What is the oldest pistol you would be confident carrying for self defense?

[m5215]

Open carry or concealed as it does not matter for this question.

For me it would be the venerable 1911.

 

[Axxe55]

Or the Browning High-Power.....

 

[zackmars]

Actual age of the pistol or the design? I have no qualms carrying a nice s&w revolver which design goes back to 1899

But as far as actual age i prefer to stay newer than 1960, due to cost of the gun, availability of easily swappable parts, and easier ability to source at least a near 1:1 replacement

 

[robertc1024]

1851 Colt Navy

 

[candcallen]

 

[skfullgun]

Colt SAA or Remington 1875 SAA.

 

[Moonpie]

Oldest or oldest design?

I carry a Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32acp that is over 100yrs old fairly often.

Just for giggles I have carried a percussion Colt .31cal Model 1849 Pocket model. The gun is a modern reproduction but it certainly works.
One a couple of occasions I have even carried a replica Paterson Colt .36.

 

[bigtex10mm]

My 1911 or Browning Hi Power.

 

[FNORD]

I carried a 1905 Colt Peacemaker for a spell thirty years ago.

Preference wise, most WW1 1911’s.

Getting down to it actually, any of those mentioned above would more than suffice.

 

[G O B]

44 star B

 

[Lonesome Dove]

Whatever I could get ammo for. Hell they all go bang!

 

[Glenn B]

If I had nothing else, then any pistol of any age, that I could get until I could get better. Of course, I'd only be confident if I knew it was in excellent working order.

Now, as for reality as opposed to a hypothetical situation: the oldest of my pistols that I carry and in which I am confident, is my Ortgies pistol in 7.65mm (.32 Auto). My confidence, might be a bit shaky carrying that one, not so much in the pistol or its age but rather in the ammo as I prefer a 380, 9mm or 45 over 32 Auto.

As for age, it was manufactured circa the early 1920's.

A brief article and an interesting video about Ortgies can be found at this link: https://www.forgottenweapons.com/ria-ortgies-pistols/

 

[candcallen]

While in AZ, Prescott and Prescott Valley I felt at home seeing all the crotchety old bastards carrying various single actions in their cross draw BBQ holsters. It was the AZ of old where we all open carried.

Saturday and sunday mornings. It was great.

 

[Bozz10mm]

The oldest one I have is a circa 1974 S&W Model 39-2. I have no problem with carrying it for sure.

 

[contender buff]

The one that shoots the best with less hiccups speaking for a friend !

 

[Geezer]

I have carried this Colt Police Positive .32 S&W before and I didn't feel undergunned. It was made in 1917. I haven't shot it in a while. I probably should sell it and let someone else enjoy it for a while.

 

[Tnhawk]

1911

 

[Huntsman52]

Colt Walker...have a fondness for early magnums. Practical, no. But the coolness factor amps it up. Even Santa carried one.

 

[motorcarman]

I have carried my WEBLEY MK II 455 in my 'flap-holster' upon occasion.

I load both the MK I (black-powder) and MK II (smokeless) versions and both work well as designed.

I should get a complete Sam Browne 'get-up' for total effect.

 

[no2gates]

Blunderbuss