Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between a S & W Model 60-3 and a Model 60LS (Lady Smith) Thank you very much for any help.

Wrong forum, but I think they're the same gun. Go up to the revolver forums and ask there to be sure.

One has "LadySmith" scrolled on the side. The other doesn't.

Also the LS would have come with slightly different stocks - smooth rosewood.

Otherwise, it is the same revolver.

JP

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Ladysmith has 'frosted' finish. Mod 60 is polished.

Total novice here. But I swear I read someplace that the lady smith came with a factory trigger job. To have less trigger pull weight making it easier for less strong women to pull the trigger.

Is there any truth to that?

Not that I'm aware of. From what I recall, the only claim made in the advertising was the "more ergonomic grip," suitable for a lady's hand. I bought one as a 16th birthday gift for my daughter the year they came out (Model 36) in 1989.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Pretty well sums it up.

I just today bought a Model 60 .357 Lady Smith for my Wife. Picking it up in my LGS I was first impressed with the smooth and light action when handling and dry firing it.

Some sort of action job or likely lighter springs make it far lighter and smoother than either my 640 Pro Series or 360PD AirLite.


The smooth Rosewood stocks feel small, but very nice in hand, fits her hands very well

digiroc

Shoot Well My Friends

If I'm not mistaken (and it's entirely possible that I am) the 60-3 LS was a 3" and it came with combat-style grips that were different than the rosewoods on the 2" LS and the regular J-frame combats.

Attached Images

60 LS 3-inch.jpg (99.3 KB, 36 views)

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Right beside the Model 60 lady Smith in .357 was a Model 60 in .38 Special with a 3" barrel. It was the regular Model 60, not a Lady Smith, and although I like the 3" barrel I wanted the flexibility of a weapon capable of handling .357 Magnum loads. Not that the wife will ever fire the LS with anything stouter than regular .38's.

digiroc

Shoot Well My Friends

I guess I'd like to know which dash number LS the OP is trying to compare to the 60-3. If it's the contemporary 60-14 there's clearly no comparison to the 60-3.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

My Wife's Lady Smith is the current production Model 60-14. Besides the infernal lock and the small Rosewood grips I'm not sure what differences the 60-14 has in comparison to the 60-3.

Possibly the spring weights and action job because the LS has the lightest, smoothest action I have experienced with a out of box S&W revolver.

I did put the Big Dot Tritium front sight on it and that makes a World of difference in presentation and aiming.



Shown with it is a speed strip with the copper jacketed wadcutters, some loose .38 JHP's and a speed loader with .357 135 gr Gold Dot's.

I for one like the flexibility of a .357 capable weapon even if the wadcutters will be it's usual loading.

digiroc

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Shoot Well My Friends

Nice gun. How does your wife like it?

This 2.1 inch bbl is my daily carry.
Srtong, small, and lightweight.

She likes everything about it except shooting it. She says it "hurts" even with wadcutters. I bought a 617 .22 with a 3" barrel for her to start with.

She was able to shoot about a 5' group with it from 10 yards. Massive flinch on firing. She might have even had her eyes closed from the results. It's going to take some work for her to actually carry the Lady Smith.

digiroc

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Shoot Well My Friends

Here's the 617 I got for the Wife to start out with;



digiroc

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Shoot Well My Friends

Now that I own a model 60, I am afraid this is going to become an addiction. I just got it and its my first old S&W. I tried to sell it but... after not getting any bites and admiring for a day, I decided to keep her.