I'm looking for a steel J-frame for concealed carry, and I spent a long lingering time looking at a mint M60 with original box, papers, tools, grips numbered to the gun, pinned barrel, absolutely flawless finish. Lockup was rock solid, timing was perfect. I don't even think it's been dry fired; there is no turn line, the DA trigger is heavy, SA trigger is heavier than normal for S&W but the crispest I've ever felt, giving no clue when it drops.

There's a problem, of course. The owner wants $550 and will not budge on price. I think I can find a 95%+ M60 for $400 or less. Should I spend the extra $150 for a 99% gun if it will get scratched up from CC anyway? Or will the stainless finish stay nice if carried in a holster?

$550 is starting to get up there into collectable territory where the K-22s and M66s live. I don't have pictures of this jewel since it's a couple counties away, but the owner wants an answer this weekend. I think he's about $75 - $100 too high. It looks just like this one except it doesn't have the red ramp front sight.




What do you guys think?

Get yourself a used one if it's for carry. A new in box gun will have you worrying over every little scratch. You might end up not carrying it and have to buy a second one anyway!

Agree with your assessment - the price is too high even for a NIB gun, so you might as well find one for $100-150 less, one for which you won't worry about the finish. Stainless guns don't show wear as much and can be restored to original fairly easily, if that helps.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I've got one I bought new back in the early 70's. It's the most accurate J frame I've ever shot. I made it more interesting by puting some Crimson Trace grips on it. (by the time the trading was over they cost me exactly nothing) Last year while looking around gun/pawn shops I saw another just like the one I bought 40 years ago. The tag read $350.00. I got it for $300.00 OTD. (no box or docs) My daughter saw it and decided she wanted it because "you already have one." I "loaned" it to her. I think your guy is a little high by the amount you stated for the reason you stated. However, if I was looking for an original non-shooting collectible, his price isn't really bad.

Agreed.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

That's about how i figured it. Kinda like buying a rare violin and taking it to the hoedown. Well, I can't afford to buy something just to look at it.

I do like the classic 19.5-oz M60 .38 with 1.875" barrel for carry. It's a little smaller than modern J-frames, which have a longer frame and cylinder. Plus the stainless finish is vastly superior to the clear-coated alloy finish of modern Airweights. I can deal with the extra 4-oz of weight.

Very good final choice.
Now go out and find one and shoot the heck out of it with all that extra ammo money you have saved.
J.Solo

You know what? If you pass this one by, for the rest of your life when you look at the one you end up with, you'll think "not bad but I wish I spent the extra $$$ back in 2012. I never saw a gun so gorgeous and I've not seen one since!"

Hell, I've had weekends when I drank up $100! In the Grand Scheme it's nothing.

A new-old-stock concealed carry piece from the 60's? The Nixon Era? Viet Nam? Jimi Hendrix?
The Parnelli Jones STP Turbo Car?

You can't put a price on that!

Oh yeah, buy it. Carry it. Be proud of it.

Stay thirsty, my friend...

I've carried a model 60 for about four years. I picked up a well used (but not abused) one about five years ago. I had a trigger job done and had the hammer bobbed (still DA/SA). I've carried it IWB or in the pocket. I left the combat grips on it and added a Tyler T-grip. It's been a great gun.

My experience; I wanted and still want what you are looking at. I passed up one in lesser condition, no box etc, at $500. Ended up with a minty 60-9 for $465 and a 95ish % m36 for $359.

I carry mine.

If I were doing it over again, and saw what you're looking at, I would buy it instead of the other two I ended up with. Of course I didn't have that option - I only had a M60 in good, not great, condition as the option.

YMMV...

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But then, what do I know?