Posted on Sep 10, 2022
What is the OLDEST model weapon that you used in the Military?
56.1K
1.39K
554
232
232
0
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
7
7
0
My firs M16 was a "GM Hydro-Matic" marked AR-15 and stamped M16A1. I carried a 1944 Remington Rand M1911, and of course the Ma Deuce as well. I was in a unit that had the M-3 and the M3A1 Grease gun. I got to shoot it but not use in combat.
(7)
(0)
1LT Voyle Smith
I envied the guys who got to carry the M3. It was small and compact and very useful as a “de-lousing” tool, for sweeping would-be sappers off of armored and convoy vehicles.
(1)
(0)
SFC Frederick Dalton
My first M16 had the same stampings (Basic training 1987). I have no idea how old that rifle was.
(0)
(0)
7
7
0
While at Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was given chance to purchase (for $5.00) from ROTC an excess/surplus 1903 Springfield bolt action rifle ...was mint, in original cosmoline and waxed paper. Left college on academic probation end of first/freshman year and soon joined the Army ... career group 11 and Airborne .... took the rifle to Ft Gordon for basic .... actually got permission to qualify with it on the KD range ... instead of the M-14 .... later, in RVN got issued an older M3 grease gun, which I carried in the U-1A (Otter) cockpit my first tour ... both were older than I was, but accurate (the 1903) and great defense (the M3, the rounds from which were so slow you could see them in flight and adjust on target accordingly) !!!
(7)
(0)
7
7
0
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
The "Landon Rifles" drill team at Bordentown Military Institute, Bordentown NJ. Army ROTC in 1963 with the M1 Garand. On the 1966 "Landon Rifles" though they switched to the Springfield 03 but only for the drill team the M1 Garand was still used for everything else.
(4)
(0)
SGT Mike Schredl
We were still using 03s for Purdue ROTC in the 1980s, not just for D&C but for our Ranger company to lug around on FTXs. And these were not even the WW2 era A3 variants, but the older 03 or 03A1 models with finger grooves.
(0)
(0)
6
6
0
For me it was a familiarization on the old grease gun. Then firing it. The M1911, tankers primary personal weapon, the .50 cal which is the TC crew served weapon. Then the M1 Abrams from 84' - 2012 when I retired, she is over 40 years old.
(6)
(0)
6
6
0
1911 .45 cal that malfunctioned on me in a bunker on 20 February 1991 in Iraq, as I was capturing a hiding out battalion commander. Wrote it up in a story after I retired in 2011.
That was a crazy day. But we were successful and as an end result won that war.
Anyways, it’s good to share our stories.. no matter what went down on the day or days.
Maybe our administrations will sort themselves out one day, and not at the expense of deploying our folks.
-Scott
That was a crazy day. But we were successful and as an end result won that war.
Anyways, it’s good to share our stories.. no matter what went down on the day or days.
Maybe our administrations will sort themselves out one day, and not at the expense of deploying our folks.
-Scott
(6)
(0)
6
6
0
As a military policeman in the early-mid 60’s obviously the Colt .45. In basic my cycle was the last to be married to the M1 Grand. Overseas, a .45 cal grease gun and a Thompson sub-machine gun. Add both the .30 cal machine gun and the .50 cal machine gun. The Thompson came out toward the end of WW1, along with the B-A-R rifle.
(6)
(0)
6
6
0
When I went into the field in Vietnam I was issued a Winchester model 1917 12 gauge shotgun complete with original bayonet lug looked to be brand new. Go Navy.
(6)
(0)
TSgt David Olson
We had a couple of Winchester 12 ga shotguns, with the ventilated rib, bayonet stud, exposed hammer, in our armory at Pan Mun Jom, Korea. I also used a Winchester 12 ga, exposed hammer, and vent rib to disarm an American civilian contractor. Drunk, he was trying to kill his buddy over a woman. This was in Pleiku Vietnam 1964-65. I knew one SF soldier who carried one religiously in the field.
(1)
(0)
6
6
0
The 1st M1911 I was issued was actually put in service 2 years before I was born.
But anybody know when this model e-tool entered service.
But anybody know when this model e-tool entered service.
(6)
(0)
1LT Voyle Smith
The entrenching tool I was issued in 1966 still had a straight handle. I used it in ‘Nam to dig defensive positions (“Fox holes”) behind my tent at Camp Evans in 1968.
(4)
(0)
SGT Carl Blas
We didn't see the E-tool with the metal handle till 1974 at Bragg, in the picture you can see my E-tool with the straight wooden handle, and the newer one that my new assistant gunner was issued.
I never liked the metal handle, the wooden handle one was a better weapon, and had better leverage when swinging.
I never liked the metal handle, the wooden handle one was a better weapon, and had better leverage when swinging.
(6)
(0)
6
6
0
As far as I know the M-14 in Basic . There was a shortage of M 16's in 1969. Operated one of the first military computers but it would not be considered a weapon.
(6)
(0)
6
6
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google