First Handguns: Who Still Has Theirs?

[Alan]

I'm curious about everyone's first handgun. Do you still have it? How do you feel about it now? I still have mine, though it's seen better days. Would love to hear your stories or even see some photos!

 

[62 fuelie]

My first (1965) was a GI-bring back Walter P-38. It wasn't matching #'s or anything special, but it did what I needed it to do, as long as I fed it ball. It was traded away long ago. I do still have my first two rifles, a Winchester M-74 and an M-75 target. both are still functional and the M-75 still shoots better than I do.

 

[Jimmyjones]

My first pistol is a Llama .22, first revolver is a 6" SS Ruger Security Six. Still have both, but the Llama broke it's firing pin years ago. I love the Ruger and still shoot it regularly.

 

[pwrwgn]

Unfortunately, I don't still have my first handgun, a Ruger Blackhawk .357, 4.625" barrel. Christmas present from my parents. I do however, own the first handgun I ever fired. A Unique model 52.

 

[longcruise]

My first started out as my grandfather's that he acquired i think in the 30's, maybe sooner but I'm not sure. It's an H&R 922 nine shot 22 revolver. He would let me shooting it occasionally when I was a little kid. When he passed it went to my dad and in the 80's my dad had creeping alzheimers and one day he accidentally shot the mirror in the bedroom. My mother told me to take it home NOW. So that's how it came to be mine. I carried it for small game every year until I got a Roger MK II. The 922 went into the wife's sock drawer but I recently took it out because she is in some first stage dementia and didn't want a repeat of my dad's incident.

So, I still have it but haven't shot it in many years. Eventually it will go to my son in law or one of the grandkids.

 

[DashRipRock]

Colt Frontier Scout .22 single action I learned on still resides with me 50 years later.

 

[elkhunter]

I have my first duty gun, Colt Python, and my first rifle for hunting, Model 70 in 7 mag.

 

[oldcorps76]

Back in1969, my dad got me a rifle for my birthday, an Anschutz 141 .22. still have it. A **legal** immigrant with a strong sense of being American with rights, he was pissed at having to navigate New Jersey's FOID laws and get "fingerprinted like a criminal.' I absolutely could not get him to jump the permit hoops to buy a pistol. So in 1970, my brother, stationed with the Air Force in Florida, bought a Ruger Bearcat, all of $35 back then, and brought it up on his next trip.

I still have both, though I have churned everything else in my collection several times. Together they have been the source of countless hours and shots fired in fun, over many years on two continents.