The age of micro nines and small autos has really spoiled us. When I started in 1991, we thought we had basically two choices...a J frame or a PPK/S. But even before then there were people carrying...so what did they use?

This is purely for fun...in the 1980's it was a different world for gun-tech, and ccw guns were very different, as was a lot of the philosophy.

If you had to carry in the 08's, early 90's, what would you carry?

For me, a S&W Model 60 or a Colt Commander.

S&W 669 or 6906.

It was the Glock 19 before there was a Glock 19.

There was no cc in TX in the 80s or early 90s. So, taking it up to mid-90s, I would carry the G19 or P228 with full cap pre-ban mags.

Back in the late 80’s/ early 90’s I carried a J frame, colt commander, and even a small colt 25

I still feel like a J-Frame makes a compelling self defense firearm today so that would be one tool I would have used….I mean were I not like 10 in the early 80s

Given my druthers though I would have rocked an HK P7/P7M8 without a doubt. That is of course assuming I could have afforded it, my allowance wasn’t huge.

In 1994 when I got my CCW, the choice was a G19 or a P228. I bought a P228.

I forgot to add my 1985 vintage Beretta 92F Compact...even though 9mm defensive rounds weren't as good as today.

Started carrying in the mid 80s, my primary carry gun was a Walther PPK/s. Had other guns, but this was the one that carried the most.

Went into Law Enforcement in 1989, first duty gun was a Beretta 92FC, off duty guns were a 669 (or 6906 can't remember now) or my PPK/s. BUG was a J frame.

After my first year, duty gun was a SIG P226, off duty gun was usually a P225 or P230.

Same thing I carry today: smith 36 no dash. 38 ammo has come a long ways, so I use 135gr gold dot +p.

quote:

Originally posted by 226mk25:
Same thing I carry today: smith 36 no dash. 38 ammo has come a long ways, so I use 135gr gold dot +p.

Nice classic gun...you should post pics if you get a chance.

Years ago carrying was a misdemeanor, not a felony. I carried a Dan Wesson 6 inch 357 and a Government Model both in the same Bianchi X-15. Not at the same time of course.

Started carrying in 1990 when I first got my CCW. I pocket carried a Beretta 950 Jetfire in .25. Woohoo!

The world was so different then. No internet gun forums, of course, and I didn’t want to join “gun culture” and start reading magazines every month, so basically I had no information. I wanted something to stick in my pocket when I had to go into questionable industrial neighborhoods for my sales job. A buddy was going to a gun show and agreed to buy me a pocket pistol. That was probably illegal at the time, but I had no idea. Thought it was like asking him to pick me up a half-gallon of ice cream.

I carried it (infrequently) for about 2 years, but kept it in the console of my Jeep Cherokee when I wasn’t carrying it. I hadn’t looked at it or for it in at least a year when I decided one day to clean out the mess of maps and napkins and sunglasses cleaner and hardened French fries that made up the contents of my console. I emptied everything out and there was no Beretta. Obviously it was stolen at some point, and since I had never had a broken window, it was stolen from my unlocked car. This would have been the mid-to-late-90s. What a putz.

I replaced it with a 228 and started getting training and practicing and taking things seriously.

3" S&W Model 66

Back in 1992 when I started carrying I carried a P228, PPK/s, or S&W 686 2.5”. If I had to go back even further, it would have been a S&W 66 2.5”. I actually just had custom leather made for my ‘78 66 for CCW.

I'd carry what I did carry at that time- a Colt 1911 in .45 ACP, in a Jackass shoulder holster. That's right, Mister 9mm started out as a 45 man, which every "serious pistolero" was back then. Yes it was big, yes it was heavy. It was also the only centerfire auto pistol I owned at the time, so...

Very comforting, it was.

From what I know now about guns back then, a Smith 3913 would have probably worked well. I owned a P226 in that time frame, but it would be a bit big for CCW.

Colt Lightweight Commander in 45 ACP.

If I had money, it would have been worked over by Pachmayr.

To be honest, I would have no problem carrying that today. There are just better options like the P365XL.

I didn't start carrying until around 1990 (Glock 19, after already owning and shooting it for almost a year). But if I had the benefit of taking back current experience in the wayback machine to 1982, I'm thinking that I might go with a S&W Model 39 given my more recent experiences with the M39 I bought about five or six years ago. It's really been a great shooter, with a very good trigger that I hadn't expected. And besides, "Hi-Cap" capability wasn't really a thing back then like it's become today.

When I started it was a steel J-frame and my duty gun was a K frame. Fast forward to 9mm semi and we all carried 380 acp off duty and or plain clothes duty. Mostly Ppk/Ppks, P230 and Bersa 380. The State Police issued the P230 to it's detectives and drug/gang units and I ended up going from an Interarms Ppk to a P230.

No CCW in Illinois, but at that time an option was a COP. I have one, but have never fired it.