What was your first Smith, and story behind it?

[tops]

In 1959 I was 18 and I bought used a 4 or 5 in. (can't remember) barrel, .44 Spec. with magna grips and a shrouded ejector rod for $40. Being young and with good eyes I could see farther than it would shoot so I ended up with a .357. Since I have got old and can't see very far I wish I had the .44 back. Larry

 

[Rodinal220]

S&W M19 4" 4 screw .357. Bought it 28 years ago and still have it.It is superbly accurate and reliable.I have put 10s of thousands of .38spl through it and a few magnums.Would never part with it.The action is smooth and the trigger in both double and single action are fantastic.

 

[Rogue686]

Just an update to my earlier post. Yesterday my grandfather suddenly died of what appeared to be a massive heartattack. I cannot tell you all what a shock this is to me and my family. This gun just became so much more special to me.

Sorry to hear that, LAS&W. Sorry for the loss.

 

[Stainless44]

In my case this question poses an interesting theoretical problem. I don't know how to identify my "first" S&W because I bought perhaps 15 of them at once.

A friend of a friend passed away and they had to liquidate his collection. I purchased maybe 25 guns...a large percentage of which were very nice S&W revolvers. So in my case I got a whole bunch of Smiths at one time.

I guess if I had to pick which came "first" it would be the one that sparked the most interest and got me into the auction. It's a 629 .44 mag with the 8 3/8 inch barrel. It's a no-dash 1980 vintage gun and I really, really wanted it badly the moment I saw it. At the time the only revolver I owned was a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 mag.

Then I picked up another 629 in .44 with a shorter barrel and non-fluted cylinder, then a model 29 that has since become my favorite in the whole collection. There were just a mess of them...a bunch of 45 colts, a .22 revolver, a .44 special...it was a fun week. Heck...it's been a fun year since then.

 

[LAS&W4me]

Sorry to hear that, LAS&W. Sorry for the loss.

Thank you. The past 48 hours have been a rollercoaster

 

[Rivers2k]

Mine isn't to dramatic or nostalgic. After learning to shoot in the marines I was hooked on shooting rifles but when I moved there were no rifle ranges near me only hand gun ranges. So I figured I would try shooting handguns.

So I walked up to the guy that owned the shop and the range and told him "I know nothing about hand guns but I want to start shooting educate me" Needless to say he was shocked by my honesty and openness. He asked me what I wanted to do with it. I told him shoot here, carry and HD. he handed me a 442. I said really a revolver no I want a glock or something like that pointing at some S&W semi's.

He gave me a baby glock but also told me to shoot the 442 even gave me some ammo for free. Shot the glock and the 442 I have been sold on revolvers ever since and have never owned a glock.

 

[stardusthm]

My first S&W revolver was a model 686 target champion, purchased in February 2009

I recall going to the gunsmith to look at his handguns...especially some Colt models I spotted on his website, and came home ...
with a S&W revolver.

Afterwards I purchased the model 460 (march 2009) and the model 617-1 (july 2009)

 

[PALADIN85020]

Just an update to my earlier post. Yesterday my grandfather suddenly died of what appeared to be a massive heartattack. I cannot tell you all what a shock this is to me and my family. This gun just became so much more special to me.

Sorry to hear about your grandfather. I totally understand wanting to keep that gun forever - and longer. Family ties are very special, and it's terrific to have some keepsakes of pleasant days gone by. I hope your family is bearing the grief as well as possible.

John

 

[deanodog]

My first S&W was a model 30 in 32 long caliber. I had a high standard double nine before it due to the cheap ammo. This was back in the 60s. Not much money for ammo back then. The model 30 is long gone. I only fired it six times for test for function. It served as a bed side gun.

 

[mbnatt]

M67 no dash, because civilians could by a M66 at the time, all back ordered by Police!

 

[C.S.63]

My first smith and handgun was a 686 6" no dash and no (M)
was talked in to it. At the time I was a new permit holder on LI NY
(Suffolk County) no regrets but at the short indoor ranges hitting at what you aimed at was no big deal after a bit of practice. It is long gone with a bunch that I wish had not traded away, ( young and dumb and uneducated to the world of S&W's)

 

[Gunhacker]

My first SW was a 6" model 28 bought the day I turned 21. I carried it as my duty weapon when I first joined the sheriffs dept. I later sold it and bought a 4" model 10 and later a 13. After 6 years the sheriff issued everyone a model 66 4". After I had to be medically retired I bought a 4" model 19 as I could not find a 66.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dang... talk about a parallel universe.

We're both in California... just like in my posting, I bought my 4" M28-2 when I turned 21, went on to be carried as my duty weapon when I joined a municipal PD, sold it off for another gun...

It's stuff like this that makes this forum so interesting for me, in addition to the good info passed around.

 

[Old cop]

Back in the early '70's I purchased a second hand Model 38 flat latch as a back-up to my duty weapon. I still have it although it's in the "shop" for a strip & clean.

 

[Camster]

A new 617-1,purchased back in '98.It was my second handgun(and second Smith,the first being a Model 41) ....I figured that I was all set as far as handguns were concerned........Yeah,right. ;-P

 

[damienph]

First Smith Revolver

My first was a 6" model 686 that I bought in 1987 after my divorce from my fanatically anti gun first wife. It was my first centerfire handgun ever. I had it until 1992 when my brother finally talked me into trading for a 1937 Brazilian and a Spanish SxS 12G. The shotgun is long gone, still have the 1937 and I have a 4" Model 686-4 that I bought to replace the first one around '99 or 2000.

By the way, I feel somewaht vindicated as my ex is already divorced from husband #5 and I have been married to my second (and last) for almost 22 years.

 

[hittman77]

Bought from a local LEO who carried it about 5 years. 686-4 and he still had the blue plastic box, papers, etc.

 

[Bert Man]

My first one was a model 15-3 4 inch bought new in 1971 for $97.50.
My wife gave it to me as a gift on our first anniversary. Both are long gone now,however, I have since replaced it (the gun, not the wife).

 

[Faulkner]

My grandfather bought this .32 'Bicycle Gun' from a hardware store in Memphis in the mid 1930's. He carried it in his front pocket most everywhere he went until he passed away in 1969. From that point it was my grandmother's purse gun until she sold the farm and moved into a retirement village and she gave it to me, the eldest grandson, to "keep for her". She passed away a couple of years ago.

 

[Black Knight]

My first S&W is a 4" model 28-2 Highway Patrolman with factory Target Stocks. I carried a 6" Colt Python as an armed security officer and buldged the barrel during an NRA Security Firearms Instructor's course. I needed something to carry while the Colt was in the shop. I ordered the 28-2 and less than 2 weeks later it came in. When I got the Colt back I retired it and kept carrying the 28-2. I later changed to a 686-1. I still have all 3 of them. Each served me well during many lonely hours on night patrol duties.

 

[pdcampy]

In 1967 I worked for a Midwest City PD and we were issued S&W Model 10's. One night another officer and I got into a gunfight with a B&E suspect armed with a 16 gauge pump shotgun. The suspect lost the fight but I was not at all impressed with the .38 Special. I ordered the first .357 Magnum I could get and it was a 28-2. I carried that for a while. Later I was able to obtain a 19 and carried that for many years. It was much lighter but the bluing wore bad. The 28-2 wasn't worn at all. A great gun. I sold it later and regretted it ever since. I now have both, a 4 inch and a 6 inch 28-2 and shoot the heck out of them as often as I can. I've had a lot of guns since then but will always fondly remember my first Magnum.