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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Carried loaded 1911 while on Prisoner Escort duty on Post and while traveling. Qualified Expert on M-14. Fired M-60 and .50 for familiarization. Walked guard duty with an M-1 at AIT. Some of the older guys in my unit in Germany got to fire familiarization with the Bazooka! I thought that was weird. We were Signal Battalion.
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SPC William Szkromiuk
In reading another posting I was reminded of a .22 rimfire bolt action competition rifle I used in the Battalion Shooting Team. Unfortunately my brain can not remember the brand or nomenclature. It was pretty old but well maintained. We shot it at the indoor range in Fort Lewis.
I also now remember being issued a selector switch for the M-14 in Germany. Wow the memories come flowing back.
I also now remember being issued a selector switch for the M-14 in Germany. Wow the memories come flowing back.
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I was in basic in 1969. We trained with the M14 rifle, during AIT we used the M79 Grenade Launcher.
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Can't compete with the age of weapons already noted, but in 1964 at Greenville AFB, MS I earned my "Expert" qualification using a Mossberg 22 rifle. I thought it was a bit funny, but it may have been for purposes of cost savings.
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As an ROTC cadet we had M1903 Springfields for color guard. Never fired them as they were ceremonial drill weapons. I can't recall if they were nickel or chrome finish, but they were shiny.
I do recall being issued a three-prong, flash suppressor, M16A1 at Fort Bragg in 1985. It had been cleaned so often the finish was almost completely gone!
Otherwise, same as you MSG Lon Averkamp.
I don't think the younger aircrew members believe me when I tell them we carried revolvers back in the "good old days".
I do recall being issued a three-prong, flash suppressor, M16A1 at Fort Bragg in 1985. It had been cleaned so often the finish was almost completely gone!
Otherwise, same as you MSG Lon Averkamp.
I don't think the younger aircrew members believe me when I tell them we carried revolvers back in the "good old days".
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
CW5 Jim McCauley I have to admit that when I was assigned the old Smith & Wesson Revolver was when I was with a helicopter unit (6th Air Cavalry Combat Brigade). As a "Blue", we normally had M-16's, but when we had administrative duties around the TOC, it was the revolvers with the shoulder holsters.
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CW4 Peter McHugh
I too had a .38 as side arm (shoulder holstered) 2nd tour RVN, C/16 (Air) Cav ... 71/72
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CW4 William Kessinger
I too was issued a light frame S&W 38 in VN. Loaded it with RED tracer ammo as I knew it was only good for signaling not a self-defense weapon.
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Suspended Profile
My grand father flew TBM Avengers with M2 50Cals in WWII, my Dad and Uncles where Navy Gunners on Patrol Boats in NAM with twin M2 50cals! I had the M2 50cal in mounted in my LVT/AAV turret in the Marines and fired one again in the Army! So three generations of the M2 50cal
MSG Lonnie Averkamp
The M-2 and the 1911 are both "King of the Hill", and they just can't knock them off....
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The 1911 was the oldest weapon I carried. Of course, shot the M2 and it's still in service. Mechanized Combat Engineer CEV, AVLB and M88 crews still had M3 Grease Guns until I got out.
The M1917 Revolver was used up through the end of Vietnam, at least.
The M1917 Revolver was used up through the end of Vietnam, at least.
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CW4 Peter McHugh
CPT Cable's inputs are a worthy update ... we have variously been referring to the more common version by the M2 moniker...though looking at that weapon (his pic) it almost seems to be an M3 inserted into a carbine like stock ...mechanically very similar to the variants to which we referred ... so his is a very helpful correction ... my "grease gun" had a finger hole on the bolt which when the gate was open, permitted one to cock the weapon , and permitted the closed gate to lock the bolt .... I've seen a version with a lever for that purpose and also a variant with a small cocking pull pin on the right side of the bolt ... the version I own has the lever, which I really do not like much ....
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CW4 Peter McHugh - Mechanically, they all copy the Sten and to a degree, the MP40. The big difference in the M3 and the M2 is that the only machined parts in the M3 was the bolt and the barrel. Everything else was stamped steel. The M2 had some production problems, the original bolts were not properly hardened and tended to break if you let it slam down on an empty chamber too much. That shut down production very early and just concentrated on the M3 for the rest of the War.
The M3 is like the M2, I've only seen them in museums. The M3 versions still in stock were rebuilt into the M3A1 configuration, which is what my armored crews carried. The enlarged ejection port and the slot in the bolt to cock it.
Then the Reisling and the High Standard M42 round out the US WWII Submachine guns. I've never even seen an M42 in a museum, although one comes up on the auction sites once in a great while. It was issued to the OSS and handed out to various partisan groups. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/84/612/united-defensemarlin-m42-submachine-gun
The US submachine Gun with a pin in the right side of the bolt sounds like S&W M76 or a Swedish K, which were technically Vietnam Era weapons. Just my personal opinion, but the Swedish K was probably one of the best, if not the best, submachine built.
The M3 is like the M2, I've only seen them in museums. The M3 versions still in stock were rebuilt into the M3A1 configuration, which is what my armored crews carried. The enlarged ejection port and the slot in the bolt to cock it.
Then the Reisling and the High Standard M42 round out the US WWII Submachine guns. I've never even seen an M42 in a museum, although one comes up on the auction sites once in a great while. It was issued to the OSS and handed out to various partisan groups. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/84/612/united-defensemarlin-m42-submachine-gun
The US submachine Gun with a pin in the right side of the bolt sounds like S&W M76 or a Swedish K, which were technically Vietnam Era weapons. Just my personal opinion, but the Swedish K was probably one of the best, if not the best, submachine built.
United Defense/Marlin M42 Submachine Gun
Scarce United Defense/Marlin M42 Submachine Gun, Class III/NFA C&R Fully Transferable Machine GunOriginally designed by Carl Swebilius of High Standard, the M42 was intended as a competitor for the Thompson SMG in police and military contract sales. One of the last generation of "heavy metal" SMGs, the M42 used machined steel and polished wood much like the Thompson, though with a more streamlined design with easier takedown. Unable to...
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1911 45 caliber pistol
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.50 caliberM2 maxhije gun
.39 caliber automatic rifle
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.50 caliberM2 maxhije gun
.39 caliber automatic rifle
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
What's Surprised Me Is All The Number Of Weapons Being Used During My Years In The Service Are Still Used Today. But Other Than That, Ya Sure Have Some Beautiful Updates.!
USAF 1961 -1965.
USAF 1961 -1965.
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1911 Colt ACP, M2 50cal MG and I got to fire a M3 Grease Gun. Those are the US weapons. While in 10th SFG(A) I got to fire a Sten Gun, Finnish Suomi MG and a few other foreign weapons. The 90mm REcoiless Rifle was adopted in 1959 but we used it when I was in the Infantry in the 70s.
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