My first handgun was a Browning Nomad 22 LR...

A very old one with the black eagle on only one side. I was between 3-1/2 and 5 yrs. old. Not even in Kindergarten yet. Dad took me with a friend to the local dump to deposit some trash and perhaps pot at some of the large rodents. We were in an old early 60's Chevy pick up. Green and white I do remember. Dad positioned me in front of him and held the gun up for me to grasp. Transitioning his hands to my shoulders I pulled the heavy gun up close to my face and bam!

The slide plastered my nose flat. Looking back it was a bit irresponsible and I was cross-eyed back then even. Blood went everywhere and once they figured out I didn't shoot myself they worked on consoling me. The old truck had no mirrors where I could view what was left of my face. They finally polished some dirt off the moon hub caps where I could at least see a distorted version of my pummeled nose. Being a father now myself I can just empathize the butt grabbing anxiety to do such a thing with the "baby" on your watch!

That first traumatic shot did little to stem my enthusiasm. I cherished that little Ruger 22 Auto and later hunted rabbit and squirrel with it. Shot countless frogs, turtles, and snakes with it. It was stolen when I was 17 and some guys broke into our house. That negative experience spawned my true collecting, as I vowed to replace all my stolen arms.

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was a Ruger SBH 44 mag. I was 18 in 1979. It was stolen along with the second pistol I bought a Ruger MK II. I have since bought many Rugers but never a semi auto until the Kel-Tek PMR-30 and maybe soon a Ruger MK IV Hunter.