This is my favorite forum online, and has been since before I joined, and this might be the best thread on it! It's taken the better part of the past week to read every single post on all 18 (so far) pages in this thread! When I first started reading them I decided I wouldn't post until i finished reading them all. I'm subscribed and look forward to reading about more first smiths
My first delve into gun ownership was all black powder for a while. I collected cap n ball guns and shot the heck out of 'em for three or four years, until one day an older family-friend decided to 'hand me down' his 5906, which happened to be his first pistol as well. He had only put a box or two of ammo through it in his days! I can't say the same, I've put at least 2000 rounds through it since then, and it shoots now like it shot the first time I pulled the trigger, if not better. In all those rounds I can recall maybe three FTFs, none in the past year, all stovepipes and probably the round or mag's fault. That S&W was my first "cartridge-firing" firearm of any sort, though i had much rim and center-fire shooting experience prior to ownership. I'll pass on that 5906 to the right younger-person some day, family, friend, or both, whenever the time comes that feels right. No way is it leaving my possession any other way!
So that 5906 was a gift. My first S&W purchase was my second S&W. Once upon a time I
fiiiiinally got the 'Good News' call from the Detective who handles licensing in my town. I knew it was just a matter of waiting to receive my concealed-carry permit in the mail, so this was a very good reason to celebrate! I went out to search for the 1911 I'd wanted since I was about 12 years old. I live in MA, so in order to purchase a new firearm, it must be on an evil restricted list of "MA approved firearms." I wanted a NIB 1911, so Colt, Springfield and Kimber were out of the question. I already loved my 5906 dearly, and had shot several smiths at this point and had much respect for their quality, so I knew when I left the house that I was looking for a SW1911. What I didn't know was that there was going to be the SW1911 better than I could have ever expected and hoped for waiting for me at the first shop I visited! The major things that had bothered me about SW1911s were the HUGE letters often found down the slide, and the extra serrations up front. When I entered the gun shop I walked right up to 1911 case that I've drooled over in the past, and my jaw hit the floor. Waiting for me was the beauty seen in my photos below. Ltd edition, one of 231!!! I had it all paid for by the day my License came in the mail, and I took it home that very same day of course! I even got it NIB for $200 less than the standard SW1911s next to it cost.... i still can't believe that. I've carried it just about every day since then with very few exceptions, and it shoots better than I can describe. I don't really believe in fate, but that gun waiting for me kinda felt like that. Both these smiths I've written about I would never ever sell or trade, even if I become penniless and homeless.
