value of this m-60-9

[walter o]

need help on placing a value on this mod 60 . No I.D.as to engraver ,no box or paper work don't think it has been fired ,357 cal




more pictures if needed

[NevadaBob]

I'm no gun price guru but certainly someone can post a value.

[two-bit cowboy]

I'd suggest putting "engraved" in your title to help folks know
what they're going to see.

I don't see enough engraved ones that "sold" to know even a
ballpark figure. The sellers' asking prices seem to be all over
the place.

I have two Chiefs with MIM parts -- a 36-9 and a 60-10. I got
both of them for a little song and dance. I wouldn't be willing
to spend big bucks for any of the J-magnum frames just because
of their MIM parts. Just me.

[Dieseltech56]

Just an observation and correct me if I'm wrong but not all 60-9s came with a MIM hammer and trigger. Actually that trigger looks pre-mim.

Lets say that prefix is CAU, that puts it in 1996, before MIM was used. I have a CAY 686-4, definitely forged parts (except the cylinder release)

[two-bit cowboy]

No "correction" of your comments, Dieseltech56.

The SCSW 4th Edition leads me to believe MIM thumbpieces began for Model 60s in April 1996. It ads that "Variations may be found with a new 'MIM' hollow trigger or the standard solid trigger...." No mention of the hammer.

The Model 36 listing suggests MIM hammers and triggers began in August 1996 on the J Magnum Frame, but the MIM thumbpiece didn't start till the next year.

Heck, who knows?

I have believed, obviously mistakenly, that J-magnum frames had MIM parts. Apparently, as with most things S&W, there are no absolutes because when the company made a change it used up old parts till the supply was exhausted.

[Dieseltech56]

I thought full mim started in 1997 universally across all models. I know for sure the cylinder release started it around the time round butt frames became standard, then the triggers and finally the full frame change + hammer. J magnum frames are weird because they were the first ones.

[murphydog]

Back to the original question :

I think many closeup, detailed photos from different angles are needed.

That said, the detail work already visible in these photos suggest (to me) the engraving work is nice but not 99th percentile quality. I suspect it is worth a substantial percentage more than a standard gun to someone that finds its appearance attractive to them. Perhaps someone with more collecting experience will chime in.

[357-RevolverGuy]

Looks like it may have been a practice project for an engraver. I have seen some really beautiful engraving before and normally on those you don't see the squiggly lines surrounding the work and on the top frame like that. Those lines seem rushed. It's nice to own an engraved revolver, but this one is not as intricate as some of the ones I have seen. As always, value is what you paid for it. What would I pay for it? No more than $650 probably.

[Dieseltech56]

If it helps any I paid $600 OTD for a NIB 60-9 about 2 years ago.

[GerSan69]

I think it's nice, but it's not a factory job. My understanding of engraving value is that other than factory, it would need to be the work of a well-known engraver to be worth the big $$$. I've seen similar work offered for sale in the $1000-1200 range, but I never followed up to see if it sold for that much. Best of luck.