Your First S&W

[ContinentalOp]

A 642 no-dash, bought new in the mid-90s. I think it was shortly after they were introduced. It came with Uncle Mike's boot grips, but I replaced them with a set of smooth Eagle Secret Service grips (I can't remember if they were rosewood or ebony). I also had a trigger job with chamfered chamber mouths done. I think I may have had the trigger recontoured, too.

I didn't shoot it much, though. Most of my trigger time was devoted to a couple of 1911s and a Beretta 92FS I had at the time, as well as the 4" S&W Model 10 I carried on duty as an armed guard at the time (issued by my employer). I wasn't as much of a snub fan then as I am now.

 

[mkflyfisherman]

Model 12 bought in 1968, wish I still had it!!!!

 

[El Dorico]

Back in the 80's, a 686 with a 4 inch barrel. It was a work gun and I still carry it often. One fine shooting gun and THE BARREL IS NOT CANTED!.... Sorry, had to go there.. Still a fine looking gun, but now I carry a Glock 23 at work (manditory). I had a model 10 with a 2 inch barrel, but sold it years ago. I remember it like an old girlfriend...fondly. Never should have sold it...

 

[arjay]

629 5 inch classic about 6 years ago.Great shooter,didn't care for the laser engraving or the funny hole in the side.Replaced it with a 4 inch anaconda for carry and a pre 29 4 screw 6 1/2 inch for looking at.

 

[Horace & Daniel]

My first was my Model 38 Airweight Bodyguard no-dash (1971) purchased in "like new" condition for $375 in 2011.

 

[Frank46]

First S&W was a model 10. Paid $100 for it about 16 years ago. Dealer had a large cardboard box full. Let me rummage through it till I found the one I wanted. Should have bought more at that price. Frank

 

[A10]

Mine was a well used model 28 I got in 1977. The second was a brand new 6" 29-2 I got in 1978. Got stupid and sold both......

 

[wx7b]

Found a M41 7.5 in at a Salt Lake City gun show around 1984 for $325. Shoots great, my two girls will be fighting for it after they put me in the ground. Great shooter, better than some rifles, great trigger. A true keeper. Since added a M63, 640 and 642. Let a M60 38 +P 3 in and M14 get away.

All you guys retiring the old faithfuls are hurting their feelings - get em out and shoot em!

Great thread, enjoying the stories.

 

[HotRoderX]

My Grandfathers 686 No dash 357magnum its one of my favorite guns.

 

[Rio Vista Slim]

My first Smith & Wesson revolver was a blued Model 36, bought on my 21st birthday in 1970.

 

[Bwana1]

629 no dash 8-3/8" , my second one is a 629 no dash 4"

 

[sheldon wade]

first smith--

was a k-22 masterpiece with a 6 inch bbl, wish i still had it.
sw

 

[Decker]

The day I turned 21 and could legally buy a pistol, I walked into the Montgomery Wards on University Ave. in St. Paul MN, bellied up to the gun counter, and bought a brand spanking new Model 19, 6" barrel Combat Magnum.
That was in January, 1971.
Still have it, and it's in "as new" condition being as it became only the first of may revolvers I bought over time, and this "my first" quickly accumulated sentimental value so it became a safe queen while I shot all the others that came after including a couple of Model 66's, 3 Pythons, 3 Dan Wessons in each of the main calibers, and some more Smiths of various models.

But that first Model 19, being my first, will end up as the last to go when it's time to let the collection go as I head toward my end-times.

 

[gmiller0737]

My 1st S&W was a 686 2.5" Barrel I still have it & The Original Box & It's still in like new condition.

 

[imashooter2]

My first was a 4 inch 686-2 purchased for $275 when $275 was a lot of money to me. I had a couple of .380s and .32s and decided I needed a "full power handgun."

I still have it even though it doesn't get shot as much as some later acquisitions.

 

[Daimler1989]

Hi,

bought a 17-4 6" in June 1985 for bullseye matches, still own it and still using it for bullseye. Then in late 1986 I bought a 29 6" (don't remeber the dash) in nickle and did many matches with it as well (and it won me some trophies), but unwisely sold it in 1990. Due to the quality and superior handling of the 29 I sold my 6" Colt Python and got a 27-3 4" instead in late 1987, this one is still with me. S&W addicted as I am, the first handgun my wife got was a wheelgun: 696 no dash, and she loves it.

regards
Ulrich

 

[CMD-KY]

BG .38 cal

 

[JayBird686]

My first Smith was also my first handgun, a 686-4 4". A friend of mines dad is a gunsmith, ffl, and all around awesome guy. He sold me this for way under value. Ever since I was a teenager, I wanted a 686. He sold it to me for 300 dollars:

Then:

Now:

On the to buy list for the next year is a pencil barrel model 10 and a 45ACP revolver. Not sure whether to go 625 or 22-4.

 

[Patrick L]

Mine was this 66-2 I bought new in 1989. Oh how I hemmed and hawwed between this and a 686. After all, this K frame would surely batter itself into junk! Final factor was that my dealer didn't have a 6 inch 686! And yes, everything turned out fine, as its had 10's of thousands of .38s and maybe a thousand or so .357s, all 158gr, mostly cast.

For about the first 22 years it wore Packies, which honestly felt great and made the gun dishwasher safe. I could have left them and been perfectly happy. Then I bought these Ahrends this spring. Just this week I polished out the cloudiness (ran a thread about it too) and now they look like this

Also, I don't know if it shows in the picture, but I did a "poor man's patridge" on the front sight with a little scrap steel stock.

 

[VaRecon]

681 4 inch. A great shooter, but I prefer my 66.