Posted on Sep 10, 2022
What is the OLDEST model weapon that you used in the Military?
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For many of us, this will probably be dominated by the .45 Cal. Model 1911 Pistol (in service since 1911) and the .50 Cal. M2 Machinegun (Manufactured since 1921). For me, it was the above 2 weapons, plus the Smith & Wesson Model 1905 .38 Special Revolver. Please make this weapons that you actually used, carried, or operated as a service member. (The Navy guys will probably win. They never throw anything away.)
Rifles
Handguns and Pistols
Artillery
Machine Gun Basic
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 239
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Colt 1911, ironically because the Navy was getting rid of some at Great Lakes and we found out.
Still wrapped in the original paper and cosmoline.
Still wrapped in the original paper and cosmoline.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
LTC George Monsson - I was in a Mechanized Division Engineer Battalion in the late 80's and early 90's. The AVLB, CEV, and 88 Crews were still issued M3A1 Grease Guns. It was actually a pretty good weapon. Simple, easy to disassemble and assemble, easy to control and surprisingly accurate.
I carried a 1911 until the Armorer ran me down and made turn it in for an M9
I carried a 1911 until the Armorer ran me down and made turn it in for an M9
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SPC Daniel Brown
CPT Lawrence Cable -The 1911 is more powerful for close quarters over the M9 that had a larger mag capacity. What a mean Armorer as being an Officer he should have given you a choice for as long as it is accounted for the Armorer is good to go on the books.
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M1911-A1, of course. I have fired the .50 Cal. M2 Machinegun as a top of the deuce and a half mounted weapon - out at the range. Have fired the M1 Garand as well. Only the M1911-A1 and M15 were my assigned service weapons.
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SPC Daniel Brown
SGT David Schrader - That is where my .50 cal was located. As a squad leader that love to drive the M113 i was also issued the Colt 1911 and the M16. The Grease gun and an AK we on shot on the range.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp 1965 -
At Camp Roberts, CA, Air cooled 30 cal LMG from WW II.
Shortly after this VIP visit, a gun mis-fired due to a reloaded shell separating at the neck of the case. We were pleased the visitors had passed on.
A CPT in the party saw my Mail Pouch pouch and asked for a chew. I told him that officers weren’t supposed to chew, he said watch me and took a generous chaw from the pouch. SGT Carl Blas
SGT Philip Roncari
SFC William Farrell
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SFC Bernard Walko
MAJ Ken Landgren
Lt Col Charlie Brown
LTC Stephen Conway
LTC Stephen F.
@LTC Stephen Curlee
At Camp Roberts, CA, Air cooled 30 cal LMG from WW II.
Shortly after this VIP visit, a gun mis-fired due to a reloaded shell separating at the neck of the case. We were pleased the visitors had passed on.
A CPT in the party saw my Mail Pouch pouch and asked for a chew. I told him that officers weren’t supposed to chew, he said watch me and took a generous chaw from the pouch. SGT Carl Blas
SGT Philip Roncari
SFC William Farrell
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SFC Bernard Walko
MAJ Ken Landgren
Lt Col Charlie Brown
LTC Stephen Conway
LTC Stephen F.
@LTC Stephen Curlee
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
MAJ Matthew Arnold And the backup for the S&W was surely a British Webley?
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SGT David Schrader
We did a lot of training at Camp Roberts,
Funny you should mention chewing tobacco and an officer. In my case it was a pouch of Beechnut and a 2nd LT.
We were taking a small break in the company area and I just took a small bit of the (mild) Beechnut when our platoon leader approached and curiously asked me what I put in my mouth. He thought it was a snack. I told him “Sir, it is chewing tobacco “ he then asked me if he could try some so I obliged him, the LT. took a pretty healthy wad and started to chew away before I was able to explain how to use it. All of a sudden he swallowed it and turned 3 shades of OD Green and started to lose his lunch. After LT. quit launching his lunch, he looked over at me and asked me “how do you chew this stuff and not get sick?” I responded to him that it’s chewing tobacco and you chew on it for a while, then spit it out. Not swallow it. He looked puzzled, shook his head and walked away.
By the way, this event also took place at Camp Roberts.
Funny you should mention chewing tobacco and an officer. In my case it was a pouch of Beechnut and a 2nd LT.
We were taking a small break in the company area and I just took a small bit of the (mild) Beechnut when our platoon leader approached and curiously asked me what I put in my mouth. He thought it was a snack. I told him “Sir, it is chewing tobacco “ he then asked me if he could try some so I obliged him, the LT. took a pretty healthy wad and started to chew away before I was able to explain how to use it. All of a sudden he swallowed it and turned 3 shades of OD Green and started to lose his lunch. After LT. quit launching his lunch, he looked over at me and asked me “how do you chew this stuff and not get sick?” I responded to him that it’s chewing tobacco and you chew on it for a while, then spit it out. Not swallow it. He looked puzzled, shook his head and walked away.
By the way, this event also took place at Camp Roberts.
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Polaris A-3 nuclear missile. Stationed aboard FBM submarine USS Patrick Henry (SSBN 599 Gold) from 1974 - 1979. They weren't called 'boomers' for nothing.
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When I was at Fort Devens, I was a member of the Battalion's "American Heritage Association" and was issued a Brown Bess musket designed in 1722.
Beat that, Navy!
For clarification: in 1983 the AHA at Fort Devens was a Revolutionary War Re-Enactment association. We did demonstrations and parades throughout New England marching in period-uniform with period-specific weapons (we even had a cannon!).
It was a great way for AIT students to get out into the community and have a bit of fun on the weekends -- better than sitting in the Devens Disco, swilling cheap beer and watching MTV.
Beat that, Navy!
For clarification: in 1983 the AHA at Fort Devens was a Revolutionary War Re-Enactment association. We did demonstrations and parades throughout New England marching in period-uniform with period-specific weapons (we even had a cannon!).
It was a great way for AIT students to get out into the community and have a bit of fun on the weekends -- better than sitting in the Devens Disco, swilling cheap beer and watching MTV.
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Winchester M-1897, 1972 at Bragg, on guard duty. We were told that the old shotguns were from WWI, and used in the trenches. The rounds looked old too, it was all brass, the gun had the bayonet lug on the front, and a leather sling.
We all got a class on shooting it, qualification was, 5 rounds, and if you hit the 55gal drum with 3 rounds, you were qualified to use it.
Don't really know if that was the oldest firearm I used while in the army, it might have been the M-2 or the 1911, that looked very old.
The 1911 qualifications was the same as the shotgun was.
But in the mid 70's I did own a 1903 M-1 that was 30.06cal., that was very old too.
We all got a class on shooting it, qualification was, 5 rounds, and if you hit the 55gal drum with 3 rounds, you were qualified to use it.
Don't really know if that was the oldest firearm I used while in the army, it might have been the M-2 or the 1911, that looked very old.
The 1911 qualifications was the same as the shotgun was.
But in the mid 70's I did own a 1903 M-1 that was 30.06cal., that was very old too.
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SGT Carl Blas
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 - No run, I come into work at 0430hrs, I over see 3 buildings and 2 warehouses.
They say I'm the building manager, but I'm not, it just seems that way, I do take care of all the issues in the buildings, and over see the contract cleaning services.
Also, I over see the 16 emergency generators at the designated school typhoon shelters, and central office.
I also, make sure that the people in the buildings are following the building rules like turning off the lights before leaving the offices. Most don't like me, because I send out the emails to everyone in the buildings that someone screwed up. Lol
Some have told me, "Carl you're an A$$ Hole", my response is, "That's capital "A" to you, follow the rules, if you have a disagreement, forward your issues to the superintendent, and it stops there!
This morning at 0433hrs, I reported by email to everyone that an office lighting was left on all night, and the department was conserving energy.
Alot have asked me, why do I come in so early, I tell them, when you come in to work, does your office have AC, Power, water in the rest rooms?
And, before "YOU" come in late again, I'm finished with my work for the day!. Lol
I'm also responsible for monitoring all the 16 security camera in the area.
The 3 story building in the picture, one day I got a copy of the month power bill, and it was 23,000+ for one month. I sent out to everyone to show them how much power we are using, for one month, so they can have an idea what is being spent.
They say I'm the building manager, but I'm not, it just seems that way, I do take care of all the issues in the buildings, and over see the contract cleaning services.
Also, I over see the 16 emergency generators at the designated school typhoon shelters, and central office.
I also, make sure that the people in the buildings are following the building rules like turning off the lights before leaving the offices. Most don't like me, because I send out the emails to everyone in the buildings that someone screwed up. Lol
Some have told me, "Carl you're an A$$ Hole", my response is, "That's capital "A" to you, follow the rules, if you have a disagreement, forward your issues to the superintendent, and it stops there!
This morning at 0433hrs, I reported by email to everyone that an office lighting was left on all night, and the department was conserving energy.
Alot have asked me, why do I come in so early, I tell them, when you come in to work, does your office have AC, Power, water in the rest rooms?
And, before "YOU" come in late again, I'm finished with my work for the day!. Lol
I'm also responsible for monitoring all the 16 security camera in the area.
The 3 story building in the picture, one day I got a copy of the month power bill, and it was 23,000+ for one month. I sent out to everyone to show them how much power we are using, for one month, so they can have an idea what is being spent.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp No one else has claimed they fired the 3.5 inch Rocket Launcher like I did in the 1964 time frame. A successor to the 2.36 inch earlier model, its back blast area was hazardous to ignorant bystanders. SGT Carl Blas
The Gun Jeep mounted 105/106 mm Recoilless Rifle and its 50 caliber spotting rifle has also been neglected. The 50 cal was cool as a spotter, the main gun would cause fires to start fires in its black blast area. My kid brother, the one that was KIA in ‘Nam, had earlier been a 11H Gunner in Germany before re-upping for ‘Nam.He said ‘they’ could recon a target, approach with the Gun Jeep, fire a spotting round, fire the main gun and vamouse in 60 seconds or less.
SGT Carl Blas
SGT Philip Roncari
SFC William Farrell
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SFC Bernard Walko
MAJ Ken Landgren
Lt Col Charlie Brown
LTC Stephen Conway
LTC Stephen F.
.
The Gun Jeep mounted 105/106 mm Recoilless Rifle and its 50 caliber spotting rifle has also been neglected. The 50 cal was cool as a spotter, the main gun would cause fires to start fires in its black blast area. My kid brother, the one that was KIA in ‘Nam, had earlier been a 11H Gunner in Germany before re-upping for ‘Nam.He said ‘they’ could recon a target, approach with the Gun Jeep, fire a spotting round, fire the main gun and vamouse in 60 seconds or less.
SGT Carl Blas
SGT Philip Roncari
SFC William Farrell
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SFC Bernard Walko
MAJ Ken Landgren
Lt Col Charlie Brown
LTC Stephen Conway
LTC Stephen F.
.
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CPT Earl George
My weapons platoon in Germany in 1972 had 105mm recoilless rile mounted on a M113 APC. We fire it at GRAF.
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TSgt (Join to see)
AFTER AIT I to had 11H MOS. For short while after Shake and bake school I was cadre and taught bore sight and timing to a class of NGs. I got to fire several rounds a week and got to where I could put the 50 cal spotter round threw old holes in target APCs used for training followed of cource by the 106RR HE in the same same hole.
After a 16 year break in service, In 89 when I looked to go back in the ANG in Bakersfield Calif. The recruiter told my 11H was good to re-enlist with because the home unit had an 11H Platoon.
My first weekend I bounced around in an APC TOWhad all week-end. I was an NCO and knew nothing about a TOW missle!! None of the young NGs in my platoon knew anything about a M151A with a 106RR mounted. Worse was all the M151s had been scraped (cut in half) for new Hummer junk.
When I told the recruiter , who was in the same same armory, he didn't know what I was talking about either?? We looked in some literture in his library, found the 106 RR. He laughed and said all those are in museums. I also had a 11F40 MOS from shake and bake schoool and became the OPs NCO. Thankfully, contour maps, frag orders...had not changed much.
To add salt to humiliatiion I had 11H,F,D MOSs but had no 11B MOS and had to go the Ft Ord for 11B schoool. Which was strange because of course I had my CIB and Left combat sleeve was K Com, 75th Reg over the 4th ID clover. That was a crazy fun 2 weeks. hard for a 40 year old grunt but fun.
After a 16 year break in service, In 89 when I looked to go back in the ANG in Bakersfield Calif. The recruiter told my 11H was good to re-enlist with because the home unit had an 11H Platoon.
My first weekend I bounced around in an APC TOWhad all week-end. I was an NCO and knew nothing about a TOW missle!! None of the young NGs in my platoon knew anything about a M151A with a 106RR mounted. Worse was all the M151s had been scraped (cut in half) for new Hummer junk.
When I told the recruiter , who was in the same same armory, he didn't know what I was talking about either?? We looked in some literture in his library, found the 106 RR. He laughed and said all those are in museums. I also had a 11F40 MOS from shake and bake schoool and became the OPs NCO. Thankfully, contour maps, frag orders...had not changed much.
To add salt to humiliatiion I had 11H,F,D MOSs but had no 11B MOS and had to go the Ft Ord for 11B schoool. Which was strange because of course I had my CIB and Left combat sleeve was K Com, 75th Reg over the 4th ID clover. That was a crazy fun 2 weeks. hard for a 40 year old grunt but fun.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
I must add: Rifle Grenade fired from a M-1 Garand in 1953.
LTC Stephen Conway PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC Stephen C. SGT Philip Roncari SFC William Farrell CPT Jack Durish SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC Ralph E Kelley Cpl Vic Burk MSG Joseph Cristofaro
LTC Stephen Conway PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC Stephen C. SGT Philip Roncari SFC William Farrell CPT Jack Durish SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC Ralph E Kelley Cpl Vic Burk MSG Joseph Cristofaro
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Navy can’t win as very few carry a weapon (haha). I carried and fired the same as you. Served for over 30.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
I said "weapon", and that includes cannon. If anyone served on the USS Constitution (in service since the War of 1812), and IF they still fire the guns, then we Army Pukes are Toast.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
I would agree. Since you are including Artillwry I fires the M110 8 inch howitzer, it left service I believe in 1982. MSG Lonnie Averkamp
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PO2 (Join to see)
We carried M-16, M-14, M-79 Thumper, M-60, 81mm mortars, 3.5" Rocket launcher, 106 mm recoilless rifle. So we had a pretty good assortment of weapons. USN Seabees.
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I served aboard a WWII Battleship, USS Iowa (BB-61), and was working in both the 5” and 16” guns.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
I grew up in Wisconsin, and I was close enough that, if the wind was blowing right, I could just about drop a rifle bullet into Iowa (in fact, Dubuque was the "big" town where my mother went shopping). So BOTH of those Battleships hold a special place in my heart.
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LTC John Mohor
Know any sailors that served on the USS Constitution? Now those crew served weapons are old!
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Great question MSG Lonnie Averkamp for me the oldest weapon for me was .45 Cal. Model 1911 Pistol when I was a pay officer. I had much more expereince with the Browning .50 Cal. M2 Machinegun.
Thank you my friend CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 for mentioning me.
Thank you my friend CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 for mentioning me.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
"Pay Officer". I haven't heard that term since the 1970's. Class A or B Uniform, and a half day off. Loved it!
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