I got my indiana license to carry in 1995. I was 18. My first pistol was a Jennings/Bryco .380 my father purchased for me. I then switched to a glock 19 I still carry that glock 19 today. It was a Gen 2 police trade in from Washington DC. The frame became “brittle” and cracked a few years ago. Glock replaced the frame for and upgraded the gun to Gen 3 Just cost me shipping.
Indiana...March 1992...Ruger GP100 4", then (and very quickly) a 2.25" SP101 in .357, which I CC'd for 10+ years.
Bought my first semi-auto, a Glock 23, on 9/11/01, only because it came in the Friday prior and I didn't make it over until Tuesday.
After 9/11...things kinda took off from there...
Glad to see some ol timers as far back as the 1970's, I am waiting for the reply of "I carried a Flintlock, back in the day when we didn't need no stinking permit"!!!
Many a Jennings, Raven, Bryco, Hi-Point I bet were first carried too, many of us were young with families, back then, and didn't have much $$$.
My have our collections grown over the years, since the very beginning, n
My Jennings, .22, and Raven .25 Auto were replaced by a S&W Mdl 36, and a Colt Combat Commander, I still have those but carry a GOD (Glock Of the Day), edc, now.
I got my first carry permit in indiana in 1976, I first carried a COLT PYTHON w/6 inch barrel , with armor piercing shells, could buy off the shelf at that time.I made the mistake of shooting it the first time without earplugs , ears rang for 2 solid days, NEVER made that mistake again.