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A guns age is actually not significant to me. Good designs, are good designs. Now, average available ammuntion and it's average power level does become a factor sometimes, in both directions. But for me, I shoot. I do not collect past what I shoot. And I only "collect" what I think I can shoot the best.
 
OLDEST: Winchester Model 1894 .30 WCF Mfg. in 1908.
All other firearms mfg. since Mid 1960.
NEWEST: Browning HP 9 mm Mfg. 2014 NIB
 
I have one of its newer cousins.. the 1919a4. Not sure of its age though. Tripod is a Colson Mfg 1942.

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Took it out yesterday actually.

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I have the father of your '19A4. It's a 1942 build, Rock Island Arsenal manufacture, water cooled, Browning 1917A1. Like my MG08, my '17A1 is fully automatic and legally registered. It puts a smile on the face of everyone who fires it.

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The tripod was manufactured in 1940 also by Rock Island Arsenal.

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I have the father of your '19A4. It's a 1942 build, Rock Island Arsenal manufacture, water cooled, Browning 1917A1. Like my MG08, my '17A1 is fully automatic and legally registered. It puts a smile on the face of everyone who fires it.

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The tripod was manufactured in 1940 also by Rock Island Arsenal.

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Nice, yes you can run alot longer with that 1917 than I can with my 1919, being water cooled, but I do have a bit less weight than you do. Think mine gun alone is 35 pounds, best I remember. I wish I had your calvary tripod though, alot teller than my M2.
 
My newest firearm is a John Taffin Bisley Blackhawk. My primary interest is double action revolvers, mostly Smith & Wesson but some Colts too, made prior to 1960. However, my two oldest firearms are an 1870 Springfield Navy rolling block in 50-70 and a flintlock Brown Bess musket that I’m still struggling to date and clearly identify.

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My maternal grandfather was born in Colorado Springs in the 1890s. My uncle gave me the Springfield rolling block not having any idea what it was. When I told him it was part of an 1870 order for 10,000 rifles by the U.S. Navy he exclaimed “How did it end up in Colorado then?” My answer was “Buffalo”. It may in fact be one of the few in that order destined for the Marines but I have not been able to confirm that.

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The musket was hanging over the mantle in the 1770s Maine farmhouse my other grandparents bought in the 1930s. I should say the mantle of the 18th Century kitchen with a 7’ wide brick fireplace, recessed oven, and swinging cast iron rod to hang pots from.

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This clearly is a British Brown Bess, but some features have me confused about the time period. The barrel is shorter than standard. Some features point to an early 1800s East India Pattern musket; however, other details look earlier. In any event, it’s definitely my oldest firearm.

Please forgive me for the crappy photos. I still haven’t figured out the ideal way to photograph long guns… especially as long as the musket.
 
My oldest is a Model 1842 Harpers Ferry Musket that was made in 1845. I do have a Flintlock from the Nepal Cache, but am not sure of the date.
 
Savage 23a Sporter 22lr shares patent from 1917 for the Savage NRA target rifle.
but produce 1923-1933. The original magazines go for as much as the entire rifle goes for without a magazine.

The sling is a "NOBUCKL" patent 1914 and the tang peep sight is a Marbles special patent 1908.

What caught my eye was the schnabel front end.

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1880 on the single, the Winchesters, 1901 & 1904.
 

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In my collection I have some original rifles from the 1800s. The oldest original rifle I own is a Swiss Model M1842/59/67 rifle. It was originally a musket, given a smaller rifled bore in 1859 and later converted to a metallic cartridge breech loader in 1867 with the Swiss Milbank-Amsler system, a trapdoor type of arrangement invented in America, but refused by the US Ordnance department (just as they refused the Snider breech loading system invented in the US but sold to England after rejection, and also the Berdan priming system invented here, but used in Europe, while the US adopted the Boxer priming system that came from Europe. Just a bit of history there...)

The oldest I have personally shot is my Swiss Eidgenössischer Stutzer 1851 (Federal Carbine 1851), a muzzleloading rifle for a 10.4mm bullet, that was used by sharpshooters and has a double set trigger. Next oldest is a Swiss Model 1881 Vetterli converted from 10.4x38 rimfire to 10.4x38 centerfire. Brass is formed from either .348 Winchester or French 8mm Lebel.

I have an 1867 Peabody made in the US for Switzerland, and a Springfield 1888 trapdoor rifle (both are not for shooting). I have a few Mosin-Nagant rifles that are based upon pre-1898 receivers that get a rare range day.

I have previously had a British Snider Enfield (1870s), 2 British Martini-Henrys (1870s-1890s), a Portuguese 1886 Kropatchek rifle, and a German 1871/84 Mauser. With the Martini Henry, I had a chamber insert that allowed firing .45 Colt cowboy loads. That was fun for the shoulder, and the wallet.

I also have some blackpowder reproduction military muzzleloaders and some contemporary flintlock longrifles.
 
My newest firearm is a John Taffin Bisley Blackhawk. My primary interest is double action revolvers, mostly Smith & Wesson but some Colts too, made prior to 1960. However, my two oldest firearms are an 1870 Springfield Navy rolling block in 50-70 and a flintlock Brown Bess musket that I’m still struggling to date and clearly identify.

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My maternal grandfather was born in Colorado Springs in the 1890s. My uncle gave me the Springfield rolling block not having any idea what it was. When I told him it was part of an 1870 order for 10,000 rifles by the U.S. Navy he exclaimed “How did it end up in Colorado then?” My answer was “Buffalo”. It may in fact be one of the few in that order destined for the Marines but I have not been able to confirm that.

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The musket was hanging over the mantle in the 1770s Maine farmhouse my other grandparents bought in the 1930s. I should say the mantle of the 18th Century kitchen with a 7’ wide brick fireplace, recessed oven, and swinging cast iron rod to hang pots from.

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This clearly is a British Brown Bess, but some features have me confused about the time period. The barrel is shorter than standard. Some features point to an early 1800s East India Pattern musket; however, other details look earlier. In any event, it’s definitely my oldest firearm.

Please forgive me for the crappy photos. I still haven’t figured out the ideal way to photograph long guns… especially as long as the musket.
Greetings from current day Colorado Springs. Here is a picture of the city Marshal from right about the time your grandfather was born
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My oldest is a trapdoor cavalry carbine from 1881.

My oldest gun related item is one of the first boxes of 45 Colt ammo ever made and from what I've been able to find, the second oldest box in existence
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