Your first

[Whitey James]

What was the first firearm YOU purchased and do you still have it?

I was gifted a few as I was growing up. Like a lot of kids in my generation the first gun given to me was a Marlin model 60. My brothers and I all got one for Christmas one year in the 70's and proceeded to shoot all of Mom's clothespins off the line (paid hell for that).

My first purchase when I was old enough to walk into a store and buy one myself was a Ruger 10/22. If memory serves it was just north of $100. I have let a lot of guns go over the years but I still have that 10/22.

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

Christmas of 63. My brother gave me a 22 Remington single shot bolt action.  I still have it. I taught each of my 3 daughters to shoot with it.

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

Good topic, Whitey!  

 

I can't exactly recall which was "first," 'cuz they were both about the same time.  Nineteen seventy, at 19 years old, living in the Kappa Phi Delta fraternity house - mailed away something like $90 for a Belgian made Centennial brand copy of an 1860 Colt Army.  And of course I still have it.  For another ninety bucks, a Stevens 5100 12 ga side-by-side from the venerable San Francisco Gun Exchange.  Hunted with it for many years before it became my main CAS shotgun some thirty+ years ago.  

[Blackwater 53393]

I’ve never had, bought, or owned any firearms!!  That’s my story and I’ll shoot anyone who says different!!

[Pat Riot]

The first gun I owned was a Colt Combat Gov’t series 70 1911 .45 ACP that I bought soon after getting out of active duty in the Navy. 
I got it “on sale” for $317 at B&B Sales in North Hollywood, California in March of 1983. 
I got lucky. It was a helluva shooter. 
I sold it in 1988 because we had hit hard times. 
I miss that gun and if I wanted to replace it today it would cost me plenty if I were lucky enough to find that exact model. 

[Dapper Dave]

H&R single barrel 12 gauge. Sold later, don't remember why. I was lucky to hang on to a few firearms with my ex-wife's spending habits and refusal to work. My NEW wife supports my hobbies. 

[Warden Callaway]

I got a Savage 24 20 gauge under 22 for my 8th grade graduation.  Youngest son now has it. First gun I remember buying on my one was a Remington New Army 44.  I think it was imported by Lyman. Is still a teenager in high-school.  Traided it in on a Winchester 88 in 308 about time I needed to shave once a week. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

I was 40 when I bought my first gun. .357 Blackhawk 

I shot before that with my uncle and a cousin but this was my first purchase. 
After that Blackhawk purchase the flood gates opened!😂😂

[Subdeacon Joe]

First was a "New Orleans Ace" kit.

I still have it.
Second was a CVA Colonial Pistol kit in percussion.
Still have it.
Third was a Lyman Remington 1858 New Model Army kit.  Sold it to a guy at a reenactment.  

 

[Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438]

My first was a Browning Citori O/U 12 gauge; I was in my early 40's with no background in firearms or shooting.  Things sorta progressed from there.

I have never sold any gun that I owned; I've been fortunate.

 

LL

[Dantankerous]

When I turned 18 I bought a Marlin 1894 .44 mag. $185.

 

When I turned 21 I bought a 4 inch Smith model 19, nickle (or maybe stainless) .357 mag. I then immediately bought a Ruger SBH .44 mag.

 

Had traded/sold both the Marlin and Smith off somewhere in my 20s. Still have that Ruger.

 

 

[Eyesa Horg]

A Marlin/Glenfield Model 60 from K-Mart in 1974 and yes, I still have it and use it. It still runs flawlessly! It's standing by the back door at the moment.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

S&W Model 19, 4" bbl in blue.

Bought it the day after my 21st birthday. 

Yes, still have it.

[Dawg Hair, SASS #29557]

Luger.  Paid $46.00 in a hardware store in Gainesville, GA in 1956.   I wish I still had it.I

[Alpo]

2 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

First was a "New Orleans Ace" kit.

Never knew anyone else that had one. Kmart, $45, 82 possibly 83.

 

Is yours rifled or smoothbore? Mine is a smoothbore, and a more inaccurate gun I have yet to find.

[Alpo]

But as to the original question. I still have my first gun, but it was a birthday present.

 

The first one I bought was a Charter Arms Target Bulldog. 4-inch holster revolver, about the size of a Colt Police Positive Special. Five shot 357. Weighed 18 ounces. Kept it for about a year, then used it as a trade in on a Steyr Mannlicher model L, 308. Still have that one, some 47 years later.

[Choctaw Jack]

Winchester 62, gift from my Dad.

I don't remember exactly how old I was but I know I hadn't turned 8 yet.

Still have it.

[Gracos Kid]

My first was a Stevens bolt action .22 at age 12, but my first deer rifle was one that my mother didn't want me to have as it was thought to be too dangerous.   At age 15, I walked into the Economy Auto store and paid $5.00 down, and $5.00 per week to purchase an 8mm mauser on credit.  Total cost was $49.95.     My mother never knew.......Still have it......

[Henry T Harrison]

Mine was a glen field model 80g bolt action .22 I paid $25 for it. That was 60 years ago and I of course still have it 

[Subdeacon Joe]

1 hour ago, Alpo said:

Never knew anyone else that had one. Kmart, $45, 82 possibly 83.

 

Is yours rifled or smoothbore? Mine is a smoothbore, and a more inaccurate gun I have yet to find.

 

Smoothbore.  I think it was $30 at some department store in the  mid-'70s. I ended up boring it out a couple of thou so I could use the same size ball that I used in the Remington.  That way I could cast my own ball.  

 

I never expected much accuracy from it.  The way it holds shows that it was meant to be used to shoot up from under a card table without aiming, just pointing by instinct. 

 

I practiced with it and was able to keep it on six inch paper plate at about five yards. Had to really bend my wrist down to point at the target.  Or just barely have the butt in my hand.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

At 18 I bought a used Winchester 170. Similar to the Marlin 60, tube fed .22 semi auto. I don't remember what I did with it, but it's long gone. 

First handgun was a Ruger Security Six marked, "Made in the 200th Year of American Liberty". Later, I traded it for a Colt Commander. That one got stolen.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

My very first gun, was a gift to me on my 16th birthday from my Uncle. 

Remington Model 550 .22 rifle with a Weaver 4x scope.

I still have hit 

[Black Angus McPherson]

My answer depends on how, exactly, you define purchased by me.  The first I paid for was a Remington 870 Wingmaster in 20 gauge.  I was too young to purchase a gun on my own so my dad had to actually buy it for me.  I gave him the $100 it cost.  I never thought about it before, but I guess that makes it a "Straw purchase".  I'd never heard of the term way back then.  I hope the statute of limitations has expired on that.   My dad expired several years ago so I know he's in the clear.  I think I was all of 13 years old at the time.

 

The first firearm I bought after I was old enough to buy one on my own was a Remington Model 1100 Skeet gun in 12 gauge.

 

I have long since traded off the 870, but I still have the 1100.

 

Angus

[Stump Water]

4 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said:

A Marlin/Glenfield Model 60 from K-Mart

 

Likewise.  Except it was from Richway.

 

It's long gone.  I wore the action out, replaced it and wore it out again.  I wish I knew how many rounds I put thru that thing. 

[Eyesa Horg]

2 minutes ago, Stump Water said:

 

Likewise.  Except it was from Richway.

 

It's long gone.  I wore the action out, replaced it and wore it out again.  I wish I knew how many rounds I put thru that thing. 

The only thing I've replaced is the recoil spring that I bent the very first time I cleaned it. Ran it that way for decades before I finally replaced ten or so years ago just cuz! 

[Subdeacon Joe]

1 hour ago, Black Angus McPherson said:

I never thought about it before, but I guess that makes it a "Straw purchase". 

 

In general that is not a straw purchase.  If you had a conviction for a violent crime,  that would have been a straw purchase. 

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

first one I ever bought was a SS 22 Stevens used 

 

 It disappeared when Granddad passed over 

 

  CB 

[Pulp, SASS#28319]

First gun was an Ithaca .410 bolt action, gift from my grandfather.  First gun I bought was a .22 revolver at Gibsons.  It started getting a flame cut above the cylinder gap, so I sold it at a flea market.  Got $.05 more than I paid for it.

edit: still have the .410.

Edited February 11 by Pulp, SASS#28319

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

My first firearm was given to me by my Dad when I was 8 years old.  A Ruger Bearcat .22 single action and I still have it.  Dad started me shooting about 8 years old with this pistol and my grandfathers Steven's Crack Shot .22 rifle.

 

Believe the first firearm I purchase was early 1980's (several years out of college) and it was an Anschutz Model mark 2000 .22 target rifle, entry level.  Used it to compete 50 foot bullseye with iron sights, scoped for silhouette and to teach youth how to shoot.  Once I quit using it loaned it to a 4-H shooting program for many years until they got their own equipment.  I sold it about 2019.

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I was 14 years old in 1956 and TV cowboys were everywhere.

 

I rode my bike about a mile to Grant's Bike and Sporting Goods to see the guns.  I had $35.00 earned over the summer...and Grant's had a worn- out, nickel plated, 5 1/2" .45 SAA with busted ivory grips for $29.95.

 

I asked the old gunsmith if I could hold it and he handed me a dream that has never died.

 

"Could I buy it?"

 

"I'll have to call your dad,  It's up to him."

 

Dad asked a lot of questions about the quality of the gun, was ammo still available, etc.  He was assured that, while the gun looked terrible, it was sound and safe, came with a  box of ammo, a worn out old Hunter holster, and a no-name cartridge belt.

 

Final question: "Does the boy have cash because we don't buy frills on credit?"

 

I strapped in on, put all the rest in a bag and rode my bike home.

 

Four years later I graduated from high school and my parents had traded in that old gun and I ended up with a 1959 vintage SAA, .45, with  5 1/2" barrel. 

 

[Yul Lose]

I was 14 years old living in Creede, Colorado looking forward to my first elk hunt. A neighbor that worked with my stepdad in the mines offered to sell me a Lee Enfield complete with bayonet lug and flash hider for $50.00. I paid for it with money earned from a paper route and shoveling snow.

[Eyesa Horg]

54 minutes ago, Yul Lose said:

I was 14 years old living in Creede, Colorado looking forward to my first elk hunt. A neighbor that worked with my stepdad in the mines offered to sell me a Lee Enfield complete with bayonet lug and flash hider for $50.00. I paid for it with money earned from a paper route and shoveling snow.

Did you get yourself an Elk with it?

[Yul Lose]

11 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Did you get yourself an Elk with it?

First elk and a deer.

[Eyesa Horg]

2 minutes ago, Yul Lose said:

First elk and a deer.

Excellent, good job! 

[Rip Snorter]

Bought from another student in College '64 or '65.  U.S, marked Remington Rand 1911.  Can't recall what I paid, couldn't have been much more than $100.  Left it "in pawn" at my LGS with a promise to hold it till I came back to school.  Was going to a State that was anti handgun even then.  When I came back for it, it was gone, I'm sure they put it out for sale quickly.  Never did business with them again.

Edited February 11 by Rip Snorter
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