Older pinned mod.60 in original box,some light scratches on right side,I can make it look like new with some Mothers,will that hurt the value?Thats what I like about stainless revolvers,they can be polished,a blued one is what it is.Pics of mod 60.Opinions welcome.

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Well, I'll add that part of what frustrated me in my search for a 1978 66-1 is that I came across more than I cared for that had been polished. If you intend to keep it then do any/everything you want to make it "yours". I would guess for a resale it will take someone that also likes shiny stainless guns but would detract for those looking for older original guns and might impact the price an unmolested original would bring.

I like it! Me - I polish all stainless unless it is NIB or has the laser markings. I don't think it lowers the value much, but it might shrink the pool of potential buyer just a little. I say polish and enjoy it!!! PEN

IMO If you want polished - buy nickel. I believe polished stainless lowers the value

There are some good threads on the forum on how to restore or touch up a stainless finish with Scotchbrite pads. See post #10 of this thread-

Scotch Brite Pads

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Get off my lawn!

I'd vote for no polishing. Also as mentioned above I think you'd be pleasantly surprised using the Gray Scotch-Brite pads in fading or actually doing away with most of the scratches. In my opinion it's worth the try first and I guess if you don't like the results you'll always have the polishing option. Good Luck

Thanks guys for the opinions!Never used scotchbrite pads on one,maybe it would work,need to check that out,.Its true these are only original once,I dont know,maybe I should just leave it alone.

Same situation a few years ago - scotch brite works great.

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Only if it came from the factory with a high polish.

This seems to be one of those "personal preference" things.

To me, whether you polish brushed stainless or sand off bluing, you've removed the factory finish and made it a shooter grade. It's now forever a "custom".

Polish it, but try to blend in to look like the original satin finish. I don't like nickel plating or stainless guns shined up to that level.

Quit agonizing over this like you have a rare collectors' item. You basically have a working snub .38, the way most people will see the gun. I'd rather have one that looks nice, no scratches.

I've done both, polished and used Scotchbrite pads. I don't do it to my like new collectable ones, but the everyday shooters, what the heck, I think they make them look better.

How much will a "like new" model 60 be worth 50 years from now?

In the last year I've bought a 1950's Terrier and a 1950's Colt Officers Model ...both virtually unfired...for a combined total of less than $1100.

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Carry.."hope" isn't a strategy

To some a polished gun is a no buy gun, you never know what else bubba did to it.

Here is a polished 60 that was scratched up. I have removed matte finish on new guns that were unfired NIB and polished. I don't worry about resale value.

Nice revolvers guys!Thanks again for the opinions!I dont consider this pinned mod 60 in original box just a shooter.Maybe to some it is,here is a later mod 60 I shoot and keep under the mattress.Its not been messed with either at least not by me.What year and are the grips original,sure look like it.Anyway will let the next owner decide if they want to polish these guns,think they will sell better that way when the time comes.

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Polish, it will look better than it does scratched, already lost any collector value it it had.

Despite the scratches or other blemishes on your Model 60, it still retains all of its original finish. That is a plus.

Once a certain level of overall polishing takes place, the original finish becomes non-original, no matter how you look at it (good or bad).

I prefer original satin stainless finish myself, but that is just my personal preference.

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FBINA, 204th Session

Keep in mind that if you polish carefully, the right way, it will be almost unnoticeable.

Use a good lined holster to avoid scratches and scuffs of that order. I have a gun or two that have seen extensive holster use and look about new. My M-66-3 was my work gun for over 20 years. Some people can't believe how little wear it shows.

I would never polish a NIB or LNIB SS Smith. That's easy for me to say since I've never owned one. What I do have are several (more than I intended to end up with) pre-owned SS S&W revolvers. To some extent I have polished all of them. They are not safe queens and have no value above shooter grade. IMHO, scratch's on a gun look worse than one that's been polished to any given shine. My guns and I do what I want to them. hardcase60

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You want me to do what?

The scratches aren't too bad. I picked up a 3" 940 a couple of years ago that was pretty scratched up. Here's the before and after pics.

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Dan
Ps 96 SWCA 2930 SWHF 524

Polished guns make me throw up in my mouth a little bit when I see one. They remind me of wannabe pimp guns. Polished guns to me belong more in Paris Hilton's purse than a nice leather holster. They should have 2 fuzzy dice hanging from the trigger guard. Shined up polished guns make me think of those guys with sweet painted muscle cars that have 6 cylinder engines in them. Just say no to bright, shiny polishing.

Personally I have always polished my stainless revolvers over the years. I buy my revolvers to carry, not collect. I'm not concerned with the resale value because it's like used cars or anything else. Value is subjective to the buyer.

I say, leave it alone. It its original box makes it collectible. At the SWCA symposium in Charlotte, NC this past June, a dealer had 3 Model 60's, all in what appeared to be their original boxes. Two were first production guns.
One sold right away. The second was heavily polished and in a Model 60 box with a made up label. Asking price was about the same, and nothing was said about it being made up. I walked away. Leave it alone.

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Don Mundell

Thanks for your post,yeah this may be a cheap shooter to some,find me one like this for a cheap price and I will buy it!Any future buyer can at least make his own call as to polish or not on this.If the buyer dosent care wether it has the original satin finish or not he might think,heck I can make this look great with some polish,but if they want original untouched finish they might think,at least someone didnt polish the hell out of it.You have to look at both sides,am not touching it or the other one,they are what they are,good or bad.as was said once you mess with these guns or any gun there is no going back.Anyway thanks for all the opinions.

Impressive polish job - what did you use? Seems like you were able to remove the hairline scratches - looks great!

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586-7, 629-6, 19-3 Ni, 36

I picked up a 60 no dash. Boxed.. had been a little beat up. Shot very little.

I sanded and polished her up and doubled my investment when I sold it the day after I finished it.

So I say it can't hurt if it needs help.

I say if you want to polish it, go for it. I bought a NIB 686 about 10 years ago. I hemmed and hawed for a year about to polish it or not. I finally said screw it and spent a few days polishing it with Mother's. It looks like chrome now, it turned out beautiful.

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A light polishing removes little surface scratches, body sweat marks, handling marks etc. l use fritz on the lighter stuff. For stainless I use simi chrome polish. Using a very soft rag lightly if you do it right you can’t tell it’s been cleaned up.

I bought two new 60's many years ago to use at work....One in each reefer pocket. I paid full retail was around ninety bucks each...
I carried and shot them so much they sort of semi polished themselves.
I finished the job with Flitz...

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NRA Benefactor

Reading the comments here, and just wondering if anyone realized the first few thousand model 60's came from the factory with a high polished finish? back in 1965/66

I say polish. Actually, I would prefer media blasted.

Before


After

I AGREE WITH oldiesradio1560. I HAVE SHUNNED BLUED GUNS, FOR THE VERY REASON THAT I CAN POLISH IMPERFECTIONS OUT OF MY STAINLESS GUNS. 99% OF MY GUNS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED USED. I WILL USE THE POOR COSMETIC CONDITION OF A STAINLESS GUN'S FINISH AS A BARGAINING POINT--KNOWING THAT I CAN EASILY REMEDY THE SITUATION WITH SOME MOTHERS POLISH, AN OLD TEE SHIRT, AND A LITTLE TIME.....

I DON'T POLISH MY GUNS TO A MIRROR FINISH, BUT JUST ENOUGH TO REMOVE WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE OFFENSIVE SCRATCHES. I AM NOT GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE AN UGLY GUN, JUST SO SOME ORIGINALITY LOVER CAN BE SATISFIED, AT POINT OF RESALE....

I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM SELLING ANY OF MY POLISHED GUNS ! ! ! BELOW, ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE GUNS IN MY MODEST COLLECTION. ALL WERE PURCHASED USED. ALL WERE POLISHED......

THAT BRACE OF 629s ON THE BROWN LEATHER BACKGROUND, WERE SOLD TO AN OUTDOORSMAN IN CALIFORNIA, WHO ABSOLUTELY LOVED THEM. HE INTENDED TO CARRY THEM ON HUNTS. THEIR POLISHED CONDITION (THE BRIGHTEST THAT I EVER TURNED OUT) WAS NEVER EVEN MENTIONED, DURING THE SALE.....

THE 4", MODEL 617 REVOLVER, IN THE CENTER PIC, IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I PURCHASED NEW. I MODIFIED IT TO SUIT MY TASTE, WITH A PLUG IN THE HOLE, SOME NEW GRIPS, A NEW REAR SIGHT, AND A MILD POLISH. WHOEVER DOESN'T LIKE IT, SHOULD NOT BID ON IT, IF AND WHEN IT GOES UP FOR SALE. I GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL SELL, WITHOUT A PROBLEM ! ! !

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I recently picked up a used Model 60 at local gun show from a retired LEO who was also an armorer for the Cincinnati PD.

Besides the high polish, he also bobbed the hammer and did an action job. Lovely to look at and a blast to shoot.

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THAT IS A BEAUTY, MetalMAN. CONGRATULATIONS, AND BEST WISHES.....

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I traded into a M60 Ladysmith .357 a couple years ago, one made in the '90s (dash-9, I believe).
These have the bead-blasted matte stainless finish that just looked "cheap" to me, and i've seen some polish jobs other guys had done on their revolvers (like the SP101) and always thought they looked great with that high-polish look, so I figured I'd gove it a try.
I got a little tub of Mothers Mag metal polish from my favorite auto parts store, then cut up a bunch of small rags from an old T-shirt, and sat in front of the TV watching a Star Trek marathon, and went it it for a couple hours.
Surprisingly, I was pretty close to done in that time (my buddy said he was expecting two weeks!).
I did a little fine tuning in another short session or two, but nothing too extensive, and everyone thinks the little 357 looks fantastic.
As long as it isn't something old or collectible, I'd go for it.

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Unrepentant magna hater !!

I got this 65-2 about four years ago with a full box of .357s, rubber grips and lots of scratches for $275.00. A little Mother's, a set of Hogues and here it is. I think it's pretty nice for an old beater. I probably wouldn't polish my 60 or 63, but I don't think I did the 65-2 any harm.

Is it a carry gun or an investment to be turned around for a profit?

If it's to be carried (my EDC is a stainless steel J-frame) cosmetic considerations aren't that huge a deal for me--nobody else is going to see it unless he is on the really noisy end, and I'm not fanatical about appearance.

But then I've never been able to afford to be a speculator or a collector.

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Oh well, what the hell.