What was your first handgun purchase?

[Grayfox]

I was shooting rifle and shotguns from the time I was big enough to hold one up. Never really gave handguns much thought.
But then one day Uncle Sam put a 1911 in my hands and I qualified Expert. My entire thoughts about guns changed.

Around 1978, I hadn't been married long. We were living in a rental duplex in a questionable neighborhood. I was working nights. I figured it would be a good idea to have something in the house just in case. Especially when my wife was home alone.
Went to a LGS and plopped down an entire weeks pay for a used 4" Model 19. In those days I knew nothing about dash numbers. I do remember it was P&R. I liked it, she liked it and it served us well.

But that was also a time when if I got a hankering for something else it was a matter of gotta sell one to buy one.
So a couple of years later it got traded for something else. I don't even remember what I traded for and that too is long gone. But I have rectified that mistake and have since acquired another 4" 19-4 to replace it.

The first brand new handgun I ever bought was in 1989. A Browning MK III Hi-Power. I still have that one.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Per my request, my favorite LGS had put something behind the counter for me. On my 21st B-Day in 1997, I skipped afternoon college lectures, went to the DL office, then headed to the shop with my still warm from the laminator DL. I walked out with a 99% condition blued Ruger Police Service-Six .357 Mag for $185. It had been sitting in the used case unloved for several months, as it wasn't a trendy .40 autoloader (my how things have changed). It was used by my Dad that summer to keep a mountain lion attack from occurring. No longer 99% condition, it has seen a lot of holster time in the Colorado mountains, and will always have a place of honor in the family.

 

[stu1ritter]

My high school rifle team shot at the Park Ave. Armory in New York City as my high school did not have a range in the basement as some did in the city in the 1950's. We shot at the Police Detective range under the Armory. I always would arrive early and the detective instrucotors would let me shoot their snub nose revolvers for a bit until other folks showed up. Living in New York City handguns were only a dream, When I enlisted in the Army out of high school in 1959 I ended up in Aberdeen proving grounds in Artillery repair school and bought my first handgun there. Colt Python serial # 6306 in September of 1959.. It was $125 at the time. When I rotated home from Germany in 1964 my best friend (German national) wanted to buy all of my handguns and at the time, they were so easy to replace. I sold him my Python, my Model 53 S&W and my 1911. He was one very happy chap. Over the years I would visit him yearly or every other year and we would take the Python to his local gun club and do some shooting. He had it up till the day he died a few years ago and sold it to a good friend of his who I know, so, I still know where it is.

Stu

 

[erikpolcrack]

A S&W Model 10 in 1966. Think I paid around $50, maybe a little less. It was most of my second weekly paycheck for my summer job working construction. Most of my first paycheck went for the first rifle I ever purchased - a nicely sporterized M1903A3. I remember for sure that was $50 because my dad grilled me about the cost but let me off the hook when his buddy, a noted local shooter with his own radio show, said I did all right with the deal.

 

[John Adams]

Model 19-3

I bought this in 1974 and still love it.

 

[BKLooney]

Although I already had a few guns by that time, my first actual handgun purchase was a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special back in 1975.

 

[BKLooney]

My first purchase was a brand new Interarms Virginian Dragoon, w/ 8 3/8" barrel, in .44 Magnum, in 1979. My dad actually bought it for me as I was only 19.

My first pistol was actually a trade. I traded a Fisher turntable and $50 for a like new Walther PPK/S in .22 LR. This was six months before I bought the .44 Mag.

A good friend of mine almost took his right leg off with this same gun...trying to quick-draw and it went off before he cleared leather...I strongly suggested he not do that again but I think he was way ahead of me on that!

 

[Xlr8r]

My First Purchase was a CZ-75BD Police model.

 

[rock doc]

My father gave me his M10-6 in 1979, after my AF discharge as an LE Specialist. I had told him that I felt naked without a revolver on my hip. I gave it to my son a few years ago.

First purchase was an M&P 9c in Nov. 2007 after I decided to CC.
I bought it based on this forum's comments at the time. After lurking for a few months, I joined the forum. Best move ever.

 

[fiasconva]

My first purchase was a 5906 . I researched the heck out of gun magazines, forums, and sent for a S&W catalog. My choices narrowed down to the 5906 or a Ruger P89 and thankfully I had enough sense to pick the 5906. I'm glad I did and it's still my favorite handgun after all these years.

 

[oink]

I had a 25ACP unknown brand I bought in 8th grade or so around 1966. Left it at my parents house when I was out of state for a few years. It was missing by the time I got back as was my Sears $ Roebuck 12G pump. I strongly suspect a relative traded them for crack sometime around 1975.

 

[ladder13]

Model 66, some 40 years ago. Don't have that one but have 2 others currently.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Ruger Bearcat..........Think it was just after the Ark dry docked on Mt Ariat.

 

[koz5614]

Always wanted a Bren Ten. When I graduated our academy in 1997, it was the first gun I purchased.

 

[Echo40]

It was a Walther PPK/S-22.

I still own it and I still love it. It's a great little plinker, although the Double Action trigger pull is absolutely horrendous and the matte black finish is rather unattractive. As far as first guns go, I could have done much worse.

 

[quikdraw67]

My first purchase was a 5906 . I researched the heck out of gun magazines, forums, and sent for a S&W catalog. My choices narrowed down to the 5906 or a Ruger P89 and thankfully I had enough sense to pick the 5906. I'm glad I did and it's still my favorite handgun after all these years.

Good call. My 1st handgun was a P89. Bought new. Piece of junk. Unreliable. Really soured me on Rugers for years.

I have plenty of other Rugers now. Revolvers both DA and SA, 10/22's, Mini-14's, .22 pistols of various Marks, plus bolt action rifles, and even a Red Label shotgun.

But I won't buy a P series, or any other centerfire Ruger pistols. The few I had (LC9S, P95 and the aforementioned P89) were not reliable.

JMHO YMMV

 

[Greyman50]

Walther PPKs, son has it. My Dad had so many I really didn't feel like I needed one but you know how it is.

 

[SF VET]

in fall of '69, at the post Rod and Gun Club, Schweinfurt, bought a '66 T High Power for 66 bucks, later sold in about '75 for med school tuition to a Lincoln NE city police officer, I think for about $175 or so. Also at the same tine in Germany, bought a beautiful 870 Wingmaster, I can't recall what I paid for it. I still have it, and used to hunt pheasants in NE and KS with it. Later had Briley chokes put in it.

Bought a "few" more pistols and rifles and shotguns in the years since. Made up about 200+ rounds of 150 grain 308 yesterday. Can't wait to shoot them in my CZ 550 Manlicher bolt rifle.

All the best... SF VET

 

[oldogy]

A few years back, summer of 1957, I had my first steady summer job working construction between college years. I walked into my local hardware store as a17 YO and purchased my Hi Standard, Sentinal nine shot 22 cal wheel gun. Prior to the major gun laws changes of 1968 I carried that gun all over the country. Even had it at college and a couple of military bases. It has been wet multiple times while camping or fishing yet has never failed. Yep, I have taken care of it and still shoot it occasionally. If memory serves me right, I paid less than $50. for the gun and a few boxes of long rifles.

 

[robvious]

my first one I filled the paperwork out on was a S&W422 plastic stocks, fixed sights, long barrel.. could not afford the walnut with adjustable sights.. lol... first centerfire was a a Taurus PT99AF.... still have both and have put thousands of rounds thru each...