What was your first Smith, and story behind it?

[KarmannGhia]

My dad got me a Mod 17 w/ 8 3/8in barrel when I was 16 (he had a Mod 57 w/ 8 3/8in barrel). A few years later I traded it for a Ruger Blackhawk in 41 mag (A trade I regret to this day). I later traded the Blackhawk for a Nickel Mod 34 w/ 4in (which I still have today). I still want a replacement Mod 17 w/ 8 3/8in. I miss the 1980s, too bad I was young and dumb at the time.

 

[Tom Kent]

I don't have pictures but in September of 1972 I was in the North Carolina SBI Academy I was issued a 2 1/2" Model 19. My law enforcement career and my affection for S&W firearms began then.

 

[chud333]

A model 19 in Nickel. I shot the heck out of that gun back
at my Papaws gravel pit as a teenager in the70's. And always shot full
house .357 loadings too. Never had a lick of trouble out of that
gun and it shot sweet. So there, to the ones who say to not
feed your K-frames a steady diet of full power .357 loads.
Of course this gun is responsible for why the wife has to repeat
herself everytime she says something to me.
As a dumb teenager who needs hearing protection? Huh ???
Yes, i hear the crickets chirping all the time when it's quiet now.
Sorry no pictures. I foolishly traded it long ago for something
else i just had to have at that time.

Chuck

 

[nutsforsmiths]

My first Smith was an 8 3/8" Model 48-3 that I bought used in 1991, I think I payed $275!

It was the second pistol I ever purchased, the first being a 1939 Mauser made Luger. I didn't want to shoot the Luger very often, so I thought it would be a good idea to purchase a pistol I wouldn't mind shooting. The 48 caught my eye mainly because it is in 22 WMR and I had not seen too many pistols in that caliber.

21 years later, I still have the Luger. I still have the Model 48. And I have a lot more S&W revolvers too!

 

[Frank46]

I had recently retired after 30 years of 24/7 shift work. Was due in NYC for a physical,chest x-ray and a hearing with a judge regarding my exposure to asbestos during my employment. I had a copy of a dealers ffl so that I could have them ship whatever I bought back to my buddys shop here in Louisiana. Went in a good friends gun shop and asked if they had any model 10's. Guy comes back a few minutes later with a large box full of model10's.Guy asks if I have a pistol permit as if you don't have one you cannot touch the revolvers. I flashed my Louisiana CCW and ok. Spent about a half hour fondoling all those revolvers. Finally picked out a nice one and a holster. My friend tells me $100 for the revolver the holster is free. After another week I get home claim my new/old model 10 and a week later get a letter from my lawyer that my claim against my company for exposure and subsequent lung damage from it required them to start paying me about $1500 a month for the rest of my life. As an aside each year my company pays someone to come to my house to make sure I'm still alive. Frank

 

[gearchecker]

My first Smith, K-38 Masterpiece

My very first S&W was a model 14-3 K-38 Target Masterpiece. It was given to me by my Mother-in-Laws boyfriend. It belonged to his late wife as her carry gun and he wanted to be sure it went to somebody that would appreciate it for what it is and the history behind it.
I got it about 2 months after Obama was elected, and it was my 3rd gun into the beginning of my gun collecting madness.
I still have it, and will until I leave this planet we call home. I've told my daughter that it's to be passed to her, and she's agreed that she will pass it onto her daughter when the time comes. Under no circumstances is it to be sold. If somebody doesn't want it and the responsibility that goes with it, they're to pass it onto another family member that'll promise to take care of it, and then pass it on in time too.

It's my hope that this and a few other guns in my collection will become heritage and legacy guns in my family for generations to come.

Regards,
Gearchecker

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

My first S&W revolver was the 586 no dash 8 3/8. I wanted a Smith revolver and I wanted a 357 but I did not know what the models were. So I was at my local gun store and I saw it and fell in love with it. Now I love Smith revolvers and I cannot stop buying them. I will eventually get a Colt but for now Smith works just fine for me!

James

 

[Stainz]

It was ten years ago - the lgs was full of S&W revolvers - and, oddly, S&W-haters! I had discovered Ruger cf revolvers after I sold my Glock 21 - and didn't need my stash of .45 ACP ball ammo. I bought a Blackhawk .45 Convertible - to shoot up the .45 ACPs - but it was an intro to the .45 Colt, instead! Several .45 Colt Rugers would follow - including my first DA-revolver - a .454 SRH. By ten years ago, I had my eye on a 625-7 MG in .45 Colt - and sold my Ruger convertible to help fund it's purchase - it would be my first S&W. Money in hand, I went to the lgs only to find an empty spot in their display case where it had been. "Sorry, John!", the salesman said. That revolver had been there nine months... it was covered in my fingerprints - and drool. A long Labor Day weekend was about to start - my wife was off the next week - I had moola and nothing to do with it... I booked a condo out on Gulf Shore's isthmus for that week and shocked my wife.

We arrived after Labor Day (Cheaper rates - uncrowded - I'm frugal... okay, cheap!). The first night my wife said she was cold could I get her a blanket from the closet top shelf. I pulled, but there was something on it - I pulled harder. I don't recall it hitting my noggin - it did - I had an egg on my noggin as proof - but I caught it. It was a blue plastic box... with a new S&W 625MG in it - the very one I meant to buy - she had bought it out from under me! She is a keeper. I did my best to try an accelerated wear test on that MG (top, below), eventually trading a Ruger for another .45 Colt MG, a 625-6 (bottom, below) to share the shooting with. Before the month was out, I had a new 4" 625-8 in .45 ACP. Later in the fall would see a Dillon Press arrive - then a 629MG. I was hooked!

Yep, you don't have to hit me in the head more than once to convince me I'd like S&W revolvers!

Stainz

 

[eazyrhino]

586 nickel "4 bbl. Bought it new in 1985 when wheel guns still ruled. I still wish I had it.

 

[smithman 10]

First revolver

It was back in around 1994, when here in Virginia the one-gun-a month law was passed, I think. And the assault weapons ban had passed. Bought me a Model 64 4" heavy barrel.

I had been raised with guns back in the 50s, my grandad on Mom's side was a Methodist minister, but when he wasn't preaching to the flock, his favorite past times were hunting and fishing. On Dad's side they were country folk, he used to tell me how they gave him a couple shotgun shells and told him to shoot something for supper!!

My brother and I learned to shoot rifles and shotguns. Did some target shooting and a little hunting. Learned gun safety from the adults.

Later I did four years in the USAF. So I was used to long guns. I don't believe I had ever fired a handgun.

But when gun control reared its ugly head, I thought I ought to get me at least one handgun for when the wife and I got older (which we have) just in case we needed it. And before they were outlawed, which looked like it could happen.

Went to a local shop and bought that police trade in Model 64 4" heavy barrel and learned how to shoot it. The rest is history. I traded that one away for something along the line - wish I still had it.

The ironic part is if the gun control folks had not been pushing laws successfully, who knows if I ever would have started in with buying, shooting, trading and in general enjoying Smith and Wesson handguns (mostly revolvers) and other guns as much as I do now. Heck, I wasn't even an NRA member.

Seems like they accomplished the exact opposite of their goal - they encouraged folks like me who had lost interest in firearms to pick the shooting hobby back up.

This Model 65 is the closest thing I have to that first revolver I bought. These days I wouldn't mind having a standard barrel Model 64.

Anyway, I have the Brady bunch to thank for rekindling my interest in firearms in general and handguns and Smith and Wesson revolvers in particular!

 

[NavyFrank]

First S&W

Back in 73 I graduated college and had no credit. I had to establish a rating via a small loan and at that time the 29-2 6 1/2 inch barrel "Dirty Harry" special was the gun to buy alas no 6 1/2 inch blued 29-2's to be had at any price but I did get an 8 3/8 inch nickle 29-2 with the loan money. I still have both. I'm the guy that used his college book money to buy one of the first M-1A's made in Devine TX.

 

[zoom6zoom]

In the early 80's I worked for a private license contract police agency. If you wanted to carry something better than the beat to hell Model 10's (which, by the way, we were required to turn in along with the entire six rounds of ammo we were allowed to carry at the end of each shift) you had to provide your own. We didn't get any allowance for it. But I scraped up what was for me at the time the princely sum of about $250 and purchased a 19-4 from a tabletop FFL that my buddy knew. Glad to say I still have it today.

 

[MXP]

I am very new to revolvers and has in many years shot with .22 LR target pistols. But I got a 686-8, 6 shot with 6" barrel and it has been setup for target shooting (LPA fiber sights and tuned trigger and match grip). It shootes very well but kicks a bit more than a .22 LR. I use .357 Magtech, 158gr, FMC. I use SA only and one hand shooting. The trigger is very nice. I have to get used to the kick.....especially after 50 shots or so. I have ordered some grippers.....to strengthen the hand.

 

[sps282]

My first S&W was a model 15, purchaed new in 1969. I had gone to the local gun store to buy some reloading supplies and the model 15 was in a display case next to the cash register....It was love at first sight! Could not leave the store without it!

 

[DonD]

Mine was a Model 19 or 27, I can't remember which, given to me as a college graduation present. Nice gun, wish I had kept it, sold it to buy a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Mag, that's what power junkies do. Don

 

[ShinySix]

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a cool morning in aught-nine or maybe double o-ten. Just finished a twelve hour shift on a 3 day rotation. I really needed to replace my crappy Taurus 850 (constant light strikes, even after being "fixed"), and saw a good deal on a website for a store in my state (GT distributors).

So I got a coffee and made the long a.. trip up to Rossville, GA. I get to the counter and inquire about the model 642-2. The guy behind the counter pulls it out and I give it a five second look over and tell him I'll take it. As we start the paperwork the guy learns the gun is a display model and not available for sale, and they have none in stock.

The guy and this woman go behind this back room and come back a few seconds later and agree to sell it to me. Talk about down and up within a minute! I was elated to buy it at the then Obama crazy price of $389.

To this day I don't know why they decided to sell it to me but if anyone from GT Distributors is reading - thank you, its still riding with me daily as a backup

 

[july1952]

My first hangun was a Smith in .357, 686-3 Classic Hunter 6" SS, bought new for myself in December 1989. My purchase was made at the coersion of my younger brother, who had been shooting revolvers, mostly Smiths, and reloading for a number of years. Looking back, I was truly a "green horn" when it came to handguns. I was raised around shooting and hunting with rifles and shotguns but I wanted to learn about handguns and revolvers. Here's the first S&W, the gun below it, a 629-2 .44 magnum, was bought used many years later from one of the forum members here:

Since 1989, I have purchase quite a few handguns, mostly Smiths and I reload for all of them except the 22s.

So my younger brother got me in to this madness, but I do love it.

 

[chez323]

3", 629 talo , the LGS all have them

here's a picture of my 3" Talo 629 44 magnum with its little brother, 686 3" 357 magnum. The 629 was my first S&W, and if not for a buddy I wouldn't own any. I never gave revolvers a second thought, had 2 Ruger Blackhawks and that was all I needed. Till I went with my buddy on a gun deal he found on PAFOA for a S&W 629 performance center revolver with a 3" barrel. I saw it, held it and was hooked big time. So when we were visiting a gun shop we had never been to before to look at Sig AR's I saw a used but never fired 629 Talo with a 3 " barrel I had to have it. I've since added a 686 (see pic) and a 65-2 with a 3 " barrel (pinned) with recessed cylinder.

 

[primersp]

in 80 i buy an 29 in 6,5 " in an wood box reload less than 100 loads an blow the gun too hury to try other loads,i have let fast burning powder in the rcbs uniflow the cylinder were cut in 2 parts fortunly no injuries,buy the same 3 months after (the time to have some money)
now i 'm very carreful with the powder and the mesure

 

[S&W-Keeper]

Mine was a 6" model 27. I traded it for something else because it would not shoot as good as my 6" Python.I still have the Python.I have 6, 27's now, but they still do not shoot like the Python.