What was the first gun you ever bought for yourself, not given or inherited?

[1168]

SAR-1 Romanian AK. Followed like a month later with a Bushy. Then a M48 Mauser and a M44 Mosin.

First handgun was a Kimber Gold Combat from their “Custom Shop”, followed immediately by a G17. Third would have been a USP, immediately after they came out, but the configuration I purchased was vaporware at the time. So I got a refund and bought a Marlin 336. Smoked some pork with it, so it was probably a better purchase, anyway.

Still have the SAR-1, Kimber, and Marlin. Other longest owned gats include a Colt ‘73 knockoff and Winchester ‘92. Or ‘94. Can’t remember. Also, a Browning A-bolt I traded a Savage for.

Unfortunately, I traded a Marlin 22mag bolt gun (that was in the first few guns I purchased) for a Turkish Mauser that had been sporterized. I was dumb back then. Still trying to figure out what to do with the Turk barreled action.

[ThirdWatcher]

My Dad wouldn’t allow firearms in the house when I was growing up. When I got out of the Army, he gave me a new S&W Model 28 Highway Patrolman, which was what the LE agency I’m now retired from issued back then. I practiced with that revolver 2-3 times a week while I attended college (when I wasn’t handloading more ammo).

First gun I bought for myself ($123 + tax) was a S&W Model 36 Chief’s Special that became my constant companion for several years (to include service as my unauthorized backup weapon once I was commissioned). I replaced it with the first Model 649 I saw, at the time I thought S&W must have been thinking of me when they designed it. It ultimately was replaced with a Model 940 when the agency adopted the Beretta 92F. (I still have all those revolvers too and have no interest in selling any of them.)

[horseman234]

Pre-1964 Winchester Model 94 which still resides in my safe. Wish I had taken better care of it considering the prices the mint ones command now.

[donlapalma]

Good ole Springfield XD9 baby. Kinda wish I would've kept it just because was the first.

[PD Sgt.]

Smith & Wesson 915 as an off duty piece (had been issued a 4506).

[ABNAK]

To expound on the OP, I was stationed at Ft. Knox from January of 1987 until I ETS'd in July of that year, so six months. The four guns I mentioned being purchased were all within that six month period. Basically once the logjam broke free it was katy bar the door! This was on an E-5 salary 33 years ago, and with a wife (ex now). After being stationed overseas for the previous three years and not able to purchase a gun (and if so it would have been a royal PIA to do so) coming to CONUS was like "Woohoo!!!" gun-wise.

I don't recall the prices of the other three, but the used SA M1A I bought was $700. That was a chunk of change back then.