I was hiking in the Rockies a few years ago and came across a dead man who was mauled by a bear. I saw that he had a .50 Cal Hawkins and had written a note.
It said, "I, Hatchet Jack, being of sound mind and broke legs, do leaveth my rifle to the next thing who finds it, Lord hope he be a white man. It is a good rifle, and killeth the bear that killeth me. Anyway, I am dead. Sincerley, Hatchet Jack."
So that is where I got my oldest gun.
wait... maybe that was a movie...