I started out in 1984. Carried a basic Series 70 Colt 1911 because all the cool cops carried them in our department. There were still alot of revolvers and a few Brownings and S&W autos.

In 1988 I took a brand new Colt Government Model and sent it to Wilson's along with $700. Three months later, I got my Wilson Master Grade 130 back. I carried that gun and shot IPSC with it for many years.

Somewhere around 1999 or so we were issued Glock 35's. perfectly decent gun but, it had no soul. No individuality. All 200 or so of us had the same gun. Used to be you could tell a little about an Officer by what he carried. Not anymore. We were like a cheap subdivision. One floor plan parked right next to each other in a row.

2016. 32 years later, I retired as a Sergeant. Same dept. the whole time. Carried my original Colt with a full on 1984 uniform, badge and patch at my retirement ceremony. Dept had grown from 125 cops to 260. I was #9 in seniority when I left.

Got a great gig at a University Police Dept with most of my old co-workers. My chief was my beat partner and we spent 12 years together on Tactical at the height of the meth labs in Texas.

And, I'm back to carrying that Wilson Master Grade again.

Good times indeed.