What's The Oldest Thing You own?

Oldest thing I can think of is my 1884 Springfield mfg 1892.

Its 1 of 3 things in common between 5 generations of men in my family:
1. Name ( I am Howard Fitzcharles V, yes my son is the VI)
2. This rifle
3. We all rode (and raced starting with my grandfather) motorcycles.

 

Howard Fitz Charles........but does Charles Fitz Howard!




sorry.....I had to

 

Haha, my ex father in law was an avid coin collector and before he passed, gave me all the British coins in his collection. Three whole books of them mostly from the 1700's and 1800's. He also collected firearms and gave me a couple of those also. I'll never forget the conversation that day. "You do realize your daughter is divorcing me, and you're giving me firearms and ammunition . I'm not sure if that's a testament to my character, or your stupidity!! . We laughed a lot over that one! Too bad they were lost in that horrific boating accident

 

Sorry to hear about your ex-wife and ex-FIL. Must have been traumatic for them to be lost in a boating accident like that.

 

HPPT if you want me to hold you in higher regard:

Renounce your Frenchieness but fedex me some good croisants

Stop working for The Man

Join The Rebellion (I mean Uccios..)

 

I don't. I'm good. Let's reassess next year.

 

You'll swing around its just a matter of time

 

Oldest thing I own would have to be DaveK.

I own him in every category in every way. Looks, height, body count, you name it. I own that mofo.

 

45/70 Trapdoor Springfield 1884

 

Couple cast iron skillets from 1930's (estimated...they were my grandmothers). 1957 Ruger .22 pistol my dad bought when he was 18

 

1784 Springfield 45/70

 

I have lots of old stuff, but not many of you have a draft card.

 

1884

 

I do, however, have the letter sent to me ~ 2 weeks after my 18th birthday, admonishing me that I was subject to arrest and prosecution for my failure to register for Selective Service.

It was properly addressed to me at Naval Training Center Orlando, Recruit Training Center, Company 182.

 

I wish I could state with certainty that yours is more rare than mine, but......

 

I have one. I haven't seen it since sometime in 1979. Its got to be around here somewhere.

 

I just realized the concept of the draft, juxtaposed with the military's stance on gay folk. I never pondered that before.

I've heard of people staying in kollidge, I've heard of people running to Canada... But what if you told the draft board you were gay? Everyone knows that there were NO gay people in the military until recently.

 

I registered for the draft on my 18th birthday like everyone else in those days.

Historically, in wartime, they didn't care. you were an available body.
Look up the story of Perry Watkins. He's just one example. The Wikipedia page on him is detailed and from what I know of his story, accurate.
I met Perry in the 1980's. Cool dude.

 

Most guys just went into/stayed in the closet and served.

If you were found out and given a less than honorable discharge, you were F*cked for life in getting any sort of decent job. I have a friend who is still living this hell. Its only been in the last year or so that you can get that discharge upgraded due to Biden's executive order.

If you were found medically unfit due to homosexuality, that also followed you for life, as all employers in those days always asked about draft status when you applied or were hired, and a background check would always turn up the draft status code that labelled (outed) you.

 

And the annual lottery was ever so much fun.

My brother was in that small window of guys that didn't have to go to the draft board or the post office.