What was your 1st handgun & why?

Fella's;

The first pistol I bought was a Ruger new model Blackhawk in .357 with a 6.5" barrel.  The reason I got it was self-preservation.

Two friends & myself had gone pheasant hunting up out of Frenchtown Montana in the early '70's.  Frank was to stay at the bottom of a small meadow while John & I hiked up to the top & then were to drive birds down to Frank.  Frank had a pump 12 gauge, while John had a single shot 16 & I had a single shot 20.  John & I walked a road off to the side of the meadow till it turned left & crossed a small creek that ran down the other side of the meadow. 

We turned at the creek & entered a thick brush area that was about 20 yards deep before ending at the top of the meadow.  We got about half way through the brush & trees when we came upon two beds in a very small area, maybe the size of two ordinary desk tops.  We looked at each other.  Then John pointed at the steaming fresh bear crap about 2 feet away from me.  Then on the far side of the willow scrub that was on my immediate right came WHUFF!!.

Followed by the odor of bad breath.  Whereupon we set the world record for the downhill 100 yard dash while carrying single shot shotguns & wearing hunting boots while scaring pheasants.  Still stands to this day.

Frank says the bear did not follow us out of the woods.  We didn't care.  Hopped into the car & drove to town.  Went to Sportsman's Surplus in the Tremper Center in Missoula & put my money down & laid the gun away.

That was the first I bought.  The Army had issued me a Colt .38 Detective Special that I carried for duty in Europe, previous to this occasion.

900F

my first, and i still have it, is a s&w 686 (357 mag). not sure on the barrel length... maybe 4.5" or so? not sure. but, it balances beautifully, and is a pleasure to shoot.

got it originally as a carry piece. and, carrying it kept me out of 2 tight spots. the gun was too heavy, though, and has been replaced as a carry gun, but i do enjoy hunting w/ it on occasion.

my wife fell in love w/ it, and has commandeered it. she carries it on occasion, and it is the only handgun she enjoys shooting.

Good God times change.

My first gun was a S&W madel 17 aka K-22 with a 6 inch barrel.  I got it when I was 15 years old.  And I got it so I could shoot at the high school.  Back then every high school around here had a range in the basement.  Kids had rifles and the school had 6 target 22s fot them to use.  Once a week we shot, even had kids from other schools shoot in leagues.

My S&W lived in my high school locker.  THINK OF THAT TODAY.  This was obvioulsly before the 1968 gun laws.  One guy even made a pistol in shop, with the help of the inctructors.  But in those days they put drug users in jail and gave school metals to sharpshooter kids.  Just the oppose today.

That K22 is still with me, lots of holster wear and the barrel rifling maybe getting thin.  But If a young kid wanted a starter handgun, even today it would be hard to beat.

BEAR  

My first was a S&W model 422 for use on my trapline.  Still carry it everywhere I go and take a good bit of game/varmints with it.

First was a S&W Model 10,  4" heavy barrel,  .38 Special revolver...(it was the 'duty sidearm' that my agency issued & carried at the time).

Looked just like this:

Interestingly enough, things seem to go full circle... although we don't use wheelguns anymore for duty, the last handgun that I bought (about 1 1/2 months ago) was also a S&W .38 Special... a Model 14, 6" heavy barrel... The reason was just pure nostalgia...

Marcus.