What was your first Smith, and story behind it?

[s2harry]

My first was a pawn shop purchase my Grandad made for me on my 18th birthday. It was a 4" model 65 that I still have to this day. When I'm gone my boys get my collection but this one goes in the ground with me.

Looks beat up, nice though....probably shoots like a dream.

 

[MifflinKid]

My first S&W was my third gun. It was a 3 inch Model of 1989 in .45 ACP that I found in a pawn shop in College Park, Maryland in the mid-90s. I got it for $350. The clerk told me he planned on buying it the next week when he got paid.

I've replaced the front ramp sight with an SDM gold bead sight and put in a rear sight blade with a wider (.140"?) notch. I replaced the rubber grips that were on it with Badger silver/black combat-style stocks. It has a very smooth action and is very accurate. It's a blast to shoot with moon clips. I've had multiple offers to buy it but I would have to be very desperate to sell. My wife says it looks meaner than cat sh*t.

 

[MaximumLawman]

While not exactly mine I called it mine, a WWII Victory Model issued to me while in the 101st ABN 1985-1989. The fact mine was Parkerized and everyone else's was blued got me interested in researching S&W and started a long time interest in them. A few years ago I bought a Victory Model for my collection, most friends thought I was buying it to go with other firearms in my WWII collection but I was actually buying it because of having used one during my time in the Army.

They issued you an old gun like that in the 80's??? Were you a pilot?

 

[usfscorpio]

I had an old Model 10-5 that was a Police/Security trade in. It was my 2nd gun and 1st revolver. I ended up needing to sell it. But I now have a Model 60 and Model 64, and an M&P 9c on the way.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

No photos, but my first S&W was a nickel-plated, three inch, square butt Model 36 bought used in the mid 1970's when I was a new SGT/E5. It was a dandy, and kicked like a mule with a Jeff Cooper recommended 158 grain SWC over 5.5 grains of Unique. One of the SSGs in my company had tiny hands and begged me to swap it to him for his "old .45." I got a 1967 Colt Gold Cup National Match out of the deal! Since I was a big Cooperista at the time, I was kinda happy. I carried it on duty when regulations and CO's allowed and used it in IPSC and Bianchi Cup competition here and in Europe.

My latest S&W is a 1982 nickeled Model 37 that I got in a straight swap with a co-worker. He really wanted my KelTec P32!

ECS

 

[OLDSTER]

smooth bore M34

Sorry no pics, but interesting story; my first S&W was a Model 34 Kit Gun I bought in the early 80s. Before I ever shot it, I noticed, while cleaning it that it was a "smooth-bore", from the factory no less ! I was very tempted to keep it as a collector, but cash was short, so sent it to S&W for a new barrel ( great, prompt service with an apology ).

 

[JeepinSoldier]

They issued you an old gun like that in the 80's??? Were you a pilot?

Plenty of old guns still floating around the military in the 80's.

During my time in Germany from 1984-1986 I was an M-60 gunner. I carried the M-60 machine gun and a M-1911A1 that had to be WWII/Korean war. Still was a great pistol. However, the holster that they issued me was so old the snap was worn out and the pistol would fall out when I took a knee on patrol. I finally purchased my own holster to prevent this.

I know the UH-1 pilots still carried S&W revolvers from WWII. One of the Huey pilots showed me his revolver and it said 'U.S. Navy' on the top left of the frame. We both laughed at a Navy gun in an Army arms room.

Some of the tank crews and tank recovery vehicle crews carried .45 ACP M-3 'Grease Guns'.

We still had Vietnam M-16A1's until 1989. I got a new M-16A2 right before I deployed to the first Gulf War in 1991.

 

[STCM(SW)]

My first Smith was a 6" M19 in 1967 for NRA Bulleye target shooting.
No pic's because it's been gone for many years now.
Store I got it from gave me a box of ammo & ear plugs for the sale.
They did things like that back then, like free steak knives for buying gas @ $0.26 a gallon........

 

[Buford57]

My first S&W was a 6" blued M&P that I bought in 1977. The SN (503006) indicated mid-20s manufacture. Price was $65. Every payday for the next 2 years I bought a bag of 148 gr. wadcutter reloads and shot the daylights out of it. Then I joined the local PD and was promptly told that this was not Dodge City and I would not be allowed to carry it because the barrel was too long. I traded it and a Remington 870 to a deputy sheriff for a 4" M28-2 and carried that for most of the next 10 years.

Never had a picture of the M&P and an old Polaroid of the M-28 doesn't scan well, so no pictures.