I'll show you mine...

[500MAG]

Was sorting through some brass for a fellow forum member and I was explaining to him that it was some of the first brass I ever loaded from 30 years ago for my first handgun. He said he thought it would make a good thread. This is my first handgun given to me over 30 years ago by my Mother on Christmas when I was 16. Dan & Wesson 357 Magnum. How about showing yours if you still have it.

[HollandNut]

no longer have it , burned up in our house fire in May of 2007 , first I bought was a 1975 ish 7.5" SBH .. My cousin gave me a very early M25 S&W that he bought right after they came out , and he used it in police matches , all tricked out , it burned as well

[dubber123]

Can't post a pic, but it is a 4" tapered barrel S&W model 10, and I still have it 25 years later. It was the one that taught me you really can hit stuff with a handgun.

[Porterhouse]

Can't show a picture either but it's a S&W Pre. M29, 5 screw in box. Found it on local classified magazine, "Uncle Henry's". Yes, that was actually my very first gun and I still have it. The problem was it was so beautiful and I felt guilty to shoot it, so bought another 44, 4 screw M29 a week later. That how I entered this wonderful world of shooting, casting, loading, and hunting. No, it wasn't '50s. Only 17 years ago...

[bedbugbilly]

My "first handgun" was a 1851 Colt Navy. I'm an old fart and have shot BP for 50+ years. I no longer have it but still shoot Navies.

My first "cartridge handgun" though came much later in life. I didn't start shooting cartridge until a few years back. I sold most of my long gun collection but in the process, saw a Colt that caught my eye. I bought it and that's the culprit that got me "hooked". I now enjoy shooting my vintage Smiths and New Vaquero - yes, for some reason the handguns "multiplied".

This is my "first cartridge handgun".

109883

It's a Colt "Army Special" - 6" - 38 Special. This particular pistol was made in 1910. The reason I wanted it was because the Army Special came out in 1908 - the same year my Dad was born. The name of the Army Special was changed to Official Police in 1927 - the same year my Dad graduated from high school. It sounded like a good "excuse" to buy it. LOL It's a great shooter and I think of my Dad every time I shoot it. A great handgun that is still going strong after 104 years!

[LUCKYDAWG13]

my first handgun was a Colt new frontier Buntline 22 / 22mag still have after 43 years

[Hickok]

I am in tune with bedbugbilly, as my first was a cap and ball .44 Remington.

My first cartridge handgun was a Ruger .357 magnum Blackhawk, followed by a .44 magnum Super Blackhawk. This being in the nearly 1970's, my search for the Holy Grail of handguns was the S&W Model 29 .44 magnum. After years of searching, I finally found a new Model 29 for a reasonable price, and I still have it. The others were traded off or sold, but later replaced by new ones.

And yes I am stilled hooked on the cap and ball revolvers, owning several of them, a Uberti Colt 1860 .44 being my favorite, followed closely by the Remington 1858 .44.

[ermont]

Smith and Wesson Model 18 22 lr. Had it for 35 years and will probably always have it.

[CastingFool]

I picked up my first handgun in '96, and yes, I still have the brass I reloaded for it back then. Been reloaded a few times, too. I still have the brass and box for some 30-06 ammo I bought in 1971, when I bought my rifle. Paid something like $4.97 for 20 rds. that has been reloaded a few times, too.

[bob208]

my first hand gun was a colt frontier scout 4" barrel blue with both cylinders. got it in 1968.still have it and the box, warranty card and take down tool.

next gun was a colt combat commander in .45 bought that in 71. sold that in 77 to get money to buy a house. the second center fire pistol I got in 72 it was a used ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8 in .357. I still have that one with the hunter holster and belt.

[osteodoc08]

My first handgun was a Ruger P89 the day I turned 21. Still have it 12 years later. First revolver I bought was a Taurus M66 before I knew any better. Then I bought a 4-5/8" Ruger BH in 41. Countless rounds down range. Still have it with a nice set of Badger Walnut grips on it.

[Minerat]

My first handgun was a High Standard 9 shot 22lr my dad got in 1965 in a Coast to Coast store in Lander WY. I still have it. The first I bought was a 44 SBH 7.5" that came with a holster, and 17 rounds of ammo (1984). The guy I bought it from said he shot 3 rounds and it kicked too much. :razz: I still shoot it and I kept the partial box unshot.

[FLHTC]

High Standard Model B, then a Blackhawk in 357. There weren't any new models yet. [smilie=p:

[TXGunNut]

110119
This is what's left of a duty gun that I carried for most of my 25 years as a LEO. My next to last trainee was born the year I bought it, the last one was born the year Lou Williamson finished customizing it. S&W revolver sights, Armalloy finish, lowered and flared "Gold Cup" ejection port, beveled magazine well...full 1970's IPSC treatment. Started out as a new Series 70 Colt purchased at the Dallas Market Hall gunshow and when I retired I gave her a new hammer, grip safety, springs and some pretty wood grip panels. Can't recall when that trigger showed up and the second set of tritium sights is starting to fade. She doesn't get out much but when I'm feeling nostalgic she goes along for the ride in an El Paso Saddlery pancake holster.

[Artful]

Dan Wesson 15-B
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/FAL/DanWesson15-Bwith6and4inchbarrels.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/FAL/DanWesson15-Bwith6and4inchbarrels.jpg.html)

[dtknowles]

Need more pictures, my first cartridge handgun, I still have it a Ruger Single Six Convertible. First hand gun was a kit built 45 cal. blackpowder single shot percussion pistol.



110123

Tim

[Cornbread]

My first handgun was a Taurus .357 in 6.5" with a shrouded barrel and a rail, I don't remember the model number for it. I was 14 years old and my Dad bought it for me with my money I earned from trapping because I was too young to buy my own. It was also the first gun I ever reloaded for. I shot gazillions of rounds through it and traded it when I was in my late 20s or early 30s for a custom made longbow. I don't regret selling it, I don't shoot .357 anymore so it served its purpose for me and the trade was a good one for me. I still have the longbow.

[FergusonTO35]

In 1999 I bought this Single Six convertible brand new for $299.95 and it has served me well ever since. She doesn't get much exercise these days with the extinction of .22 ammo but is still a faithful friend. I have a 5.5" barrel I would like to install but can't find anybody to do it who is not a total hack like me or backed up for three years.

[W.R.Buchanan]

My first pistol was a High Standard Trophy in 1971 traded it for a Ruger 10-22 which I hated. Major screw up losing that one as they are pushing $1500 now and I paid $100 for it new.

Next one was a S&W M29 8 3/8" in 1978 and I kept that one for 5 years and shot the hell out of it. A roommate decided to impress one of his friends with it and didn't wipe it off, and by the time I found out it had one side rusted and pitted. I sold it for more than I paid and it almost covered my doctor bill for my bruised knuckles from beating him afterwards. I don't let anyone touch my guns since then without direct supervision. Actually I spent the money on a gun safe which I still have.

I don't miss the M29 as I have found out that I can shoot a .4-5" bbld gun better and that gun beat the web of my hand pretty bad anyway. but they were the first handguns I ever bought.

I sodl my Remington 514 to by my Mauser ES340B and then 10 years later bought it back at a gun show for less than I sold it for in the first place.

So I still have my first rifle, and the second one also. Not handguns but they still shoot.

Randy

[Kent Fowler]

4 digit s/n Colt Trooper MKIII in 1971. Had recessed cylinders like a Smith. Wish I still had it.

[rintinglen]

110880
First gun I ever owned was a Ruger 10-22 which I still have. It has shot unknown thousands of rounds but still works like a champ. My first handgun was a Ruger also, a single six 5 1/2 incher, that was pretty mediocre. I sold it and bought the K-22 shown above in 1974 for 119.00. K-frame Target Trigger and Target hammer, I don't recall where the Uncle Mikes came from. I have been shooting it for 40 years now, up until Obummer got elected, I ran 1-2000 rounds a year through it, many more in my PPC days back in the late 70's-early 80's. 1976 saw it burn through a shade less than 16,000 federal lightnings.

[beagle]

My first real reloading pistol is a 4" blued Colt Python. Bought it used about 1960. Four digit SN. Went with me everywhere in 23 years in the Army. When I retired years ago, I sent it back to Colt for a reblue/rework and semi-retired it. Still have it and it still shoots like a dream after two overhauls in the interim./beagle

[Forrest r]

I'd always bought/traded used firearms before buying my 1st new firearm in 1987. Bought a new s&w 586.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t242/forrestr-photo/586receipt_zps69828c98.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/forrestr-photo/media/586receipt_zps69828c98.jpg.html)

Still have it, sent it back to s&w in 2006 to be rebuilt (100,000+ 38sps & 50,000+ 357's). It's know where near as accurate as it was, the bbl's shot out. It held up to countless 1000's of swaged/jacketed full house loads along with cast.

[Artful]

Oh, your killing me on that price
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_802568_-1_757903_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y
4" 586 only $839 now days

[TXGunNut]

I'd always bought/traded used firearms before buying my 1st new firearm in 1987. Bought a new s&w 586.
(Nice pic!)


Still have it, sent it back to s&w in 2006 to be rebuilt (100,000+ 38sps & 50,000+ 357's). It's know where near as accurate as it was, the bbl's shot out. It held up to countless 1000's of swaged/jacketed full house loads along with cast.

My first L frame was a 4" 686, just a few months older than yours. (AABXXXX) I have a stock 6" 586 (AFVXXXX) and PPC Open gun that are very close to the SN of yours. Those early L frames were awesome guns, still are. Mine are very nice old guns even though my 686 went to a friend in CA who caught me in a weak moment after I quit shooting PPC. I hope you'll get that old girl a new barrel someday. My Open gun's factory barrel had issues so it became my open gun. When I retired the gun it was on it's 3rd bbl and 2nd cylinder but it's probably just as accurate as it ever was.
And yes, Artful. Didn't spend over $300 for any of them, todays prices are a bit hard to swallow.