What was your first gun?

[Candyman]

First Shotgun was an 870 sold off when I needed cash years ago.

So you used the 870 to get the cash? You must of been bad when you were young.

[evan price]

Prior to turning 21 I researched guns extensively. Guns Magazine publishes an annual buyers guide. I had highlighted, dog eared, post-it-flagged and cover-to-cover worn it out while I considered what I wanted to be my first gun.

I went into a few gun stores, finding them mysterious and imposing places universally staffed by gruff men older than my father, usually furnished with a side table stacked with gun magazines, and a coffee pot guarded by the owners' cronies, also old, gruff men who looked at a youngster in their midst as welcoming as a fart in sunday school.

I was torn between the then-new Ruger P85 or else a Smith & Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum.

The day I turned 21 I drove to one of the gunstores in my home town and went in to see about what I wanted.

When I asked about the Ruger I was told they were big junky cheap guns, and I really ought to get a Colt Gold Cup and leave it at that, since they were the best guns.

Since I didn't want a Gold Cup, I asked about a S&W Model 19. They had a short barrel but I wanted 4" at least and adjustable sights.
The guy said they would have to order it, and it would take months. But they had some used .38's I could look at, and a nice one with chrome plating.

I walked out of that store, and into the one a block away.

Same scenario. No Rugers, but at least they didn't try to tell me how bad they were. No S&W but he did say they could order one in a few weeks. Then the counterman pointed to the used gun case and said, "Check this out."

"THIS" was a Colt King Cobra, 4" matte stainless with adjustable sights and trigger & factory Colt logo Pachmyer combat grips with original box. After some negotiations, I walked out of that store with my new Colt, a Doskocill hard case and a 20-rd box of Hydra-Shok ammo for the sum total of $300 plus sales tax.

It was my 21st birthday present to myself, celebrating coming of age truly, to where I could buy a gun and ammunition and shoot it anytime I wanted. A dawning responsibility. The Colt became a symbol of my adulthood, a rite of passage. It got shot a lot at Powder Room.

It got cleaned and pampered and looked at a lot and sometimes even carried when I felt that I was going to need it, and it actually travelled on a multi-week odyssey across the United States passing through 22 states and actually into Mexico and Canada before I knew how foolish, stupid and illegal that was.

It was the gun that stayed under my pillow in the Knight's Inn Motor Lodge in Detroit- that answered the door with me at 3 am when people were setting trash cans on fire.

It was the gun that was with us in the tent in Red River Gorge in Kentucky when the pack of wild dogs decided they liked our female dog more than we did.

It was the gun I had in my belt when those two guys in the lonely rest area in the New Mexico desert off of 40 stopped asking nicely and pulled a knife when we tried to leave.

It was the gun in my coat pocket when the group of Aisian kids with Tong tats took me for a ride in my own car.

It was the gun in my fist when the downstairs neighbor's psycho ex-boyfriend started trying to kick in her door and breaking windows at 1am, and threatened to kill her, and me, for daring to tell him to leave.

God willing, it will be passed on to my children and they to theirs as well.

This is the gun that convinced me that CCW was not only prudent, it was smart!

[Frosch]

In this order:

First handgun: A genuine Ulm Walther PP .32 purchased in Berlin.
First rifle: a Remington 700 in .30-06.

both new.

[Aegis]

Shotgun: Mossberg 500

Rifle: Mosin M44

Handgun: Springfield 1911

[Odahi]

My first firearm was a Remington 514 single-shot .22 bolt action. First revolver was a Smith K-22 Masterpiece inherited from my Dad. First pistol is the P90, first shotgun is the Mossberg Maverick 88 12-ga pump. I'm still regretting the sale of the first two. I will hang on to ALL my guns from now on. They're too important and too much fun to let them go. And someday I WILL have another K-22.

[tcourtplayer]

Handgun: Springfield 1911 GI. A gift from my dad on my 21st birthday. A boy couldn't ask for a more useful and perfect birthday gift. It remains my primary CCW piece.

Rifle: SKS. This was also the first rifle I bought personal modifications for (a big deal when you are 12-14 years old) because it was bought as a hunting rifle for me when you couldn't give them away.

Shotgun: This is a tough one because I have three and they all came about the same time. I have an H&R break action that was my first hunting shotgun (scoped out for deer...yes there are "shotgun only" hunting zones in WI,) an Old bolt action shotty that I inherited from my grandpa when he passed and a Mossberg bolt action that was my first ever purchase of a weapon. At the time I was really high on bolt actions when I bought it.

All of these weapons have their own special place in my heart for the various reasons stated and thus none will leave my possession unless I'm dead or it is time to pass them on to my own kids to help them start their collection as my dad was generous enough to do with me and a couple of my early collection pieces.

[Mud_Dog]

First rifle: Remington Nylon 66. Still have it, minus the front sight.

I forgot to look today, but I'm fairly sure I have a front sight for a Nylon 66 at work. I'll try to remember to check on Tuesday...

[84Charlie]

First gun ever: Marlin Model 60 given to me as a 16th birthday present. Thanks Earl! Still have it.
First handgun: S&W 686. Bought from a retired cop. Gave to female friend who needed it more than I did. Hope you are still OK Christina, wherever you are.
First shotgun: Winchester Defender. Bought at a police auction for 100.00 and still have it.
First rifle: Mauser Argentine. Bought at the same police auction for 75.00. Still have it.

[Mud_Dog]

First rifle: Remington Nylon 66. Still have it, minus the front sight.

I forgot to look today, but I'm fairly sure I have a front sight for a Nylon 66 at work. I'll try to remember to check on Tuesday...

It took me a while to remember, but I do have a front sight for a Nylon 66. Two to be exact, one is slightly more "plum" colored than the other(I don't have the screws, but you should be able to get them easy). If you'd like it, send me an email.

[Termite]

Does a Daisy Red Ryder count? I think I was 7.......

First Shotgun: Winchester .410 single shot.

First Rifle: Not really sure. There were several family rifles that I used, a Winchester Model 63 in particular, but none were soley mine until I bought a Ruger 10/22.

First pistol: Ruger Single Six. I was 16, I bought it with money I earned working at a grocery store. My dad had to fill out the Form 4473. I wish I still had it.........