It seems like war stories among Glock and Beretta owners are in no small quantity, so im posting this to get an idea of the times your S&W handgun has saved your neck both off and on duty. Im not cruising for a gory story, im simply a young gun owner who could use some background on how S&W has performed 'on the ground'.

Thanks in advance for reading

Last week, I stopped at my LGS on just to browse, and they had a NIB M&P9c, so I bought it. It took a few minutes to complete the 4473, pay, and then get back on the road. As I made my way home, I came upon a scene where they were still cleaning up a large wreck. If I hadn't stopped and bought that M&P9c, I might well have been involved in that wreck!

I told my wife that I should make it part of my defensive driving strategy to stop and buy a gun every time I am out, and before I head home.

And now on a serious note...I have never been in a situation where I needed to use a weapon of any kind to save my life. I sincerely hope that remains true for the rest of it (my life, I mean!)

I told this one a while ago in a similar thread.
About 11 years ago I came home late one night to our fairly remote acreage and saw a strange car in the driveway. Didn't think much of it, thought someone stopped by to see my Wife. I got out of car and walked along the North (back) side of the house, which was lighted. In my right hand I had my keys. In my left I had an 8 1/2x11" notebook and propped behind that I had my M696 S&W revolver. The way it was positioned the muzzle was pointing to my left and sticking out a few inches. I had not planned it that way, but the muzzle would be visible to anyone in front of me.
As I walked along the back of the house, suddenly a man I had never seen before stepped out from the East side of the house. That side is not lighted, there are no doors there, and there was about a foot of snow on the ground, and it was not shoveled over there. I immediately stopped and said "Hi". He said "Hi" and continued walking towards me with a very disturbing smirk on his face and his hands in the pockets of his coveralls. He continued advancing towards me until he got about 20' away, and suddenly stopped cold in his tracks, the smirk vanishing from his face. The reason? He could now see that Stainless .44 Spl muzzle. The revolver was not in my hand, mind you, still in the crook of my arm pointing to my left.
I said "What are you doing?" He nervously replied he was "Looking for a friend and rang the doorbell and nobody answered". I said "Who is your friend?" he replied "I'd rather not say". At that point I suggested he might want to leave, and he readily walked to his car. He opened the door, stood there and asked "Do you always get home this late?" Now, if he's just looking for a friend, why should he care? I once again suggested he leave, and he did.
I went inside and my Wife was still up. When I related this story she told me nobody had rang the doorbell. I took my flashlight and looked at his footprints in the snow on the East side of the house. They went right up to the window. My Wife and three young children were all home. I shudder to think what would have happened had I and my two friends Smith and Wesson not come home when we did.
I called the Police to report it, telling them I was armed at the time, and they made no comment.
Did the presence of my S&W save my life that night? I really can't say. All I know is this stranger, who was bigger than me, with his hands in his pockets and a very disturbing look on his face had a "Sudden and acute failure of the victim selection process" when he caught sight of that muzzle.
That, my friends, is a happy ending.
Jim

When I was a security guard a few years ago I found a burglar in the facility I was responsible for as I was locking up. I was carrying a 5906 IWB, when I found him in the darkened hallway I lit him up with my Surefire 6P and had my hand on the 5906: after some short discussion I walked him out to the front door, when we got into a more lighted area he saw where my right hand was, the blood literally drained from his face, I think he may have soiled his drawers and he ran out the door as fast as I've ever seen anyone run.

I was in Vietnam in from 1969-1970. I was the designated marksman and as such carried a M-14. The 14 IS the finest battle rifle ever made but is a bit hard to maneuver in tight spots.
My Father sent me a Model 60 as a BUG. I would sleep with the 14 beside my right leg, my 60 beside my head, and my 14" Bowie knife by my left side.
We got hit one night with sappers trying to get through our perimeter. Because of the close combat I grabbed my 60 in one hand and my Bowie in the other. We fought them off but the other guys in my Platoon said I looked like a pirate swinging a 'short sword' and firing my 60.
In late 1970 I was shot twice and medivaced to a hospital ship, the U.S.S. Repose. While there my beloved 60 disappeared.

Smith and Wesson saved my life once. ( I think it did.....)
And in one form or another it keeps me warm and safe since 1983

More than once, with a different S&W each time.

Spring 1973, Northwest Alabama - Mod. 19-3, 4" nickel. Chasing a load of illegal liquor in the Bankhead Nat'l Forest, a guy tried to run us off the road a few times and, in the process, ran over a woman walking on the side of the road. We did what needed doing. He went to Holman Prison with quite a number of years to do, but didn't actually serve out his time. Got himself killed one night by a bunch of sissies who cut him in little pieces and then tried to flush him out the sewer system. 6 or 7 were charged with his murder, most of them already had lengthy sentences, so they wound up staying a bit beyond their originally scheduled release dates.

Fall 1975, Birmingham area - Mod. 58, 4" nickel. Infamous local drugstore burglar, armed with stolen .45 auto, arrested while trying to self-fill a "prescription" at 3:am, in a pharmacy that had 8:am-6m business hours. We got the drop on him, no shots fired.

Spring 1983, west-side Birmingham. .44 H.E., Mod 1926, 5" nickel. After a long chase on foot and a few shots fired back and forth, me and "Bertha" caught us an armed convenience-store robber.

Thank God for S&W, period. Thank God also, that - at this age - I don't do those crazy things for a living these days.

David

I was shooting in Oso, WA, at a gravel pit range. Two "people" walked out of the woods while I was digging around in my range bag, and placed themselves on opposite sides of me, looking at me somewhat expectantly.
I had put my FAL down on the tailgate of my truck, about 20 feet away.
"Hey man, that's a cool gun." said one guy.
"What do you think is going to happen?" Was my response. I had a model 10-7 in my hand by then, and they walked up the road a long way in a hurry.
I have no idea what motivated them, and I never saw them again. Also: I never shot there alone again.

I bicycle usually 2-4 thousand miles a year and have been doing it for decades now. My regular route takes me out into the country--well, at least what passes for country these overpopulated days. On several occasions I have been accosted by scumbags black and white who either throw bottles or other objects at me, try to run me off the road, stop and want to fight and/or take my bike, etc.

Never had to shoot any of them with the S&Ws I carry in a seat bag on the bike (depending on what I grab, I might have a 2" 34 or 36, or Airweight 43 along) but have had to show it more than once. Thought sure I was going to have to fire it one time, when 3 dirtbags piled out of their clapped-out pickup after passing me and stopping. They came at me, cursing and threatening but stopped when I leveled down on them.

People, generally, suck.

I carry a GLOCK 22 On Duty and a S&W 642 as my BUG. Also carry the 642 off duty. My GLOCK has saved my life a number of times and have made scumbags to reevaluate their decisions and choice of actions.

My 642 saved me when I was off duty... was about three AM and leaving a late night movie. When to the truck when I noticed someone waiting by a darken area watching me. Guy started to follow me. I grabbed the 642 that was in my pocket. He started to advance towards me... I told him if he values his life then he should walk another way. He saw my hands in my pocket and figured that I either had a knife or gun... never brandished it... but had it ready.

I dont know if it saved my life but at sure didnt hurt. Back when my son was a baby he woke us up about 6 am Sunday morningfor his bottle. On my way to the kitchen I saw a weird shadow on the front window. I went and retrieved my 5906 opened the door and nothing. Then form the blind corner a gut steps out starts moving forward and stops dead in his tracks as soon as he saw the pistol in my hand. He says is John home I said no he turned I backed inside and called the police. The is no John in my house. What if I hadnt got the pistol?

Sorry Just try to carry something comfortable for you and practice.

this will tell you why my screen name is what it is..

I am the Second Chance Saves Club Member 791




"UPDATE" the 18 year old subject was found later with a gun shot to the upper arm......,hard to hit a running target, so now since he is in Mansfield Oh @ Richland Correction Center for 10 more years, every time he see that scar on his upper arm, he will know i was there.....and when he gets out in 2021.............guess who will be there.....

here is the my life saver

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Scott from Canton Ohio

During my LEO days my S&W M15 (service ammo = FBI +P load) was used to shoot a bad guy (BG) who had taken a hostage and was about to cut his throat. I don't want to go into a lot of detail out of respect for those involved, but it saved the innocent hostage. The BG lived, was prosecuted, did a long stretch in prison and I'm not sure what happened to him after that.

Way back yonder in 77, wife and I took a vacation to the Florida Keys. I was a new hire on the local PD so I carried a M36 in the glove box of the car. We had stopped on the south end of 7 mile bridge and was going to snorkle around some off the little park there. We was standing in the water's edge when some guy shouted to us and asked if that was my brown Pontiac in the parking lot. I shouted yes and he answered that two guys had just broken into it and took something and they was just pulling out of the lot. We ran back to the car to find that they had taken my wallet and the wife's purse but my gun was still in the glove box. We jumped in the car and took chase back across 7 mile bridge heading toward Marathon. Wife was white knuckled when speeds exceeded 90 mph. This was still when the bridge was two lane. FDOT was working on the center of the bridge and had one lane closed so traffic came to a stop. When it did, I grabbed my gun and started running down the bridge toward the car. They saw me coming and attempted to run the roadblock but the workers heard me shouting and blocked them. I went to the driver's window and stuck my gun in his face, grabbed the wad of cash he had in his top pocket, handed it to my wife and told her to count it and that was how much was taken. Unknown to me until then, the guy that had shouted had his car broken into the day before and was there looking to see if any of his stuff had been thrown in the bushes. He was behind us in the chase and while I was running down the center of the road with gun in hand, he was running down the right side with a speargun. I had the driver at gunpoint and he had the passenger at spearpoint. Just picture that scene in your mind. The FDOT had radioed back and deputies arrived shortly and escorted everyone back to Marathon where the two was arrested. I returned to Key West several months later for the trial and turns out that they were local firemen and and LEO's had been trying to catch them for several months.

About 6 moths ago I responded to a domestic call. Dad was beating up daughter. When I grabbed dad to get him off daughter he turned on me. During our "struggle" dad grabbed my 4006TSW that was still holstered. I put my hand over his as we continued to struggle. I pressed the mag release at the same time the rotating hood strap broke allowing him to pull my gun out. My had slipped off the gun and the dad pointed it at me and pulled the trigger. To his surprise nothing happened. As I rolled away from him I was able to take possession of my gun and as we were both standing up, I smacked him on the side of the head with the slide. I was tired and didn't know how hard I hit him but apparently it was hard enough because I knocked him unconcious. Thank God for mag safties and steel guns.

1962; Laos

Back in the 90's before the wonder nines became popular, I carried a model 29.One night while on patrol, I stopped a vehicle for speeding and possible DUI. While I talking with the suspect he attempted to pull a handgun from under his coat. A quick placement of the model 29 in his mouth made him change his mind. He said he was only going to show me his gun. Back then as one of only 2 officers on duty in my county at the time and my nearest backup being about 40 miles away, I believe that the sight of the Model 29 saved me. While talking with the suspect several years later, he told me that the sight of that big barrel that close to his face almost scared him to death. I still carry a 629 almost daily.

January 2006 - Smith & Wesson 3000 with 12 ga. slugs vs. Angry Cow. I got a call for a car vs. livestock non-injury accident (no people injured) and arrived on-scene to see a pissed off cow with a broken leg. Well, the cow didn't like the color of my uniform and decided he wanted to charge me. I shot him with four slugs from the Smith & Wesson 3000 and he promptly hobbled over to the local PD side of the intersection and died right there....since he died "out of county jurisdiction" I just had to write a memo and the PD took disposition. You could say the shotgun saved me from being killed by the angry cow.

On a serious note, over the last ten years of carrying a 4506 I can't remember how many times its been pointed at people. I've never shot anyone with the 4506, but I like to think it made them think about their course of action...I think this could have saved my life. I will tell you though from experience that a 649 will rotate and fire when held against the stomach of a suspect hell-bent on trying to beat you with a rock.

I notice that often, there is no firing of guns, but only the knowledge that someone had a gun and most likely knew how to use it was all it took to end a threatening situation. If only this were the case all the time.

5in M27...bad guy decided to try getting to his M19 on the floor of his ride...the M27 beat him to the punch. He swore he was just gonna 'show it to me'...right. BG had seven outstanding warrants for vehicle burglary, and attempted murder...he was still in prison last I heard of him and that M27 got traded down the line...dumb move.

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Run Fast, Bite Hard!

Just want to pause this thread for a second and once again thank all police, sheriff and law enforcement people for what you do every day.

Often it is a thankless job.

I just want to say you are appreciated, your work does not go unnoticed.

Thank you.


.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

Mod 19, 4", shooting Super Vel's. 1975 at a convienience store robbery, 2 of them, 1 of me. Shots fired, 1 deceased on scene, the other w/life threating injuries, he didn't recover. I went home and had dinner...... and several drinks!!!!

I still have the gun and wouldn't part with it for ANY reason.

1982. I was a young Patrol officer in NC's capital. Went to serve a WFA (warrant for arrest) on an individual that had threatened a local college student with a knife as he returned to his apartment in a rooming house.

I arrived with the WFA and attempted to arrest the suspect.
Long story - but to shorten it, he attacked me with a butcher knife and it took 6 rounds of .38 +P JHP's from my M66 4" to put him down. The last round was bridge-of-nose.

REVERENDS Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton came to town. There was a media circus. A demand was made, and met, for an FBI investigation. I was off the line for over a year.

The event occupied my dreams for a decade or so.
Proud to have lived through it. Judging from the shooting abilities of some of my closest guys I worked with - I'm glad it was me there, and not them.

Oh - I also learned, years after the fact - the suspect had a loaded 8mm Mauser rifle in his apartment.
Again, glad to be here.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Jim,
We may never TRULY know how many were spared from harm (or worse) due to the presence of a gun, but I'm glad you had the good sense to be armed. If more people would perhaps criminals would eventually get the message...don't start nothing and there won't be nothing!

Every time I sneak one in past the wife. If she only knew of my secret addiction :-)

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Dave

Came out from a bar around 2am with a group of friends. We are all mustang guys and parked our rides in the back of the parking lot. When we approached a "homeboy" had his girl on one of our cars making out with her. We were around 25-30 yards away when the owner of the car yelled "Hey, off my car. NOW!" The home girl jumped off the car and made some "whoop whoop" sound. Apparently this was a distress call or something for their crew. Next thing we know our forward 180* plane appeared about 10 homies eager to start something. 5 in our group. Myself and 1 other were DD/Designated Carries for the night. The 3 others were slightly drunk Air Force guys that were not little and had no problem throwing some fists. I remember instinctively putting my hand on my 4040pd under my light jacket and my other sober/carry buddy leaned over "you good?" I replied with a simple "yup" and we spread out a bit. I started looking at who was closer, bigger, ect as to where this hopefully would not progress too. We just moved slowly to our cars and told them we just wanted to leave with no issues. As soon as I got into my stang I un-holstered and placed it between the seat/console as its much easier to access. I thought for sure that night was going to be a VERY bad night. We made it out without anything starting thank god.


My profession is being a Realtor. I meet strangers in vacant homes and all times of the day. I'm a perfect person to ambush. I make sure to train that if that happens I will not go quietly. One day something came up. I was at a vacant property in a rough part of town (down town Ogden, if you are familiar with Utah) its full of transients and illegals. The home I'm at needed a full photo report and evaluation for the bank. As I cautiously walk through the property I announce myself and photo away. I get to the back yard and notice an extension cord from the neighbors home into a shed about 8'x8'. First thing I think "****...I have to photograph any out buildings" Approaching with caution I open the door to find a transient with a knife looking at me with cold eyes. He says to me LEAVE OR I WILL KILL YOU. I immediately get a purchase on my 4040pd and start looking around a bit while slowly backing up (usually these people have friends) I told him I don't mean him any harm and was just there to take pictures. As I backed up he came out into the yard. At this point I told him to stop following me or I will use deadly force. He finally noticed I had a grip on my 4040pd and dropped the knife and went back into the shed. Once I got back to my car I called the local PD.

My wife pokes fun at me for having a "utility belt" for my job. My 4040pd IWB galco holster, 1 mag pouch, and my G2 LED Converted light in a pouch. That light comes in handy. I use it a ton. But she is understanding and thinks anyone that does my profession un-armed is an idiot.


Funny wise my 4006 purchase almost got me killed. The wife said no but I could resist. It was a NEW IN BOX for only $400.

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Matt H.

I wanna say this happened about 7-10 years ago. I was home on leave and outside walking the dog at about 8pm.
I heard a giggle and turned to see the a young gal of say 18 yrs of age approaching me, the dig was going batty as she stopped short. I asked,"What do you want?!" She smiled and said,"My cars broken down, can you give me a ride home?" She pulls out a $5 and offers it for "gas money". Immediately I go into red alert as I scan the road for a car, nothing there! I put my off hand into my pocket as her "boy friend" comes into the light, a real trashy looking type. I answered,"Sorry but my trucks out of gas, but I'll call ya a cab?" She frowned and BF approaches putting his hand in a coat pocket, I withdrew the model 60 I had in my left pocket and pointed at him and commanded,"SHOW YOUR HANDS!" The sight of the wee wheel gun made him shrink and the girl yelped.
Both hi-tailed it out of my yard and a car two blocks down picked them up!
I didn't sleep that night, instead I stood watch to see if they'd come back, a Smith 645 partnered up with the 60, and an M1 Carbine!
Nothing happened, but was I ever grateful for being what those who've never been there call "paranoid". The 60 is still with me...ALWAYS! Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

When I was 8 years old ( a young 43 now) my big brother and I were sitting in the living room watching T.V, suddenly the front door came crashing open and a man came charging into our house. Suddenly my mother was standing behind us with my dad's 2' model 10. The man stopped dead in his tracks, I can still remember my mom cocking back that hammer and simply saying "DON'T". The man left in a hurry and my mom called the police. I did see the man again, about two weeks later he was in the paper after being arrested for raping and murdering another women in our town. My Dad is gone now and mom lives with my brother, and even though I love my S&W single stack 9's. It's an old 2' inch square butt smith model 10 in my nightstand.

While holding a builder model home open one day I had two very suspicious looking gansta types come in that I didn't see drive up (cameras outside and inside), they walked up from nowhere, at least I never saw a car on camera. They wanted to see the model but didn't look like a typical buyer for $300K houses. I let them wander around up stairs while keeping a eye on them on camera.
After a while they came down to the bottom floor kitchen area where I had strategically placed myself on the opposite side of the kitchen counter and back a little ways, with my hands in my pockets trying to look as casual as possible. My right hand was on my S & W 442 with laser grips just in case one of them came around the counter. I was on my cell phone when they came in and I kept the person on the other end on the phone and laid it down under a counter where they could hear what was going on.
We made a little meaningless conversation and they eventually left. I know they were not buyers but I think they were street wise enough to know I wasn't playing pocket pool and decided to go elsewhere.
To this day my hair stands up to think of how I would have felt without my friends Mr Smith and Mr Wesson!

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NRA & TSRA
Texas CHL Holder

Its great to hear so many stories with Happy endings. I also Thank all of our Police personal and any others who help keep us safe from the Cretins out there. Fortunately I have never had to pull a gun on anyone as yet and of course hope I never have to. Heaven pity them if I do as I know I will shoot if I have to protect myself or loved ones.

At my last Agency when I started I was issued a S&W Model 29 6" for a duty weapon and a S&W Model 28 4" for an off duty weapon (these two weapons was the only service weapons left in the armory).
Responding to a "Domestic Battery" the husband didn't want to be arrested and attempted to hit me with a wooden baseball bat. On observing the Model 29 loaded with W-W Silvertips up close, he decided that going to jail was much better than the alternatide!

I was leaving work at about 2AM, stopped at a red light, out of nowhere comes this guy running up to the passenger side and opened the door. I always carry a gun on the seat next to me, and when he looked in I had it pointed right at his face. He looked as if he had seen a ghost, slammed the door and took off in the direction that he had come from. Neither of us spoke. I don't know what his intentions were, so I can't say that it saved my life, but it saved me from being involved in whatever he had in mind. My one and only time pointing a loaded weapon at a human being. I no longer drive around with unlocked doors! Also, as an afterthought, I hope the guy didn't need a ride to the hospital. Oh well...... DLB

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Be Kind! John 3:16,14:27

Not me, but a buddy of mine that use to work for the same department.

Club in town called the Dizzy Rabbit. Every Fri and Sat night the police was going to be there fighting someone.

Buddy was carrying a 5906 in Bianchi #19 Dutyh Holster. Got into fight and one guy grabbed his gun. Buddy was able to hit the mag release and drop the mag. Guy who grabbed it now had a paperweight.

Buddy took it away from him and then used it to "learn him not to do it again" on the guy's noggin.

This was around last of the 80s

+1

Even at my worst day at work no one has tried to kill me.

I posted this before but it seems to fit here as well.
When we first moved out to small town West Virginia, things seemed pretty groovy. We left the terrorists, crackheads and bureaucrats of the Washington DC area behind. Only to encounter a different kind of terrorist.
Apparently some of the locals don't approve of a White Italian woman being married to an American Indian male. Our house was vandalized, trash thown in our backyard, obscenities written on the windows of our vehicles and fires lit on our front porch. I've even had my life threatened by a white supremacist skinhead because I was born the "wrong color." We called the local police, who of course did nothing. So, my wife and I got our permits and carry concealed.
I was in our backyard grillin' meat and telling our neighbor about what's been going on. He of course had no idea about it. I told him that because of the hate crimes, we've gotten our carry permits and I don't go anywhere in town without my Smith and Wesson snubby. I pulled up my shirt and showed it to him.
After that, all of the problems stopped and people in town are so friendly to us now. Did my Smith and Wesson save my life? Would the hate crimes have escalated to the point of my life being in danger? I hope I never find out.

Attached Images

snubholster.jpg (22.4 KB, 44 views)

Back when my wife was pregnant with our first son, she wanted to get out of the house for a hike. About a 1/2 mile down the trail, we came upon a large mule deer buck who was very unhappy that we disturbed action with his girlfriend. It felt kinda strange drawing my Model 60-12 on a deer, but getting my wife and unborn son gored was not an option. Luckily, he was scared off by a few large rocks.

Over my 30 years on the job, I've carried many guns, a good number of them have been S&W's, starting with the
Model 15 .38
Model 66 .357
Model 686 .357
Model 5906 9mm
Model 36 Chief's Spl .38 (back-up / off-duty)
Model 642 .38 (back up / off-duty)
and a Model 4506 .45
Some of these I still own today. And I just bought a Shield 40 for off-duty. I was in one up close and personal firefight back in 1990 but I was carrying a Beretta 92 then. But I've taken down many armed criminals and felons with the above listed S&W's that I've carried on duty and I think that still counts.

2005. Had bought my first pistol . 6906. I was about 21- 22 somewhere in there at the time. Drove out to the boonies to visit my new girlfriend. When I pulled up there was an old beat down ford in her driveway. Was parked awfully crooked with tire marks that penetrated part of the lawn. For some reason , still to this day don't know why, I grabbed my pistol and waistbanded it. Walked to the front door and heard a man shouting inside.

As I walked in I first noticed a broken lamp in the entry way. Rounded left into the kitchen and saw a smashed dinner plate on the counter, continued to follow the shouting into the living room and saw a guy in work boots, boxer shorts and flannel standing there screaming at my terrified girlfriend who was sitting on the couch. Guy wreaked of booze.

I thought to myself. I can either kick his butt. Shoot him in the back.........or drive him out at gunpoint.

I did none of the above. I instinctually just grabbed my smith, and smacked him over the head with it with a good whack. He went lights out. Turns out it was her jealous, drunk ex who had decided to show up and throw a fit.

Didn't save my life. But if I hadn't used my gun as a club......who knows what could have happened to her. That's 1 of 2 times I've ever pulled a piece. Other was at work. But that's a whole different story and outcome haha

I used to ride my horse in the back woods as fart from civilization as I could manage. I packed my OD 3" M66 in my hand made copy of a Bianchi 5BHL under jacket or vest. On one occasion I had charge of 2 youngsters on small ponies when it was clear we were being stalked by coy-dogs. I didn't get much of a glimpse but the were a half dozen moving through the brush just beyond eye sight. Despite the falling temperatures, I opened my coat up to allow access... felt for the back up speedloaders in my pockets... I headed to less remote areas & the critters fell behind...
There were a few on-duty incidents but nothing that required firing a shot which was just as well with me.