Retirement: Yet another reason to get a new handgun

[Seymour380]

I recently retired and said to myself, "Self, you should probably get a new gun to celebrate." So I agreed with myself, and decided to get a handgun that would ideally see me many years into retirement. Amazing how I didn't need much convincing to get a new gun.

I found a fair deal on a new, 7-shot Ruger GP-100 in 357 magnum. Even purchased a swanky new Falco carry holster to go with the new revolver.


For retirees: What handgun did you get to celebrate your retirement? (Pictures please, to go with your story)

For future retirees: What handgun would you like to get to celebrate your future retirement?

Now I need to finagle a second retirement so I can justify buying some other cool BUG.

 

[Blue Jays]

Glad you and yourself were able to negotiate together to agree upon such a nice retirement gift.

 

[chicharrones]

And people think that talking to yourself is a bad thing.

 

[chicharrones]

For future retirees: What handgun would you like to get to celebrate your future retirement?

I'll probably be working 'til I drop. So, I already bought one of my retirement gift firearms earlier this year even though I'm only 56. That particular item is a S&W 66-2, but I like I mentioned, that's just "one". I still want to add a 4.6" barreled Single Six to my collection and maybe a 9mm 1911 as my 2nd and 3rd "never retire" gifts.

 

[Riomouse911]

And people think that talking to yourself is a bad thing.

Sometimes it’s the only rational conversation I’ll have all day .

Stay safe.

 

[.455_Hunter]

For me, the mental image of retirement is the cocked hammer of a 1876 Winchester, implying having the time and funds to explore more esoteric rifles and cartridges.

 

[Riomouse911]

I’m on the glide path to retirement after 30+ years, I can see the runway but I’m not there yet.
I’ve been buying retirement guns at a decent clip for the past year or so.

But, I think my final pre-retirement handgun buys will include a Colt revolver or two, a 5” 9mm 1911 and a couple more Glocks.

Stay safe.

 

[.308 Norma]

For retirees: What handgun did you get to celebrate your retirement?

Not to go off topic, but as I've said before, my "retirement" gun is my custom .308 Norma Mag, and I paid for it with my first two Social Security payments.

For future retirees: What handgun would you like to get to celebrate your future retirement?

I don't know what the model number was, but I'd love to have a Smith 38/44 "Outdoorsman" - to actually shoot, not just to look at. If I ever get one, I might even have it nickel plated.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I don't know what the model number was, but I'd love to have a Smith 38/44 "Outdoorsman" - to actually shoot, not just to look at.

They are quite nice, the quality of a Registered Magnum without the Registered Magnum cost. I stumbled into my mid-'30s production example one day at Cabela's Fine Gun Room- stupidly underpriced.

 

[Seymour380]

They are quite nice, the quality of a Registered Magnum without the Registered Magnum cost. I stumbled into my mid-'30s production example one day at Cabela's Fine Gun Room- stupidly underpriced.

.455_Hunter, can you please explain what qualifies a gun to be Registered Magnum?
Can you share a picture of the Cabelas gun?
Thanks Sir.

 

[Thomasss]

Seymour380, "Self, you should probably get a new gun to celebrate." So I agreed with myself, and decided to get a handgun that would ideally see me many years into retirement.

I had the same inkling, but had to wait for enough for a few birthday distributions says my new boss. I just picked up a S&W nickel 586, .357 mag with 6" barrel. She is so pretty I may even sleep with her.

 

[huntsman]

I bought a knife (benchmade) with my first pension check, will get my first Soc Security check next month but I’m waiting till next year to buy the “retirement” gun.

 

[GEM]

One price of the new retiree gun is having to buy things for the house and fix up all those things you have been putting off. Say hello to our fancy new bedroom set and drapes. Climbing the ladder for the retiree - hope the ER isn't full.

Got some new Glocks and revolvers as a trade for this.

 

[Seymour380]

GEM,

Funny you mention the ladder. Doing the annual roof fixture sealing is on my list of to-do's.

Trying to work out range time is a challenge.

 

[Riomouse911]

.455_Hunter, can you please explain what qualifies a gun to be Registered Magnum?
Can you share a picture of the Cabelas gun?
Thanks Sir.

Here is a non-Wikipedia article about the S&W “Registered Magnum Revolvers.”

https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/smith-wesson-registered-357-magnum-revolver/387004

I’ve only seen/held one; my best buddy (now deceased) Tim had an uncle who was a long-time LAPD officer. He carried a 5” registered magnum (I realized it when I saw the serial started with REG). It was pretty holster worn, but a beautiful piece of machinery.

Stay safe.

 

[Boomholzer]

Gorgeous pistol and I like the choice in holster. Also, congratulations!

For future retirees: What handgun would you like to get to celebrate your future retirement?

I figure why wait.....buying now is JUST like saving for retirement, and I'll have what I need.
However, by then or by that time it might very well be a Particle Magnum.

She is so pretty I may even sleep with her.

She deserves her own pillow.


What? TWO pop culture references on ONE post? Yes, I did.

 

[Seymour380]

Here is a non-Wikipedia article about the S&W “Registered Magnum Revolvers.”

https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/smith-wesson-registered-357-magnum-revolver/387004

I’ve only seen/held one; my best buddy (now deceased) Tim had an uncle who was a long-time LAPD officer. He carried a 5” registered magnum (I realized it when I saw the serial started with REG). It was pretty holster worn, but a beautiful piece of machinery.

Stay safe.

Thanks very much, Riomouse!
Great history on beautiful guns.

 

[Seymour380]

Gorgeous pistol and I like the choice in holster. Also, congratulations!


I figure why wait.....buying now is JUST like saving for retirement, and I'll have what I need.
However, by then or by that time it might very well be a Particle Magnum.


She deserves her own pillow.


What? TWO pop culture references on ONE post? Yes, I did.

Thanks Boomholzer, been a long time coming.

 

[.455_Hunter]

.455_Hunter, can you please explain what qualifies a gun to be Registered Magnum?
Can you share a picture of the Cabelas gun?
Thanks Sir.

In the 1935 to ~1941 period, the new .357 Magnum S&W revolver was essentially a custom ordered gun, with barrel length, sights, grips, hammer style, all being variable options. The gun was stamped with a registration number (separate from the serial number) that ties it to the original order. These number can link to a specific person (REG 506 George Patton), or to a shipment for an organization, like the Kansas City PD.

I don't have a pic of my .38/44 Outdoorsman, but it looks pretty much the same as the below example...

 

[wcwhitey]

Very Nice and Congratulations

 

[Seymour380]

In the 1935 to ~1941 period, the new .357 Magnum S&W revolver was essentially a custom ordered gun, with barrel length, sights, grips, hammer style, all being variable options. The gun was stamped with a registration number (separate from the serial number) that ties it to the original order. These number can link to a specific person (REG 506 George Patton), or to a shipment for an organization, like the Kansas City PD.

I don't have a pic of my .38/44 Outdoorsman, but it looks pretty much the same as the below example...

View attachment 1032905

Thanks Sir, very helpful. General Patton is one of my favorites.

 

[Seymour380]

Very Nice and Congratulations

Thank you, wc.

 

[Rexster]

I bought a pre-owned, Harrison-customized, Les Baer Premier II, when I thought I was about to retire, in late 2016. I added this to my “qual card,” so I finished my career with two 1911 pistols, plus two or more Glocks, that I could carry, for official duty purposes. (I already had a Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special, that I had owned since about the year 2000.)

The next year, in late 2017, Hurricane Harvey came to visit, and made quite the mess. The massive amount of overtime, that I was compelled to work, provided the ability to buy a very-nicely-done 3” GP100, which was pre-owned, but pristine, with custom touches. Shortly afterward, I added a new Glock G19x. My G19 pistols were starting to hurt my right hand, so my new compact Glock became the G19x, with an orthopedic-sized grip. These were my final firearm purchases, shortly before I retired. I considered these to be self-gifts, to commemorate retirement.

I did not officially retire until until early 2018, and, later in 2018, I bought myself another Les Baer 1911, in 2018, a well-preserved, pre-owned Monolith. The extra metal, in the Monolith’s extended dust cover, adds mass, to damp recoil, because aging hands appreciate that. So, this purchase had some amount of practicality, but I also saw this as somewhat of a retirement self-gift.

 

[Seymour380]

I bought a pre-owned, Harrison-customized, Les Baer Premier II, when I thought I was about to retire, in late 2016. I added this to my “qual card,” so I finished my career with two 1911 pistols, plus two or more Glocks, that I could carry, for official duty purposes. (I already had a Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special, that I had owned since about the year 2000.)

The next year, in late 2017, Hurricane Harvey came to visit, and made quite the mess. The massive amount of overtime, that I was compelled to work, provided the ability to buy a very-nicely-done 3” GP100, which was pre-owned, but pristine. Shortly afterward, I added a new Glock G19x. My G19 pistols were starting to hurt my right hand, so my new compact Glock became the G19x, with an orthopedic-sized grip. These were my final firearm purchases, shortly before I retired. I considered these to be self-gifts, to commemorate retirement.

I did not officially retire until until early 2018, and, later in 2018, I bought myself another Les Baer 1911, in 2018, a well-preserved, pre-owned Monolith. The extra metal, in the Monolith’s extended dust cover, adds mass, to damp recoil, because aging hands appreciate that. So, this purchase had some amount of practicality, but I also saw this as somewhat of a retirement self-gift.

Thanks Rexster, I have thought about looking into a 1911 as I get older. Might be easier to reload compared to the 380 acp. I find 45 acp brass often at my range, so at least brass expense would be minimal.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Im kinda, sorta, semi-retired since switching from a hot, back-breaking, manual labor job to a nice cushy air-conditioned post in the same general industry......

Although there have been others, Id have to say these two were my real splurge gifts to myself-

Winchester Pre-A M52



H&K P7 PSP