put thousands of rounds down over its lifetime and knows exactly where it shoots 245 grain .45 bullets. I have seen old timers run three shots through a single shot 12 ga. almost as fast as the guy with a pump action. They may have been running that shotgun in duck blinds more years than the guy with the pump is old. Most of the time they don’t need the three rounds unless they are taking 3 birds.
I have my Dad’s .32 S&W long Harrington & Richardson revolver. It wouldn’t be my first choice for a self-defense gun, but if you think it is worthless in a defense situation, let me put six rounds from it in you from across my living room and see how worthless it is.
I have a Walther PP in .32acp that I have shot on occasion. It is not something I would CCW though. The only issue I had was the ejector blew out of it and went full auto!
Parts were expensive and hard to find. I was told it was because the recoil spring was weak and replaced along with the extractor.
Well in my opinion it’s a no-brainer. If all I have is something old but in good condition of course I’m going to use it. If we’re talking defensively, absolutely! If we’re talking range toy, maybe not as much depending on its value.
Assuming it was not collectable and I needed it absolutely. Any good defensive firearm is reliable.
As Michael Douglas said in the “Ghost and the Darkness,” “You went into battle with an untested weapon?” If it works than why not, but be aware, if it is worth anything substantial it will reduce its value over time through practice. Using that Singer 1911 from WWII, probably not a good idea.
Another issue, old ammo is hard to get or when found expensive. Can you afford to practice? That beat up Walther PPK may be reliable but not worth much, but .32 ACP is rather expensive. There is no cheap alternative unless you reload. Same for that old double barreled 16 gauge or 10 gauge.
Interesting topic, somewhat subjective. Reliability is the paramount factor.