Revelation
Member
I suspect that back then, the bad guys, as impressed as they might have been, still had some respect for law enforcement.
What was your first Smith and Wesson??
- Thread starter Martin67
- Start date
M-29 6"
First S&W was Model 30-1 .32 long w/2 in. barrel in 1968. Wish still owned...
Mr.Cip
Member
Model 10. I sold it around 1990. I still regret selling it.
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My first, and still my all time favorite is my Model 27 (no dash) with the 5" barrel…S199xxx serial #. The deep cobalt blue finish from the old days just can't be beat.
I've never looked into it with the S&W
historical folks to get the official letter though. That's been on my "to do list" since I first heard about them.
Mine was purchased when I was in my 20's and I FOOLISHLY carried it for several years, not knowing at the time what a treasure I had. At some point the grips were changed out to the target grips, but as I've owned it for nearly 40 years now, I suspect it may have been ordered special from the factory with those on them. But I also suspect if they had, the serial numbers on grips and revolver would match (they don't). Unfortunately I don't have the box and didn't realize the grips were different than the normal ones until about 15 years ago.
Interesting anecdotal… I'm told after trying the Model 27 out not long after the change from Registered to the Model # system, I'm told Elmer Kieth himself declared this the best overall revolver/barrel length around.
Of course that was over 60 years ago now, but I do like bragging on my Model 27! Hope it's true.
I've added a couple more since then, a Model 15-3 Combat Masterpiece, and a Model 65-4.
All are in awesome condition with hardly a mark on any.
I still think about picking up a nice Model 19 or the original blued FBI carry Model 13.
Well that's easy my friend…Model 27 (no dash)
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Revelation
Member
Mine was a S&W Model 19-3 that I purchased in 1974. I remember being told that they were allocated and hard to get, so that became my "First." It was blued from the factory, but I soon gave it the Armoloy treatment, and I still enjoy shooting it. It's been my trusted business partner, and even though we've both been retired for quite some time now, we still enjoy each others company.
Blacktail308
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My first was a Model 19 4" that I bought at Mack's Sport Shop in Kodiak AK in 1980. I put about 1500 rounds of the old Lubaloy Winchester factory ammunition through it and when I left the island I sent it to my dad in NY. He called me when he got it and asked me how I screwed it up. Apparently I shot it loose, he ended up trading it for something else at Creekside Gun Shop.
Not one I purchased myself but my dad bought me a Model 52 for my birthday in 1964 to use instead of my 1911A1 for NRA Centerfire Bullseye. I finally sold the M52 a few years ago to a young shooter at our gun club. I was getting too old to be competitive, plus I still have a 1911A1 with a Colt Match 38 special conversion unit and a Kart bbl so I wasn't without a good 38 . Yeah I should have kept the M52 but the kid was a good up and coming shooter and I figured he could use a good gun! Still have several 29's (one of which was the first S&W I purchased myself after seeing Dirty Harry, of course) and a 36 and, while not a revolver, my 1066 auto.....
My first was a model 39! Bought it in the early 80's and never fired it. I worked at a car dealership back then and salesman bugged me till I sold it to him. Later , I heard going home early he caught his wife in bed with a guy , pulled the gun and pistol whipped him. It was a cop 
don't know what happened to it.
don't know what happened to it.markieh
Member
Mine was a 4" model 19 in 1980. I was working for the UK importer (Parker Hale) at the time so I got a very special price. I seem to remember it was £135.00. Of course that was when we were allowed handguns.
AtTheRange
Member
I inherited two at the same time; a model 19 .357 made at the tail end of 1958 and a model 39-2 nickel plated 9mm made in 1974. They both have newer stocks while the originals undergo refinishing. The rubber grip on the 9mm was too big for my hand so I found some verry pretty wood stocks.
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tygar
Member
First one was a M29 5 screw given to me by my dad around 64. My first buy was a 15-2 or 3 (1970) for carry as an Officer & then upgraded to M19 when we could carry 357s. Bought my first new 29(2) 8 3/8 around then. Still have it in the box. Pretty much only have S&W revolvers except for my .454s. Have literally had 100 + & still have 15 or 20. Latest is the 360PD 357, my pocket gun. Only way to go - S&W revolvers!
Back in the mid-late 70's nice S&W's were scarce in Southern California, I was a relative newbie, a neighbor friend took me under his wing and introduced me to Al Wisser, who he and his brother and sister ran the Wisser's Gunshop in Anaheim. Al took a liking to me and one day he asked me to come over the far side of his counter where he showed me a pretty cool (new) M66 with 6" barrel. He had lots of "regulars" and he didn't want to alienate them when he held this gun for me.
I did put a story about this back on the old forum, but it's lost (at least I cannot find it
)
Anyway, this gun has been with us for many moves, starting in So. Cal then to Alaska, over to Utah for a bit, then back to Alaska, ultimately we ended up in the Pacific Northwest. Along our journey my wife decided that this revolver was her's, I only get to shoot it rarely, and of course cleaning it up so that it doesn't show that it has been shot...
Still have the box and papers and even though it's now my wife's gun, it does get shot regularly (maybe a few dozen rounds at a time).
Here's the pic of this old friend:
Enjoy.....
I did put a story about this back on the old forum, but it's lost (at least I cannot find it
)Anyway, this gun has been with us for many moves, starting in So. Cal then to Alaska, over to Utah for a bit, then back to Alaska, ultimately we ended up in the Pacific Northwest. Along our journey my wife decided that this revolver was her's, I only get to shoot it rarely, and of course cleaning it up so that it doesn't show that it has been shot...
Still have the box and papers and even though it's now my wife's gun, it does get shot regularly (maybe a few dozen rounds at a time).
Here's the pic of this old friend:
Enjoy.....
poledorus
Member
My first Smith was a 686-no dash with a 4-inch barrel, which I still use. Very handy piece.
1973: Model 15, personal purchase to comply with regs of CA PD I was hired full time for.
Prior to that I carried a 4" Colt Trooper MK III with a CA community college PD and as a private security patrol officer. Also a personal purchase.
Prior to that I carried a 4" Colt Trooper MK III with a CA community college PD and as a private security patrol officer. Also a personal purchase.
Mine was a model 59 I spotted among the used guns. I have no idea now (50 years later) why I decided to buy it, but buy it I did. I quickly grew to hate that pistol! It was a jam-o-matic and every time I pulled the trigger, my head would jerk forward with the shot. No idea why that happened... it wasn't a flinch, it's the only gun I ever experienced that with. Gave me a headache after a couple of mags. Sold it to a friend and moved on. Currently own several S&W wheelguns and love to shoot with 'em, from .22 to .41 mag (and no flinching), but no semi's. I guess I'll stick with revolvers.
Model19man
Member
I bought a new Model 19-5 from Rockett Pistol Parlor at the Market Hall Gun Show in 1981. It was nickel plated, 6" barrel and I still own it. Have fired thousands of handloads through it with Sierra 125 grain jacketed hollow points and a healthy dose of W296. 
Islander
Member
My first one was a 27-2 six in barrel with wood box and tools. Sold it and got a 686 the L frame fits me better. Now I have a stable of smiths.
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