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: 220
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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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PO2 Mike Keyes
SGT (Join to see) - My father had an old Browning like that when I was a kid. It was his goose gun.
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LTC George Monsson
I may have been one of the last American soldiers to carry a Thompson in combat. In Viet Nam 1971 I left my Infantry platoon in the 1st Cav. Div. and was sent up north to Da Nang to the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and was assigned to Brigade HQ as the Asst. S-5 officer (Civil Affairs). We dealt with the relationships between the 196 LIB and the Vietnamese civilians. I spent a lot of time in the field in a jeep and an M-16 is too long to easily use in a vehicle and a M1911 isn't enough firepower. The office had a Thompson with the shoulder stock removed which was just about the right size to carry in a jeep. I used it several times to return fire when we were sniped at. I kept the 1st magazine filled with tracers because having tracers coming at you, even if they are just .45s, will make you duck or flinch a bit more and that is what I wanted, to distract the guy shooting at me while we evacuated the area as quickly as possible. I don't know where the office got the Thompson. I suspect that it may have been swapped for with some ARVNs or RF/PFs at some point. It wasn't a precision weapon with the shoulder stock gone but it served its purpose and I was able to control it pretty well, particularly hosing down a woodline. BTW, we had 4 30 round mags for it. 1 in the gun and 3 in a carrier.
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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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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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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - .....
You Were Talk'en With The Recruiter Again, Weren't Ya.?
By The Way, When You Went Out Deer Hunting,
How'd That M-16 Work Out For Ya?
You Were Talk'en With The Recruiter Again, Weren't Ya.?
By The Way, When You Went Out Deer Hunting,
How'd That M-16 Work Out For Ya?
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SGT (Join to see)
In the 70's and 80's, I used an M1 Garand, the police department had about 10of them from the war, WWII. Was given to the police department from the navy.
Used it for color guard, and 21 guns salute ceremonies.
Used it for color guard, and 21 guns salute ceremonies.
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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 (Join to see)
SGT Philip Roncari
SFC William Farrell
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SFC Bernard Walko
MAJ Ken Landgren
Lt Col Charlie Brown
LTC (Join to see)
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 (Join to see)
SGT Philip Roncari
SFC William Farrell
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SFC Bernard Walko
MAJ Ken Landgren
Lt Col Charlie Brown
LTC (Join to see)
LTC Stephen F.
@LTC Stephen Curlee
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG Lonnie Averkamp - Thank you MSG, a picture with my M-2 on the DMZ Korea in 73, and battalion gate guard at Camp Greaves DMZ.
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MAJ Matthew Arnold
I qualified with and carried that old S&W revolver (1905) that they gave to the pilots. We all knew it was pretty much useless. I figured if I ever flew in combat I would check something else out, like a M1911 and an M16.
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