What made you a S&W fan?

[TAROMAN]

The first one got me started and soon thereafter the second one sealed the deal.
Model 60 was my carry companion in southern Arizona (somewhat dangerous even in the '70s).
A faithful companion for 40 years now.
Model 29 did everything, hunting, silhouette matches, and range toy.
Took my first deer with it. A lot of wear and tear over the years, so it went back to S&W for a complete overhaul a couple years ago.
Since then, 30 others have joined the family, but these two remain my favorites.

 

[Aircrewman]

Very simply... I was hired by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. in 1974. My exposure to firearms was extremely limited, almost non-existent. We were issued a Smith and Wesson Model 15, blues, 4". We began training on those guns almost immediately. We were required to carry that gun everywhere. We were considered to be "on duty" always...

The following year, after completing probation, we were permitted to carry something else, if we bought it and qualified with it and bought our own ammo as long as it was within specifications. The Model 39 had just been approved for "off duty" carry. I bought one of those as it was all I could afford. I carried my model 15 still but had the 39 too. Duty, m-15, off, m-39. I didn't need anything else as the duty 38 was issued and cheap to buy extra boxes to shoot... Those two guns were my introduction to the Smith and Wesson and I have not stopped buying them.... The only time I will stop buying them is when I am not able to because I will have left this life.... I got kinda hooked....!

 

[Macinaw]

Ruger doesn't make an 8 shot in 357. I use a M&P 327 R8 for Steel Challenge in OSR category with a C-more railway red dot.

Even if Ruger did make one; the quality of S&W is better.

Also, Ruger doesn't make a 10 shot 22lr double action revolver. I use mine for Steel Challenge in RFPI category. With the 6 inch barrel it is one of the best revolver I own!

 

[Rogue686]

As many others have posted, my father got me started on S&W's. When I turned 18, he gifted me a local police trade in 66-1 with a 4" barrel he had bought in the early 90s about the time I was born.

Now that I am 21, I can buy what I want when I see them at work and add to my modest collection I've picked up in private sales. The disease continues

 

[LittleCooner]

Well, I can blame Bill Ruger on my S&W addiction. Early 70's, out of school and a job, and after 10 years of high power deer rifles, I needed a pistol in the "stash". Friends were into 44 mag with Ruger Superblackhawks. So I purchase a 357 Ruger Blackhawk. First handgun, no experience with handguns, but many thousand rounds down range with the rifles. ****, this dang thing turns straight up at the sun every time you pull the trigger, and its only a "357". Someone says, hey, come with me and lets go over to a buddy of mine and shoot his 357, its a model 19 S&W. That did it, Ruger gone to the gun store as a trade in for a 19, wow, I was in heaven. Couple of years later, I had a 29 on order and it arrived just before Clint hit the big screen with Dirty Harry. The 19 is long gone, the 29 and a few other are still around. Thanks to Skeeter Skelton, I am a 44 man, both Special and Mag. Love the S&W, and the safe keeps filling up. Sorry Bill Ruger, but Dan Wesson and Mr. Smith got it correct.

 

[DR505]

My first handgun, for the police academy, was a Model 27-3 4". Been hooked since.

 

[OldDominion]

For me, the seed was planted when I was kid watching the Superman tv show (first run) with George Reeves. The intro showed a K frame .38 being fired (faster than a speeding bullet.) The next scene was a locamotive hammering the rails. From then till now, a handgun was a Smith & Wesson, and it was like holding lightning in your hand. OD

 

[rayb]

Bought my first Smith, a new Model 19, at the Rhein-Maine Rod & Gun Club in the late 1970's. That was the first new revolver I'd ever owned. That started it.
rayb

 

[Oscarflytyer]

1) Trigger!

2) Blued finish!

And then the price - ee gads... As I was building a collection, I just couldn't afford them. Which is kinda funny - just bought my first Smith. It is a butt ugly Model 10 Aussie Police turn it that looks like it wore out 2 holsters. But it has that trigger!

IF I had the funds, I would own a K Masterpiece in 22 and 38, plus a 4" 44 SPC and an old 45 Colt Military and a Mountain gun, for starters!

 

[viceunit]

I worked as a police dispatcher starting at age 18 in 1975. The officers at that department carried Model 15's and many officers then were sent to S&W Armorer's training and had red or yellow sight inserts, white outline, etc added to their guns. They had an outdoor range and I was invited once and fired a model 15 for the first time. I was hooked. Long, quiet night shifts left plenty of time to read gun magazines and learn about S&W revolvers. When I became an officer, my first issued duty gun was a model 10-6 HB, then in 1984 a 586. I still have the 586 and recently found a nice 10-6 to represent the original one I let get away.

I bought my first gun, a 28-2 4" in February of 1976. Then in April of "76 I bought a 2 1/2" 19-3. The 28-2 is long gone, but I still have the 19. Note: I was not yet 21 in 1976, my Dad had to fill out the paperwork. The model 19 cost me $165.00 back then. Many guns have come and gone since then. I had my Dirty Harry phase, too. I have now settled (almost) on 15 or so models that I intend to keep. Never owned a Colt revolver. My brain is programmed to S&W cylinder rotation.

 

[KEN L]

This is the one that started it.

It was my first Smith, bought about 1972 for $108 with the original holster.
Hey, that was top dollar back in those days!

This is the one that started the most recent affliction.

Bought it about two years ago and haven't been able to stop, thankfully!

I've found some real keepers, this being the latest......they're still out there, boys & girls, just waiting to be rescued!

 

[shawn mccarver]

Well, I guess I've been one forever as the first gun I ever shot was my dad's service revolver, a K-38 Combat Masterpiece and even after that, being the top shooter in a Junior College course as a young man, armed with Model 10's, I thought highly of Smith and Wesson, but frankly was too young and ignorant to see many things properly in life.

This Model 36 is what set me on my quest/sickness/mania/conquest many years ago and I haven't looked back! What ignited your fire?

That is an interesting question, but for me, it is answered by naming people (authors) rather than a specific model.

In no particular order, Elmer Keith, Bill Jordan, Jeff Cooper (yes, he liked and used revolvers also in addition to his beloved 1911s), Skeeter Skelton, Walter Winans, Ed McGivern, etc. Ring a bell?

 

[mbliss57]

Their wide array of guns from revolvers to semi auto's to long guns to antiques and this forum. This forum, the SWCA and the S&W Historical Foundation sealed the deal for me as an older collection starter. I only had to go to a few other brand specific forums to realize this was a cut above the others and had people that wanted to help not antagonize.

 

[billyguns]

I grew up in the mountains of North Georgia, My dad was the chief of police in the town were we lived, He carried a S&W mod.10, and every day when he came home he would have to unload it and let me play with it, ( i was 4 ), loved the bluing of the older Smiths, wood grips , basket weave leather police belts, Dad said he only trusted his life to two guys, Smith and Wesson! Been a Smith & Wesson fan ever since.

 

[dave holl]

It is wonderful to read these posts and look at your first S&W experiences. I can't show you a picture of mine because 55 years ago my father traded his K22 for my first shotgun..........a 20ga Lefever side-by-side. We did spend many evenings in our basement in Cleveland talking gun safety, feeling the silky smooth action, and just admiring the workmanship of his K22. Most evenings I even got a chance to send a few rounds down range! Good memories.
Dave

 

[stu1ritter]

I grew up in New York City and was on my high school rifle team. Our home range was the 34th St. Armory, in the basement. It was the NYC Police detective pistol range during the normal work day. We would always arrive for practice/matches a wee bit early and the very friendly instructor detectives would let us shoot their snubbies. Some had Colts, some had Smiths. As a 14 year old I found I liked the Smith's more and have just kept that going. I have half a dozen at any one time and over the years have gone up to a dozen or so. I just appreciate the workmanship and the inherent accuracy. I've been a bullseye shooter for 50 years and now am trying to shoot pins. Using automatics to learn, but will want to get the Smith's spinning as soon as I figure out the game.
Stu

 

[williamlayton]

I don't care for single actions, S&W has good reputation, I could find Smiths at reasonable prices and I am not a collector.
Blessings

 

[all357mag]

Clint Eastwood!

 

[dscampbell]

On the day I turned 21 I went to Hayward Police Supply and bought a 6" model 28. When I joined the Alameda County Sheriff's Department I carried that 28 and then a model 13 4" (it was lighter) until the Sheriff decided to issue model 66-1 to all sworn personnel. Theses days I have a 3" model 10-5 and a model 36. I still like SW revolvers.


Scott Campbell
Remember wheel guns are real guns too
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[PRM1]

Back in the 70s when I got into law enforcement we had to furnish our own guns. Guidelines were pretty simple. It had to be either a Colt or S&W, .38 or .357 with a 4 inch barrel. I bought a Model 19 for a duty weapon and a Model 60 for an off duty and back-up.

I later switched to a Model 10, just because I like a fixed sight gun. Over the years I did eventually pick up a few Colts. During the 70s - 80s S&W had the corner on the LEO market. They work and rarely give problems.

My wife has laid claim to my M60. I have a M649 (first year production) and a Model 36-1 RB that I now carry daily.