I just posted for the first time in another thread, so thought I should make it official and introduce myself. Here's my S&W story. I'll try to keep it short. The first revolver I ever owned was a brand new Model 15-3 Combat Masterpiece. I got it shortly before enlisting in the Air Force in the early 70's and carried one just like it as an 812 Law Enforcement Specialist. The ones we were issued were pretty rough around the edges, but I worked in the armory, so at least mine always had the best looking pair of grips in the squadron 
. Over the years I accumulated a small collection of handguns, all Smiths but one, a Charter Arms Undercover, and all revolvers with the exception of a lone Model 39. In the next phase of life, I carried a different badge and a Model 28 for a number of years before the "big transition" to autos. Times change and sadly, like many of your stories I've read, circumstances required the liquidation of most of those guns. At those times you just do what has to be done and don't look back. Ironically, the only one I didn't get rid of was the Charter Arms snubbie, but only because nobody wanted it! Time and nostalgia have elevated that little fellow's status to the point that I now couldn't think of parting with it. I'm now comfortably retired and with an empty nest, so I've started to replace some of my favorites and even a few that I always wanted back in the day. I'm partial to the K frames so the first to be added back was, of course, a Model 15. With more time on my hands (and a few more bucks for ammo) I'm shooting more than I ever did. I'm also one of those fortunate guys whose wife not only enjoys the occasional day at the range, but actually acts interested (or at least doesn't nod off) when I expound at length on some fascinating new model variation or historic detail I've gleaned from this forum. That's my story. Thought it was time to officially sign on. Thanks for all the great info over the years.
. Over the years I accumulated a small collection of handguns, all Smiths but one, a Charter Arms Undercover, and all revolvers with the exception of a lone Model 39. In the next phase of life, I carried a different badge and a Model 28 for a number of years before the "big transition" to autos. Times change and sadly, like many of your stories I've read, circumstances required the liquidation of most of those guns. At those times you just do what has to be done and don't look back. Ironically, the only one I didn't get rid of was the Charter Arms snubbie, but only because nobody wanted it! Time and nostalgia have elevated that little fellow's status to the point that I now couldn't think of parting with it. I'm now comfortably retired and with an empty nest, so I've started to replace some of my favorites and even a few that I always wanted back in the day. I'm partial to the K frames so the first to be added back was, of course, a Model 15. With more time on my hands (and a few more bucks for ammo) I'm shooting more than I ever did. I'm also one of those fortunate guys whose wife not only enjoys the occasional day at the range, but actually acts interested (or at least doesn't nod off) when I expound at length on some fascinating new model variation or historic detail I've gleaned from this forum. That's my story. Thought it was time to officially sign on. Thanks for all the great info over the years.
