Remember Your First Handgun? Do You Still Have It?

[Alan]

I'm curious about everyone's first handgun experience. What was your first one, and do you still own it? Share some stories or even pictures if you’ve got them. Looking back, how do you feel about that purchase now?

 

[27-2]

The very first handgun I ever bought was a Smith & Wesson 5905
I had completed police school (NCBLET '92) with a very nice Combat Masterpiece- but, I wanted a semiautomatic- i hate to say that i do not own that 5905 anymore - I sold it to my 1st cousin, who was also a police officer so, I could buy a Sig P220

 

[URIT]

The very first handgun I ever bought was a S&W Model 15-3 4-inch. My department required officers to buy their own duty weapon.

I carried that revolver on the job for 9 years; then, traded it to buy a new model 19-4 Combat Magnum 4" nickel that I carried for 24 years to retirement.

I gifted the 19-4 to my son-in-law when he got orders for his first deployment to the sandbox as a USMC Prowler pilot. He still has the family heirloom.

 

[RoMaC21]

I'm curious about everyone's first handgun experience. What was your first one, and do you still own it? Share some stories or even pictures if you've got them. Looking back, how do you feel about that purchase now?

Beretta 92FS, always wanted one. Unfortunately I did sell it and have owned several more since.

 

[Gerald D.]

Ruger Standard with 6" barrel, next was a S&W M10 Snub nickle plated...both gone unfortunately.

 

[Shotgunangler]

The first handgun I ever bought was a Taurus M-94 revolver. It was a blued, 9 shot, .22lr revolver with a 4" barrel and adjustable target site. After much shooting the trigger broke in nicely, and it was surprisingly accurate for having such a short barrel (site radius). I really liked the gun as did my wife who used it to qualify for her CCW. The only complaint I had with the gun was that it's cylinder gap was so tight that carbon build up on the face of the cylinder and breach of the barrel would cause the cylinder to bind up after only a few cylinders full and I would have to stop and clean it. I eventually ended up trading towards a Ruger MKII target. The wife was not to too happy. In hind sight I wish I had just tried taking a couple of passes on the breach of the barrel with a file to open the cylinder gap and kept the gun.

 

[SmileMaker]

Dan Wesson 15-2, 4 inch 357 mag and still have it.

 

[Deleted member 42]

Glock 22 Gen 2. Still ready to burn.

 

[dsink]

AMT Automag II in 22 magnum. Not a bad handgun but you had to keep it clean, and it would only cycle Winchester 40gr jhp. To say it was loud would be an understatement.

 

[thegunnut]

Ruger Blackhawk 44 magnum. I traded it for a Winchester model 70 in 243. Sure do wish I would have kept the pistol and bought the rifle outright but it was the quick and easy thing to do at the time. As they say, hindsight is 2020. Posting this has proven to be the urge to buy another Blackhawk. Gee thanks....

 

[HandyAndy1163]

My first handgun was a Kimel Western Six single action in .22lr my Dad gave me years ago. I think it was the Heritage Rough Rider's great grandpa.
First Handgun I bought was a used, 4" S&W model 66-3 .357 magnum. The Kimel is gone, but I still have the Smith.

 

[Mike A.]

Colt Trooper MKIII still have it.

 

[lincen]

In 1972, I was a 16 year old working at a gas station and a regular customer gave me an old shotgun. That was traded for double barrel 22lr derringer. That and $15 was traded for a somewhat suspect model 36 S&W. All of those are gone but the first one that I bought at a gun store in 1978 was a 3” barrel Rossi 38 special. I do still have that one !

 

[HootervilleNative]

My dad gave me a Ruger Single Six with interchangeable cylinders that he had acquired back in the 60's. Always admired it, and used it often when we went out to a shooting range where he worked (DuPont). Got it as an award for making the A/B Honor roll in 1974. Still have it.

 

[LimaCharlie]

Ruger .22 Standard Auto, before they were 'MK-anythings'.
Bought used at a Fayetteville Gun Show for 50 bucks about 1973. Owned it for about 30 years and I'm pretty sure a couple of pickup truck loads of ammo went through it - plinking, target shooting, small game hunting, etc.

I often took it on road trips with my Dad to go visit my Grandmother in South Central Texas. On her land and a neighboring ranch I had access to roam and take on Jackrabbits and Prairie Dogs. Jumping big Jackrabbits and taking them on the run was some of the best fun ever.
And, learned if I stayed inside the pickup truck, loaned to me on the neighboring ranch, the Prairie Dogs paid little attention to the ranch truck.... I could stay inside it, and the Prairie Dogs were in serious trouble even at 100 yds. using the truck door for a rest with that accurate Ruger.
I once brought a newly acquired Ruger 10/22 and tried out the then-new CCI Stinger ammo on distant dogs - they worked, but were much more affected by the constant wind there.
Both of those Rugers went away in trades. Good memories though.

 

[Shotgunangler]

My dad gave me a Ruger Single Six with interchangeable cylinders that he had acquired back in the 60's. Always admired it, and used it often when we went out to a shooting range where he worked (DuPont). Got it as an award for making the A/B Honor roll in 1974. Still have it.

If it was manufactured in the 60s it would be an "Old Model" or "3 screw model". Has the transfer bar safety mod. been done or is it in it's original condition? I understand that the triggers on the unmodified pre '73s are fantastic.

 

[HootervilleNative]

If it was manufactured in the 60s it would be an "Old Model" or "3 screw model". Has the transfer bar safety mod. been done or is it in it's original condition? I understand that the triggers on the unmodified pre '73s are fantastic.

It is in original condition, no transfer bar. Have had numerous invitations from Ruger to have transfer bar added, but never sent it back for the mod.

 

[SammySmoothbore]

Ruger Blackhawk .357 4 5/8 inch. Purchased used by my dad about 1971 and gifted to me as payment for a roofing job I did. Still have, would never part with it.

 

[turkeymanwade]

In the late eighties I won a Remington Nylon 66 at a DU banquet. Never could get the sights adjusted to suit me. So I traded it and a hundred bucks for a Ruger New Model Single Six. Yes, I still have it.

 

[winemaker81]

My first is a 1858 Remington New Army .44 cap-n-ball revolver. This was purchased at a time in the USA when 16 yo could get one mail order (late 70's). It was a Pietta kit sold through Richland Arms, I had to clean the brass frame of external sprue and finish the grips. It went to the range with me today, 40+ years later.

 

[Pmcc]

First one I fell in love with was my dad’s 1957 Colt Python. None of my siblings appreciated the recoil so I claimed it as my own. Still have it although my oldest son has his eye on it!

 

[gman57]

My first handgun was my department issued Colt Trooper MKIII ,upon retirement I rebarreled with and 8" barrel and a 357 cylinder still have it wont part with it. The first I purchased was a Smith & Wesson 38 snub nose for an off duty weapon , sold long time ago.

 

[Native_Tarheel]

First handgun was a nickle Colt Trooper Mk III bought new in 1983. Really wanted a Python, but the price difference was significant, even then. A bear to shoot full-power .357s, but very accurate. Out shot a fellow veteran shooter at 25 yards for a case of beer first trip to the range!! Still have it and it looks as good today, after fewer than 200 rounds, as the day I bought it. Got into semi-autos and much prefer to use them for range and CC (cheaper ammo and easier to carry). The Trooper is my "safe queen."

 

[Grampa]

The very first handgun I ever bought was a S&W Model 15-3 4-inch. My department required officers to buy their own duty weapon.

I carried that revolver on the job for 9 years; then, traded it to buy a new model 19-4 Combat Magnum 4" nickel that I carried for 24 years to retirement.

I gifted the 19-4 to my son-in-law when he got orders for his first deployment to the sandbox as a USMC Prowler pilot. He still has the family heirloom.

Did the USMC allow your son-in-law to take his personal weapon to a war zone? The Defense Intelligence Agency told us that DoD regs prohibited me from taking my personal weapon (S&W Model 940) to a war zone.

 

[URIT]

He was told he could not bring it on deployment. He let me shoot it at the range two weeks ago. A mighty fine handgun!

 

[Phantom]

First handgun experience at about 10 years old was a Colt Frontier Scout single action in 22LR. I got it when he crossed the river. my first centerfire was a Rossi revolver in .38 special that got traded for something bright and shiny years later. My first purchased hand gun was a Glock 17 that I used for years in USPSA competitions.

 

[Papa762!!]

I'm curious about everyone's first handgun experience. What was your first one, and do you still own it? Share some stories or even pictures if you’ve got them. Looking back, how do you feel about that purchase now?

S&W Combat Masterpiece (.22) . From my Dad when I was 12. Great and still have it. Next was the mate, 4" .357. Found later I should take it east with the .357 loads, which i did anyway.

 

[Alan]

S&W Combat Masterpiece (.22) . From my Dad when I was 12. Great and still have it. Next was the mate, 4" .357. Found later I should take it east with the .357 loads, which i did anyway.

Awesome! Keeping your dad’s .22 must be special