The Story Behind Your First Handgun: Do You Still Have It?
- Thread starter Alan
- Start date
My first handgun was an Argentine Colt 1911 that my father and I built. When my father passed, I gave it to close mutual friend of ours. The first handgun that really grabbed my attention was a 3.5" pre -model 27 S&W. I do not currently have it in my possession as it is being engraved by Phil Quigley. Persinger made some custom grips for it. I am hoping to get it back soon. I have one photo of it with some Grasshorn magnas.
BKLooney
Active member
If I remember correctly my first handgun was an H&R .32, that old revolver was given to me somewhere around '75/'76. The first handgun I ever purchased myself was a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special in 1977. Both have been gone for many (many) years, the old H&R wasn't a bad revolver even though that .32 was pretty anemic, but I still miss that Bulldog. Would love to find a '70s era Bulldog in great shape to add back into the collection. 
Mine was a blued Ruger Blackhawk with a 6" barrel. It was the second gun I ever bought, and that was in 1984.
Still have it and would never part with it. Some years ago when I was doing a lot more shooting, I could easily put 6 rounds in a silver dollar sized ring at 25 yards, offhand. Not so much anymore, but I still love that pistol!
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Still have it and would never part with it. Some years ago when I was doing a lot more shooting, I could easily put 6 rounds in a silver dollar sized ring at 25 yards, offhand. Not so much anymore, but I still love that pistol!
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Lynchburgsam
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- Jul 6, 2025
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My first as well. John McClain in Die Hard had me hooked. I eventually sold it since those things are actually huge from a carry standpoint but for learning I think it was a great gun!
Lt Choate
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- Jun 29, 2025
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Yeah, I had mine before that movie was out, but I truly love shooting it.
We all acknowledge the functionality and lay out of the 1911 and rightfully so, but the Beretta 92 is pretty iconic, as well.
My first handgun was a Raven Arms .25 ACP. Pretty pathetic firearm, but it's all I had for years and years. We called them Saturday night specials back in the day, this was 40 years ago. It got me out of a bad situation once without having to pull the trigger! Just drawing it was enough, thank the Lord!
38 years ago, six very large drunk guys forced my pregnant wife and I off the road in our little truck, screaming at me that I had cut them off (I had done nothing except for trying to avoid them, as they were driving obviously impaired). They surrounded our vehicle and said they were going to teach us both a lesson. My wife was terrified and weeping, I got out and faced them, drawing on them at the same time. I told them I may not take them all down, but I would get at least 2 or 3 of them, to get back in their vehicle and leave. They did! I had never fired the pistol, not knowing if it even worked...
A .380 ACP mouse gun, 9mm in S&W M&P and Beretta, and .40 S&W Beretta these days, and highly practiced. And no, I do not have the Raven 25 anymore...
38 years ago, six very large drunk guys forced my pregnant wife and I off the road in our little truck, screaming at me that I had cut them off (I had done nothing except for trying to avoid them, as they were driving obviously impaired). They surrounded our vehicle and said they were going to teach us both a lesson. My wife was terrified and weeping, I got out and faced them, drawing on them at the same time. I told them I may not take them all down, but I would get at least 2 or 3 of them, to get back in their vehicle and leave. They did! I had never fired the pistol, not knowing if it even worked...
A .380 ACP mouse gun, 9mm in S&W M&P and Beretta, and .40 S&W Beretta these days, and highly practiced. And no, I do not have the Raven 25 anymore...
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BKLooney
Active member
BKLooney
Active member
The Ruger's are a staple of handgunning! I've had a number of them and all were fantastic, I still have two, one's a 4" MKII bull barrel and the other is one of the 22/45 MKIV's.
My first handgun was a Ruger Single Six with the .22 magnum cylinder. That was in 70' when a box of .22 LR was $0.50 and a box of .22 magnum was $2.25 - $3.50 if the local gun store had them.
My second was a Colt Huntsman .22LR semi auto. This pistol was a Christmas gift that I received in 71". I was 16 and still have it and the box and docs. The Colt shot a little low and left with Winchester Super X but, my friends didn't know that so, in any informal shooting match with that pistol, I always won. I gave it to my daughter a few years ago but, it still lives in my safe.
My second was a Colt Huntsman .22LR semi auto. This pistol was a Christmas gift that I received in 71". I was 16 and still have it and the box and docs. The Colt shot a little low and left with Winchester Super X but, my friends didn't know that so, in any informal shooting match with that pistol, I always won. I gave it to my daughter a few years ago but, it still lives in my safe.
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mckenziedg1
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- Aug 5, 2025
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I wish I still did.......
My brother sold me his old Ruger 9mm (it was in like new condition), and I kept it for a number of years, never really shot it. Well I went on a gun buying and selling spree during the pandemic and unfortunately the Ruger was a casualty of my need to free up room and cash. To be honest I was mad at my brother at the time, and we were not on speaking terms and had not been for over a year. That's a story for a different day but essentially I was partly to blame and so was he, but he would not take any responsibility and acknowledges no wrong doing.
Well anyway, I sold the gun and custom holster that he had made for me before I knew what I had done. But I am searching and am hopeful to get it back in the near future.
My brother sold me his old Ruger 9mm (it was in like new condition), and I kept it for a number of years, never really shot it. Well I went on a gun buying and selling spree during the pandemic and unfortunately the Ruger was a casualty of my need to free up room and cash. To be honest I was mad at my brother at the time, and we were not on speaking terms and had not been for over a year. That's a story for a different day but essentially I was partly to blame and so was he, but he would not take any responsibility and acknowledges no wrong doing.
Well anyway, I sold the gun and custom holster that he had made for me before I knew what I had done. But I am searching and am hopeful to get it back in the near future.
Mark37082
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- Aug 13, 2025
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The first one I bought was S&W 45ACP. I picked it up at an old Ace hardware store that was liquidating all their firearms. It was not best of S&W production guns (very sloppy action and definitely not meant for precision). I sold it and bought a beautiful Kimber a few years later. The Kimber was the exact opposite of the S&W. It was machined with very tight tolerances. Sadly, it became too prone to jam, so it went to new home. I don't really attach too much sentimental value to firearms. If they function and fit my needs, they stick around. The one firearm I regret selling is probably a Remington 1100 shotgun I bought as a teenager.
I won it when I was 16 at school for selling enough magazines for a fund raising event while in FFA it was given to me during school hours lol it was a cheap 6shot 22 revolver and no I don't have it anymore the next year I won a semi automatic rifle and it was awarded during school hours also, back then we all had our guns hanging in the back window of our pickup truck year round and their never was an issue with anyone getting shot Times have certainly changed
