Model 60 In Unlabeled Box

[JW5400]

I bought a Model 60 some time ago. According to the serial # it was produced in 1971. Bought it from a local guy who inherited it from his uncle. He never shot it and was pretty sure his uncle never did either but can't swear to it. The gun is pristine.

My issue, the box is correct for a model 60 2" but does not have a label. The label end of the box shows no signs of ever having one. The box does show some minor wear, consistent with sitting in a safe or closet for 40+ years and there is a 1971 date stamp inside the box (not that that probably means anything). In the box are papers, no tools and original wax paper.

I've seen in other threads in the forum that this sometimes happens.

My question, could this possibly be an original box or is there no chance of that?

[two-bit cowboy]

We need photos to be of help.

Serial number would be a big help, too.

[ken158]

Many years ago I sent a revolver in for service (not in factory box) and it was returned in an unmarked blue two piece box. So I know for sure they have done that. In addition, I have been in the S&W stock room (in the 80’s) and there were shelves upon shelves of boxed guns with labels showing. I can’t think of any reason they would shelve a new gun without a label for inventory and order filling purposes.

[RGNewell]

Leave it in that box and don't put a repro label on it. Those fake label just let people to wonder what else has been manipulated. Congratulations on a wonderful gun

[1075tech]

I have a 1984 686 in it's original box. I bought it new. To my knowledge, the box never had a label. There is no evidence of a label ever being on the box.

[JW5400]

Originally Posted by two-bit cowboy

We need photos to be of help.

Serial number would be a big help, too.

Thanks, will add photos and info tomorrow.

[JW5400]

Just got back from NRA fundraiser so I thought I would send them tonight.

[JW5400]

Additional pics.

[Jason Demond]

Back in the day it was common for certain guns to come in non labeled boxes, but those were all guns that come with presentation cases. My model 25 came in an unmarked blue box, along with shipping container that held all the other bits including the presentation case.

The gun's label in my case, was on the shipping container.

[vrichard]

Originally Posted by JW5400

I bought a Model 60 some time ago. According to the serial # it was produced in 1971. Bought it from a local guy who inherited it from his uncle. He never shot it and was pretty sure his uncle never did either but can't swear to it. The gun is pristine.

My issue, the box is correct for a model 60 2" but does not have a label. The label end of the box shows no signs of ever having one. The box does show some minor wear, consistent with sitting in a safe or closet for 40+ years and there is a 1971 date stamp inside the box (not that that probably means anything). In the box are papers, no tools and original wax paper.

I've seen in other threads in the forum that this sometimes happens.

My question, could this possibly be an original box or is there no chance of that?

Your model 60 with ser.# 491287 is maybe 1967 or 1968 not 1971.
DICK

[jcelect]

I agree with vrichard! A 1971 gun would have had an R prefix, from the requirements of the 1968 Gun Control Act! I would guess mid 1968.
jcelect

[two-bit cowboy]

According to Dr. Jinks History of Smith & Wesson, the production run your Model 60 was in went from 490001 to 491503. That was the first production run with a satin finish and flash chrome-plated hammer and trigger after the stainless steel was heat treated. Probably 1966 or '67 based on the serial number chart in Dr. Jinks book.

It's interesting to note the diamond grips since S&W issued the change order to delete the diamond in December 1965.

Also your box has the Bangor Punta name on the front. BP bought S&W in 1965, and I've seen non-BP boxes into 1966 as the company used up the old stock. Whoever set the type for the end label on your box misspelled Chiefs (it should not have the apostrophe, making the name possessive instead of plural).

[JW5400]

Duh! I should have picked up the wrong date and especially the no R. I guess this has been in the safe so long I never realized I had the wrong date on it.

Also because I have another M60 from 1966 with a 476 serial number. I have the original bill of sale from 1966 and I'll attach a pic of the labeled box on that one.

[two-bit cowboy]

Wow, good for you. That box appears to be a non-BP box. And, as I understand Roy's book, that Model 60 with the 476xxx serial number should have the bright polished finish and dark case hardened hammer and trigger. There were about 5,000 of those. Photos of that one?

[vrichard]

The correct box for your model model 60 ser.#476XXX should maybe
look like the one on the right.
Dick

[JW5400]

Sorry Dick! being new to this stuff, I don't see the differences in the two boxes.

[JW5400]

Bob, attaching pics of 476 gun. Being a newbie, if there's anything more specific that you need just let me know. Thanks for your assistance!

John

[two-bit cowboy]

Doesn't appear to have the case hardened hammer & trigger. Hmmm.

[JW5400]

Originally Posted by two-bit cowboy

Doesn't appear to have the case hardened hammer & trigger. Hmmm.

I guess that gives me a couple of strange ones.

[JW5400]

Originally Posted by two-bit cowboy

Doesn't appear to have the case hardened hammer & trigger. Hmmm.

This stuff can get really confusing. I started looking at some posts about hammers and triggers and found a bunch but I thought the two following links were relevant. Your thoughts?

Thanks again,

John


Model 60's

Should a no dash 60 have a case hardened hammer?

[two-bit cowboy]

Lots of misinformation in those two threads.

Dr. Roy Jinks lists serial numbers and each change in the early years of the Model 60 in his book, History of Smith & Wesson.

I'm not going to copy Roy's info, but here's the crux:

First 5,900+ Model 60s were bright polished stainless steel with polished stainless hammers and triggers. '65/'66

The next 5,000 were bright polished with "dark case-hardened hammer and trigger." '66/'67 (Your 476xxx fell in this run.)

After that the finish was satin and the hammer and trigger were indeed stainless steel that had be heat treated and then flash chromed. late '66 on....

[JW5400]

Thanks again! Any idea what's going on with mine then?

[two-bit cowboy]

No way of knowing.

Could have been that the factory interchanged parts, depending on the "batch" being produced during that period (that was not uncommon with some other changes through the years), or somebody might have switched them for whatever reason at some point.

I don't know if the information Roy looks at to create a factory letter would get into the weeds of which hammer and trigger were on the gun when it shipped.

[JW5400]

Sure is baffling but it’s still a nice one.
Thanks very much for your valuable help and information. I really appreciate it.

John