I found a stainless 2" mod 60-7 with black synthetic grips that I have been having trouble identifying and dating. I have been unable to locate the serial number in my SCSW 3rd Edition (probably my fault).

Anyway, the serial # is BRU 82xx. The serial # is not the smooth deep stamping I have normally seen on S&W guns (each letter and digit has multiple tiny pinpoint imprint marks inside the recessed part of the lettering).

The barrel is not pinned and a code inside the cylinder frame is 475 (with a matching 475 under the grips on the left side). There is another number under the left grip (21051). I suspect the grips are not original (markings inside say they fit S&W J Frames).

The book shows the model 60-7 to be a 1990 production change with a "new sight width of 1/8" for Swiss contract". Could the fact that it was made for the Swiss account for the strange serial number or am I just missing something?

Thanks in advance for your help.
All info appreciated.......

The M-60-7 is, in my opinion, the highest evolution of the S & W.38 snub. It has improved heat treatment and the wider front sight, and is warranted for use with Plus P ammo.(That began with the full-lug M-60-4.)

It DOES NOT have the later MIM parts and the hated lock. I think S&W should have ended "development" of the gun with the M-60-7.

The apparent electric pencil marking of serial numbers looks crude, and offends me. But they did that, for some reason. Probably cheaper. Pinned barrels were phased out in the early 1980's.

T-Star

I totally agree with your comment about the "electic pencil" thing. But, I had never seen one marked that way before and was concerned that the gun had been tampered with by someone.

Anyone have any thoughts on the strange serial number prefix (BRU 82xx)?

Its not a strange serial number prefix. You have to "read between the lines" so to speak with those newer serial numbers (early '80s on). The SCSW only has prefixes they've confirmed. So look for ones before and after yours to get an idea of when yours was made. Or you can call S&W Monday and ask them. They'll tell the full date also.
Nice find btw, I've had two of those and like an idiot got rid of them. I'll also second that the wider front sight and heat treating for +P make it the pinnacle of model 60 production.

Got it! Thanks for the info and for clarifying it for me. I just picked up my SCSW a few weeks ago and it's taking a while to figure out how to use it. I guess I was thinking that all of the prefixes were listed but I see what you mean.

I will give them a call next week.

I have a 60-7 with serial # BSD XXX with the same dots in the serial number engraving. Got it at a national auction probably 10 years ago (for $155) with no box or papers. Always wanted to know about the weird dot markings and never knew it was +P rated. I've been carrying it and basically been treating it like **** ever since day one. I did have an action job done up by CGW when purchased and swapped out the grips. I have recently been thinking about trading it off for a 642 but I guess I'll keep it now, thanks to everyone's input to this thread.

I have a 60-7 that I recently found. My serial number BFU93XX has the normal engraving. Same as my 66-2 (mid 80s). But my 66-4 (mid 90s) does have the pinpoint serial number engraving. Since the 60-7 appears to be a 1990 only production run, S&W must have changed the way it stamped serial numbers on guns sometime in 1990 and I have an early production and you have a later production 60-7.

I love my 60-7. It saved my opinion of J-frames which was soured by a new titanium/scandium model that I purchased a while back and absolutely hated to shoot. I've been curious if my 60-7 really was +P rated. Appears to be from what people are saying. I usually only practice with standard .38, but I prefer to carry the heavy +P buffalo bore stuff.

Just checked my 60-7, it too has the pinpoint engraved sr. number. It also has case hardened hammer and trigger. The trigger is also a bit wider and has a smooth face . sr#BRJ35xx.

Thank you all for the notes above, I picked up my M60 - 7 a while back. And yes dotted serial #
It is in what I think is good condition and am going to trade it in as part payment against a new deer rifle. Would there be interest from members in this site or are there plenty examples in the open market?

Regards

Red Deer.