[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

Whatever you do, don't fire smokeless rounds in it, it will come apart. I used to have an old Smith & Wesson No.2 Army form 1868 that fired .32 rimfire.

I made the gun dealer test fire it with .32 rimfire shorts (it worked fine). They sold it as a shooter thinking that I couldn't find .32 rimfire rounds (idiots). It's actually chambered for .32 rimrire "longs" (black powder, of course). I have 10 rounds of .32 rimfire "longs" and about 100 .32 rimfire "shorts". I was thinking of having a friend re-load them with black powder, so I could fire the short rounds, while keeping the longs.

In any event, an antique gun that can be proven to fire is worth more than a mere relic. I kept the 4 spent .32 rimfire "short" casings.

[wardaddy]

http://slickaz.tripod.com/amopist.htm

for old cartridges for old (no ATF bullshite required) firearms...courtesy of Inyo Mono a few months back.

[Inyo-Mono]

You are right about antiques. I have an 1897 Iver Johnson .38 in near mint condition. Works perfectly and I fire it often (with black powder rounds). Plus if a gun is 1898 or older it is not considered a "firearm" by the Feds; no paperwork!