What was your first Smith and Wesson??

Revolver - new 686 no dash, 4" / auto - new 469, sadly, both long gone. Have replaced the 686 with both 4" and 6" no dash models.
 
1968 shipped Mod 17-3, it's an early one as it still has "17-2" on the yoke. Lettered to a sporting goods store in Sturgeon Bay, WI.

My dad bought it from my uncle circa 1980 and I grew up shooting it (somehow it made it here to VA in the 1970s). Dad gave it to me as a 17th bday gift way back in 1998. I've shot the fire out of it and it's still I great shape and amazingly accurate.
My father bought a Mod 17-1 in Guantanamo, Cuba around 1960 at the Navy Exchange. When I was 16 and got my driver's license my brother (14) and I used to go and burn a brick of Winchester Wildcat ammo through it all at one outing. I still have it, and it shoots excellent. When we would shoot all of that ammo it would get a bit dirty, so we had to help the cylinder turn to lock up. I also taught my brother how to drive a standard on the gravel road we used to get to where we shot.
 
A 4 inch 686-2. Saw it at a local shop for $295 and asked to fondle it. It was a lot of money for a young man just starting married life and I reluctantly laid it down. The owner told me he would take off $20 as he put it back in the case.

I went home, made sure the bills were paid, counted my change jar and bought it the next day. It will be in my safe when they settle my estate.

Here's a poor picture, but the only one handy.
686-2-760.jpg
 
1980's, first leave at home while pcs-ing from Germany to California. My local shop had a really nice 586, 4", with a full length Bomar target block on it. I do mean HAD! It's one of the few guns I regret selling later.
 
My first also came during the Dirty Harry craze. It was a 629 with a 6inch barrel, presentation case with tools. Bought it from a home-based FFL who completed the paperwork at his kitchen table. My most memorable however was a 6inch barreled model 19 that my best friend owned. He was just married and needed money, so he sold it to me for 250 dollars. Flash forward 10 years when I got married and he stood up as my best man. For that service I gifted him the gun back. I believe he had a tear in his eye.
 
I didn't buy it, but my first Smith was a used Mdl. 28, 6", that my dad gave me for my 21st birthday, way back in 1971. The previous owner vibro-penned his dl number inside the crane. I've thought about getting it cleaned up and refinished many times over the years, but eventually decided to keep it as-is, since the story and memories behind it are its true value to me.
 
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