I've shot a doe with my 1876 in 45/60 that was made in 1881 and took it bear hunting a couple of times with no luck. A 1910 in 401 WSL produced in 1914 is on the list for deer this year unless it snows then a 1907 in 351 WSL (1911) will get the nod. I have a 1911 shotgun I might bring with pheasant hunting this year, chambering a round in the "widow maker" should get the attention of my buddies!
All get shot on the range now and then, as does a 32 WSL 1905 (1909), a pair of 1895s in 303 Brit (1900?) and 7.62x54R (1915) and I often shoot Winchester made Pattern 14 (1916?) and Model of 1917 (1918). I really have to buckle down and make some ammo for my 1895 Lee/Navy (1896) but I have been putting it off as too much fuss and bother. The occasional accidents with the rifle have not helped my confidence any. The M1carbine would be pushing the date, it is a 1942.
None of these are pristine guns so a minor dent or scratch is unlikely to hurt their value. This year I have 4 guns I plan on using for deer, only one was made after WWI and that is my bad weather gun.
