Although I had a rifle (Winchester 69A bolt gun .22) since I was 11, it was not until I turned 21 that I could legally buy a handgun in Arizona. That's when I purchased my first pistol.

When I was kid in the early 1950s, my dad and I were out shooting my rifle on the desert not far from where we lived. A man also came out there and began shooting a .22 pistol. It was one of those new Ruger .22 semiautomatics. He invited me to shoot a magazine through it, and I was thrilled to do so. It was the first time I had ever fired a handgun. While I was an excellent shot with my rifle. I discovered that I wasn't worth a hoot with a handgun. The front and rear sights were way closer together, and my one-hand technique was nowhere near steady. Bummer.

Well, I had turned 21 in 1960, and was then legal to buy my own handgun. My mom and I were shopping at a local Fed Mart (look it up - a lot like Walmart in those days) and they had some Ruger .22 pistols for sale. They had both 4" and 6"-barreled types for sale. The price was $37.50 - for either - Bill Ruger had kept that same price for 11 years! I had the cash, so I took the plunge and selected the 6" model. I figured it would be more accurate and with the slight additional weight, easier to hold steady. I was already familiar with the gun, having fired that other example when I was younger.

I was in college as a junior then, and I took the new pistol down to the ROTC .22 rifle range, which was then under the stadium at ASU's old football field. As a member of the rifle team, I had free access any time. I put up a target at 50 feet, loaded up a magazine, and with my best imitation of a competition one-hand stance, let fly.

The first thing I noticed was that the gun was WAY louder than a rifle chambered for the same round, and the noise was enhanced even further because of the concrete floor, walls and ceiling. Those were the days when we were all somewhat ignorant of the permanent damage loud noises could do to our eardrums.

I also discovered that I still stunk as far as accuracy was concerned. A Master Sgt. instructor was on hand, and I asked him to help. He was helpful in explaining the fundamentals of pistol marksmanship to me, and I immediately began my journey towards being a good pistol shot.

I took the gun back to my room at the fraternity house, and learned how to take it apart for cleaning. It was not unusual to keep firearms in dormitories and fraternity houses then, and my roommate often kept his '94 Winchester in our closet there.

Well, I practiced regularly, and became a fairly decent shot. I remember going with friends for plinking out on the desert south of the campus, and once walking into a bank to get some cash with the pistol in a holster in plain view. No laws against that then, and no one blinked an eye.

Well, I was going into the Army as a brand new lieutenant in about a year, and felt that what I really needed was a 1911A1 pistol of my own to pack when I felt the need. I wandered into my favorite gun store (Pinney and Robinson) and there in a display case was a surplus Ithaca example. Problem was that I didn't have the ante to buy the gun.

I did have my .22 Ruger, though, and we bargained a trade and some cash. I walked out with the .45, and it has been my companion throughout Army service to the present day.

Eventually it gnawed on me that my very first handgun was relinquished, and I would never have it again. In those days, I had to exchange a gun to get another I wanted more.

And then, many years later, at a gun show, I saw an exact duplicate of my first handgun - a 6" Ruger standard pistol. I scooped it up in a heartbeat, and I felt somewhat whole again as a consequence. It has the look, the feel, and the performance of that first handgun, but will never replace it in my mind. It was one of the ones that got away in my younger years, and I regret losing it still. Here's a pic of its replacement - and I still get a twinge of nostalgia when I see it.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Very cool. I know what you mean regarding “firsts” and nostalgia. My first handgun was an early Model 17-3 K22 (marked “17-2” but lettered as -3) that my dad gave me for my 17th bday. That thing has had a zillion rounds thru it.

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Some Might Say.

I had a 4", a 6", and a 4" bull barrel. Always solid guns, but never liked cleaning them.

Thanks for the story, reminded me of my first handgun purchase at 21 also. My Ruger Mk II was my second handgun ever purchased. Still have it - sweet shooting. My first, purchased myself, was my Browning Hi Power. Still have it too, and its even a nicer shooter.

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Who watches the watchers?

My first handgun was also a Browning Hi Power. Bought it new in 1974 when I was 19 for $184.50. Still got it.

I remember my Dad's reaction when he saw it. "That looks like a stick up gun." To the best of my knowledge he never fired a handgun.

My first hand gun was a Bersa .22 semi-auto. Found out it didn't like bird shot ammo, so traded it in on an H&R M999 Sportsman. Still have it and no regrets on the Bersa. I wanted bird shot for rattle snakes when fishing on streams. My first S&W was a M36 with 3" barrel. Got it around 1985 and just last month gave it to my daughter so she would have something for self protection. She actually shoots it better than me.

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Kevin in Oregon

I inherited a ruger standard from my brother when he died . If I remember correctly it dates to 1958 . That thing is still pretty accurate , but heavy compared to modern ones . Always enjoy your threads and stories .

I still have my first, a Ruger Standard, natch, bought new in 1974. It still has the best trigger I've ever pulled.

Attached Images

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What, me worry?

My first handgun was also a Ruger but not the semi auto, rather the .22 caliber Bearcat revolver.

It was $51.00, it was to be my fishing gun, I still have it.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

I knew I was going to like this thread as soon as I saw it the "New Post" feed. I was Right!

Thanks for sharing the great Story Mr. John.

Great post as always.
My first handgun was an S&W 19-3 six inch. I had it in layaway before my 21st birthday and picked it up on the day I turned 21.
I bought it from Geakes Sporting Goods in Ferndale Michigan which is long gone.
Your first handgun is like your first girl, very memorable. I still have my first handgun, but not my first girl.

My first handgun:a Ruger Super Blackhawk with which I've learned something it took years to get rid of.A super mega flinchitis!

Before I got too old I was teaching the enhanced concealed weapons
license class. For range work each student got a 9" paper pie plate.
They would shoot a hundred rounds at various distances, from different
positions, etc. They would count the holes in their paper plate and hand
it in to me which would become part of their class grade. I imagine that
in the 3 or 4 years that I was teaching that class I probably had a few
thousand students. Only two (2) turned in a plate with 100 holes.
Interestingly enough, they both were using one of the Mark Series
Ruger Semi-Automatics.

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In Omnia Paratus

My first handgun was a 6” S&W model 28 bought the day I turned 21. I was my duty gun 1973 to 1978 when the sheriff banned 6” barrels. I sold it and bought a 4 inch model 13. I still have the model 13


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Wheel guns are real guns too.

I’ve mentioned this before in a Contender post but here I go again.

I was 15-16 yrs old and really wanted a TC Contender. I put a Super 14 in 44 mag on layaway at a gun store I could walk to. They knew me and took my money but said someone old enough, (21,) had to sign for it. Once it was paid for I actually talked my mom into picking it up with me. She “kind of” thought a single shot was OK. The problem was I couldn’t buy handgun ammo. The solution was I bought a friend’s dads complete RCBS reloading system. I soon got a 30-30 14” barrel cause for some reason they would sell me rifle ammunition. The problem was I couldn’t afford as much 30-30 ammo as I wanted. The solution was 30-30 dies. That single stage, weigh and prime every one at a time was a great way to learn and appreciate every round I shot.

I still have that original frame but different barrels now. I still have/use the single stage press but I’ve been a happy Dillon progressive owner for almost 30 yrs.

Jim

The first handgun I ever bought was a Ruger Single-Six which cost me the grand total of $75 w/ some ammo. My brother had bought two of them. I bought one from him. Wonderful revolver. Sincerely. bruce.

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<><

The first handgun I bought with my own money was a .45 Colt 625-6 Mountain Gun. It cost just about a months pay from my second job, but it was worth it. I’ve still got the Mountain Gun.

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Wheel guns are real guns.

First handgun was a Webley MK VI .45 conversion at 13. Mother signed. Colt .45 M-1917 at 16, Christmas. At 19, my first buy, a S&W .455 MK II.

Colt .45 auto, UK surplus, about 20. I should have been 21, but the dealer let me buy as I was in the USAF. I guess they weren't checked on much, or no one would catch it.

My first NEW S&W was a snub M-36 bought in college while I worked at the library.

Ruger .22 autos... Some of you've read my article on them in the Nov-Dec 1980 American Handgunner. That includes a color photo of gun no. 1 million, btw. Ruger's then art director sent the pic for that issue.

Anyway, my blued MK I Bull Barrel was the only gun my wife wanted when we divorced, and I traded it to her for a table. When I replaced it, I bought a stainless MK II Bull BBL and added checkered walnut grips.

I still have it and think it's the best value in a .22 pistol. And I've owned three Colt Woodsman Match Target models and shot S&W M-41's.

About a year out of law school................

My first, 1979; was a lightly used S&W Model 10 4" heavy barrel $150 OTD ......... cus Dad's primary duty gun at the time was a 1946 4" M&P. But I thought the heavy barrel was way cooler..............

Traded it about a year,year and a half, later towards a new 2 1/2" Model 19.

Buying and selling guns over the next decade... never had more than 2 or 3 at any one time.........................

Growing up on a New Mexico ranch, always had a rifle, but never had much use for a handgun. Although, momma had a JC Higgins .22 revolver that we shot regularly. In the cool evenings, nothing on TV (didn't matter as we didn't have electricity), we would go for walks and she would pop a couple of jack rabbits, many time while they were on the run.
Fast forward to 1975, sitting in classroom at the police academy, we were issued our own (purchased) M58's. (my first personal handgun)
Loved that revolver from the beginning. Instructor made us tear it completely down and put back together several times, so got to know it quite well.
I loved the magna grips and Tyler T adapter that we got, although many opted for target grips that they had brought in that day.
I loved walking past the trash can and kicking out of the way, discarded M58 boxes, the PC magna grips, and the Tyler T grips that many had tossed.
I loved getting exercise at the range bending over to pick up the dropped rounds from our issued "death dumper" ammo pouches.
I loved firing the 58 and watching the hat blow of recruit next to me.
I loved the sunburned feeling on my cheeks from recruit firing next to me.
and..... I loved driving home (and watching others drive home) from the range with one hand because our right hands were numb from firing hot loads along with the yelling and screaming as no one could hear.
aaahhhh, those were the good old days.

My first from 1967

I bought my first handgun soon after graduating college and getting a job. It was a Colt 1903 32ACP....and the ammo was expensive and I couldn't hit doodly squat with it. Traded it for a used Ruger Standard 22LR semiauto which I still have. The mags only hold 9 rounds in those 1950s Rugers and the button on the side of the mag is on the opposite side. It is my euthanasia gun for trapped critters.

I didn't turn 21 until 1963 so I'm much younger than John!

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Great story John thanks for sharing. I have two Ruger Mark pistols a Mark II and a Mark III both are stainless steel, they are very accurate and fun to shoot.

I didn't get my first handgun until I was almost 30 I guess. It was a Model 19, probably a -4, but I knew nothing of such things in those days. I just knew it was blue, with a 4" barrel, and those beautiful target stocks. It was brand new, in the blue box, with all the papers and tools. The Sight Adjusting Tool, or as I knew it then, the screwdriver, went straight to my tackle box. What did I know?

A year or so later, I got bit by the IPSC bug and traded that 19 off for a Colt Government Model in 45. Oddly enough the box and papers stayed on top of my glass front gun case for years. I've got no idea what happened to it, or to the tackle box the SAT went into.

I recently picked up another 19-4 in virtually NIB condition, with box, papers, tools, etc. Except for being a Pa State Police 75 anniversary and having presentation stocks rather than checkered targets, it's close enough to that original one to suit me.

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John 3:16 .