Remember Your First Handgun? Let's Hear Your Stories!

[Alan]

I'd love to hear about everyone's first handguns. Do you still have yours? How do you feel about it now—any funny memories or did it get traded in for something better? Share your thoughts or even some photos!

 

[Elkster]

My first was a Ruger Single Six. Loved that gun. It got stolen along with my Winchester 94 and an old beater Sears 410 bolt action shotgun. Cops retrieved one of them for me, yeah you guessed it. The beater 410.

 

[Twizdd]

Hi Standard Double-Nine that was my grandpa's, still have it. Sits in the safe next to his K38. First pistol I purchased, the day I turned 21, Colt 1991A1 Commander. Was my EDC for about 15 years. Still have it, many, many rounds through it, and still pull it out to shoot once in awhile.

 

[BearBio]

Ruger Single Six Convertible for a graduation present in 1968. "Worked" a cousin's mining lease that summer in Angeles National Forest and carried that everywhere for snakes and plinking. Let my wife keep it on loan for protection when we split up and never got it back.

Second one was a S & W Model 58 41 M&P. Bought it with my separation pay from the Army in '72. Traded it to my brother for his graduation present: OM Blackhawk in 41 Mag. Carried that or a 45 Colt OM Blackhawk until '98 while hunting and guiding p/t.

 

[Sparky]

FIE Buffalo Scout .22 SA Revolver I picked up at a pawn shop in Tacoma. It spit more lead through the cylinder gap than I think came out the barrel. Couldn't hit anything with it. Offloaded it at a gun show (back when we could do that sort of thing) at a loss with zero regrets.

 

[Hilldweller]

My first pistol? A Remington O/U .41 Short RF Derringer. Remember Jim West's derringer on the original TV series Wild Wild West? Yup, that's the one.

My first guns were handed down to me from my father. He inherited them at the age of 13 when his father passed away. My grandfather had an odd assortment of firearms when he died. One, a 1936 Winchester Model 62 pump .22 I assume was purchased new as he died in 1939, the year he died. It was also the first gun I shot at the age of 5. Still have it and it still shoots great.

All of the others (I was told) were given to him by a friend of his who worked for the Chicago PD and was either in charge of, or part of the group that handled disposal of guns used in crimes by dumping them in Lake Michigan. Crimes back in the 30's in Chicago……who would have guessed??!!

My father gave them all to me when I was 13. There were a few pistols, all of which had their main springs removed, all but two of which were junkers. One was a nickel &blued Marlin Standard XXX in .30 short with a pearl handle. Pretty thing. The other was the Remington .41 RF over/under derringer - the only one still having its mainspring. Not quite a pistol per se, but the closest thing to one. Loved that thing. Being a kid I played with it constantly until flipping the cylinders open finally cracked one of the hinges. Never did fire it though. Epilogue to that story is that I always kicked myself for breaking it so when I was of age and started to collect a few firearms I sought out not one, but three for my personal collection along with a few full boxes of the hard-to-find ammo.

Before you ask….no I don't still have them. I sold 99% of my collection years back and they, along with the ammo were part of that sale. Old age, failing eyesight, and arthritis made it wise to let someone else enjoy them.

 

[Michael Strauss]

My first was a Ruger Standard Model in, I would guess, 1974. It was $49.50 at the local Gun Store. Enjoyed the heck out of it plinking and on the range. I was a member of the National Guard and each month they received 2 bricks of .22 LR. I volunteered to take on that "duty" on the indoor range at the Armory. Shortly after, purchased a 10/22 to assist. Followed by a SBH, .44 Carbine, .25-06 Red Pad 77, and so forth.

 

[Unshaven2897]

A .45 1911 Gov. Still have it. It's loose but still more accurate than I am.