The Exclusive "First Gun" Photo Thread

[bmcgilvray]

Let's post photos of our first guns if you still have 'em. No replacements with like models but only the actual guns that have gone the distance. We can do one of each: rifle, shotgun, handgun, and a rim fire of some sort. Who still has each of these four categories? I can only do 2 of them.

Let's see what shows up in this thread and who has held on to their old faithful first firearms the longest.

I got both of these in 1975 when I was 18, the rifle in summer and the revolver in December of that year. I shot my first deer with the '03A3, deer season of 1976.

Smith Corona Model 1903-A3

Smith & Wesson Model 10-6 Heavy Barrel

The original Smith & Wesson brand holster that I also bought when I acquired the revolver finally wore out in 2010 after a jillion miles afield. Pretty good run for an inexpensive holster. Leave it to my good brother-in-law to take care of me and give me a vintage Smith & Wesson replacement holster for it for Christmas last year. Yeah Bo!

I no longer have the Winchester Model 190 .22 that I bought new in 1971 nor the Stevens Model 311 12 gauge double-barrel that was acquired sometime in the early 1970s. Wore my first Benjamin Model 310 air rifle plumb out and bought a second Benjamin model 317 in 1969. Still have that one and it occasionally sees sniping use in the backyard.

Actually, I also bought this Krag Jorgensen as the other half of a package deal when I got the '03A3 which was the gun I had wanted. Seems like the '03A3 was marked $95 and the Krag was marked $125. The pawn shop made a package deal for $200. That was big money at the time as my salary was $385 per month.

 

[feralmerril]

The winchester model 61 dad bought in the late 1930s and I learned to shoot with it. It really wasnt "mine" untill he died although I had free access to it growing up. The winchester 94 I bought new I think in 1957 at age 16. I had other guns as a boy that either got traded off or stolen through the years. Added a picture of me and a buck, but that one I might have shot with a shotgun, or the 94. cant quite make it out.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

My first handgun my dad bought me in 1971. A Ruger Single Six, 5 1/2" barrel .22 with genuine mother-of-plastic grips. My dad found this rig at the AC flea market in Hayward, Ca. and rebuilt a new holster pouch and screwed it on to the back skirt and shortened the belt. My ol' man was pretty good with leather. Here it is with a Colt. My toys just got a little expensiver since then. Inflation, I guess.
I turned 18 in 1975, too.

 

[redlevel]

Marlin Golden 39A I bought in 1960 or 1961 with money I made selling boiled peanuts. It was, and still is, one of my most prized possessions. I added the scope about 20 years ago.

 

[hsguy]

My first handgun given to me by my Dad about 1959, Model 103 Supermatic Citation with the 10" barrel. Still own it and shoot it some.

 

[Rule3]

Ruger 22 MII Bull barrel still have box and paper work and original grips.
Brand new from a local Hardware Store.

 

[ridewv]

My first handgun my dad bought me in 1971. .....

A good year Wyatt! My father also bought me my first gun in 1971, for my HS graduation present. It's this Colt Woodsman Match Target. In the mid 70's I became less interested in pistols and .22's, preferring shotguns and rifles, so it never got used much. But since it was a gift from dad I resisted selling it. It survived all my moves and sometimes less than ideal storage conditions. I'm so thankful to have kept it and now 40 years later my interest has come full circle to .22's and handguns.

 

[rimfired]

This is the first new gun I bought in the USA. 1971 just back from Scenic SE Asia. I made the OS walnut burl stocks and gave it a well pocket-worn character carried over the years.

 

[Mustang51]

My first centerfire handgun was this M-15. I bought it new in 1977 for, I believe, $135. It spent many nights doing nightstand duty as I moved around through the years.

 

[mm6mm6]

When I was born, my dad picked up a three digit serial number Stevens Favorite .22 single shot youth rifle with a Lyman tang sight for me. He figured that since my name was Steven, then it would be my favorite. He was right and I still have it.

The first gun I ever bought myself was in college at a gun show. My Marlin 1894 .357 Magnum. $150. I refinished the stock to a satin oil and removed the white butt pad spacer. My dad cut the barrel to 16" and recrowned the muzzle with hand files. He also backed up the front sight too. I added a Williams receiver sight and I still have it!

 

[Wyatt Burp]

mm6mm6, or Steve, I never get bored looking at the guns your dad shortened. Like the one in your hunting thread. And that is a very classy Stevens. Teaches a kid to make every shot count.
in 1972 we were by the Christmas tree and my parents told me to turn around. There leaning against the wall was a 1948 Winchester 94 .32 Special. My first centerfire rifle. My first gun of all was an Ithica Model 49 single shot that looked like a Winchester repeater. My son has that. Here's the 94.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

May 1982 - bought this beauty with my first paycheck on a lunch break. Paid $218 for it at Professional Sports in dowtown New Orleans-still have the origibal box and receipt. Good times back then.....Free, single, 25 and a duly liscensed lawyer in the gret Stet!!! Living and working in a target rich enviroment-oh yea!!

 

[Qball]

My first one, a model 17-3.
Still have it in my safe.
Only fault with it was the hammer spur that broke of.
Welded it on in an angle for easyer cocking

 

[bmcgilvray]

"Only fault with it was the hammer spur that broke of.
Welded it on in an angle for easyer cocking."

Hey, why not? It probably works great too.

 

[mikeyw]

I'll play. This is the first gun bought in my name. I still have it. It will be 13 years old in April.

 

[Fishslayer]

My first gun was stolen out of my storage area when I was deployed with the Seabees in '76. It was a 10/22.

This is my first handgun. Ruger KP90.

 

[rags]

mm6mm6, or Steve, I never get bored looking at the guns your dad shortened. Like the one in your hunting thread. And that is a very classy Stevens. Teaches a kid to make every shot count.
in 1972 we were by the Christmas tree and my parents told me to turn around. There leaning against the wall was a 1948 Winchester 94 .32 Special. My first centerfire rifle. My first gun of all was an Ithica Model 49 single shot that looked like a Winchester repeater. My son has that. Here's the 94.

Hey Wyatt, Does this look familiar? The Gun not me! Ithica Model 49 Saddlegun.

I was twelve then and still have it. I had been shooting for a long time but had to wait 'til my 12th birthday to have my own.


rags

 

[lazy]

After graduating high school in 1992, I bought a Remington M700 in 30-06. It was one of the rifles that I used to teach a blind guy from school how to shoot just over a month ago.

A few years latter I bought a Colt MK IV Series 80 1911.

Bought them both from LL Guns

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Hey Wyatt, Does this look familiar? The Gun not me! Ithica Model 49 Saddlegun.

I was twelve then and still have it. I had been shooting for a long time but had to wait 'til my 12th birthday to have my own.


rags

Yeah, there you go! did they make repeaters, too? When I carried that around the woods as a kid I pretended it was a winchester and wondered if someone could make a loop lever for it so I could spin it around, even though I bust my collar bone because it would still be too long. Your pic brings back fond memories of a little recreational fun that led to an out of control addiction. My Ithica led to harder stuff, like REAL Winchesters, and Colts, and S&W's, and....
Here's me with mine on Christmas day 1969 when I was twelve right when I got it. I now have that Great Western .44 Special sixgun and the holster, too. It's great that both are pictures are from when we were twelve.

 

[rags]

August of this year would make that picture 40 yrs old! Oh yeah, the gun collection has grown since those days in the woods and chasing cans up and down the hill.

I think yours was the "deluxe" model with the darker wood! A guy I work with has the one like yours...Great picture!!!

Great Thread!!

rags