My first handgun

[Thumbcocker]

In the 1970's in Central and Southern Illinois many a young man wanted a .22 handgun. A single six or standard model was beyond their means and a K22 was pure fantasy.

H&R was our unofficial handgun. This is the 939 Ultra Sidekick model. I gave it to my Dad when I got a Ruger 6 7/8" target model and he rasped and sanded off the thumb rest. Lots of memories here.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201129/8ba6222ff9f46e19405e54deb0305a34.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201129/ac741e5b78395b50a6bfdb5238640496.jpg

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[pietro]

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Nice - Those were H&R's 2nd most expensive revolver.

If it has the transfer bar ignition it's a second model (1973-1980), made shortly before you acquired it.

The ones with a hammer-mounted cylinder release button were made between 1957 & 1962

Ones made between 1962 & 1972 has a key lock safety

I've only owned/shot the 999 Sportsman(s)

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[Der Gebirgsjager]

272296 272297

This was my first, a gift from my father at age 16. Obviously, I still have it! It is a gen-u-wine WW I 1911 .45 Auto with an interesting history, in that the serial number had been filed off, and a new one assigned. It liked to bite me, so the original hammer was changed out by myself for a Commander hammer, and some nicer grips added. I did keep the original hammer, and it's stored in the pistol's box should the inevitable future owner want to change it back.

[Catshooter]

Thumbcocker,

I know you can shoot, so I'm curious. How accurate is that H&R? I never have owned one.


Cat

[Thumbcocker]

About what you would expect for an economy handgun with a heavy trigger pull. Good at 7 yards, tolerable at 15 and 25 is literally hit or miss.

[Texas by God]

My first handgun was a CVA Philadelphia Derringer kit. A bunch of fun. Next was an Enfield .38/200 that I bought at my school from my history teacher. Not a big deal at all back then.

[oldhenry]

My first handgun was an H&R 999 Sportsman. I was 15 or 16 ('54 or '55). A distant cousin who was about 3 years older had an Iver Johnson "Sealed-8". We had a great time with those guns. It was not unusual for responsible teens to own handguns back then.

Unfortunately the 999 was stolen. If I could find another in good condition, I'd be tempted.

Enjoy that 939.

[Prairie Cowboy]

My first was a J.P. Sauer & Sohn .22 Single Action revolver that I bought third hand.
Used it for bullseye shooting in the basement range of my high school on Sunday mornings until I could afford a proper target pistol.
Those were different times, and I think better times....

[rintinglen]

272461
The first handgun I ever shot and the first handgun I ever bought were both Ruger Single sixes. Not the fancy, adjustable sight Super models, but the plain jane, fixed sight Single six model. The gun above is for my Grandaughter, from her Great-Grandfather, who used it as a Rattlesnake-remover from his avocado ranch in Fallbrook, CA. I ought to buy myself another, but I have enough 22's these days.

[ddixie884]

Nice H&R................

[beagle]

Back about 1960 dad brought home a H & R Sidekick. Nickel plated with a matte finish on the barrel top. We shot that thing to death for many years until it started spitting lead and he traded it off. Learned to shoot with that old gun. Many, many boxes of .22 Shorts went through it over the years and many rats and bullfrogs fell to it. Good little gun and way ahead of it's time in features for that period./beagle

[Thumbcocker]

Just saw a review on Gunblasts of Czech. 22 revolvers imported by Armscor. They are k frame Smith sized and the .22 lr one is a 9 shot.
The msrp is in the mid to high $500 range. They look like quality guns.

[468]

272296 272297

This was my first, a gift from my father at age 16. Obviously, I still have it! It is a gen-u-wine WW I 1911 .45 Auto with an interesting history, in that the serial number had been filed off, and a new one assigned. It liked to bite me, so the original hammer was changed out by myself for a Commander hammer, and some nicer grips added. I did keep the original hammer, and it's stored in the pistol's box should the inevitable future owner want to change it back.

Just...WOW