What was your first centerfire handgun?

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Gen 3 Colt Cobra. Had to choose between it and a Charter Arms Bulldog. Gun shop owner was kind enough to show me the price difference between .38 special and .44 special!
 
Cool choice- Not having a inadvertently ejectable magazine is feature worth discussion on a compact pocket gun, even today. Did it load with a stripper clip?

Nope no stripper clip, just load 1 at a time. Can't remember so I checked, held 10 +1, but it just seemed smaller than that.

Thanks for sharing everybody! Seems like most 1st centerfire handguns were Ruger Blackhawk in .357 mag.
 
Smith and Wesson Combat Masterpiece. I traded it for a Ruger Blackhawk .357 with 6.5 inch barrel. Wanted something with more punch for jack rabbits and coyotes. But I'm 5'7" on a good day and the Ruger was just too awkward to carry on and off a horse or in and out of the ranch truck. Should have kept the Smith. In a fit of nostalgia, I found and bought a 15-3 and remembered what a fine gun it is.
 
https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/the-smith-wesson-military-police-revolver/

Technically, I guess my first centerfire handgun was one of these Model 10 Smiths that was issued to trainee Aircrewman (like myself) in a Navy helicopter squadron in 1969. That revolver wasn’t really mine though, so I’m not sure it counts.
However, I bought myself a brand new Smith Model 28 “Highway Patrolman” with a 6” barrel shortly after I got out of the Navy in 1972. I think most of my hearing loss is the result of the damage I foolishly did to my ears back then by firing that 357 Mag without hearing protection, or at best, with cotton balls stuck in my ears for hearing protection.
On the other hand, it wasn’t too many years after I bought that Smith 357 that I bought myself a Ruger Blackhawk 30 Carbine, and I was still dumb enough to occasionally shoot it without hearing protection. I’m wiser now, but my hearing ain’t ever coming back.:(
 
An essex steel framed 1911 that I built using parts like a barrel and slide for $5.00 each. Yep that's right . Worked real fine and I was able to make consistent hits on a standing Fridge at 200 yards.
 
My first gun, bought in 1968, was a .22lr Colt Woodsman. Beautiful gun. The first center fire in 1975 when I obtained my carry permit, in Maryland, and bought a Charter Arms Undercover 38spl. Hated that gun so I bought a Astra Constable 380acp. The Astra was a nice gun.
 
Mine was a HiPoint C9, on sale for $129.99 back in 2012. I consider it a "Gateway Gun". It was a gun, it worked, but......... then I started hearing about the Shield. It had been out around 6 months. Then I handled a Shield. Then I bought one. Then I thought something higher capacity but still concealable would be nice and I acquired an SR9c. Later I thought I should get that 1911 I always wanted.
Don't get me started on what my first revolver led to.
 
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I don't know.........
It was too long ago........

I finally remembered.......

A T/C Contender in 44 mag with a ten inch barrel. *
Dad was generous as he supplied me with ammo* and his loaded shot-shells.

*Boy, he liked HOT loads! ;)

Edit to add: I still have it with more barrels and two more frames.

Edit to add, again.
NIB, $200.00 otd.
Had to be a while back............
 
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