A buddy of mine said he picked up a 60-4 with the 3" barrel.
No box or doc's states it's 98%
A couple questions:
1) Does anyone know how many were made and what year?
2) What's the current buy/sell price in today's market?
3) What stocks would have come on the gun when shipped?
4) Are they considered a "rare" bird?

Thanks in advance for any and all information.

Masterbuck54

Attached Images

SW model 60_4 3 in.jpg (73.9 KB, 886 views)

Judging by that picture, it's not a 98% gun. It looks very well used and the grips (which are correct on the gun) look a bit beat. They did probably come on the gun. A 3 inch barrel on a M36 or M60 is not rare at all. I have a few laying around. If I saw that gun out, I would probably pay $325 to $350 OTD for it. Then I would go into full cleaning/restoration mode and get it back into shape. Being SS, it would be an easy clean-up, but would take some time. Unless I'm missing something, the most the gun would bring as-is might fall in the $500 plus tax ball park. I never pay what a gun might be worth.

__________________
Dr. B

The 60-4 is a limited edition 1990 Target model with full underlug and the new yoke retention system. I have never seen how many were made, but est. less than 1000? These usually sell at or near double the regular Mod 60 prices for comparable condition. I believe the stocks were the S&W monogram Rubber Hogue's. At nearly the same time they produced the exact same format but in carbon steel as the 36-6, which is documented only 615 being made. It had the same Hogue grips. As below.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Not sure how many were made, but i believe they came with Uncle Mike's combat grips. I put the pro Series grips on mine, which are a sort of SB/RB hybrid.

I'm not sure on the grips, I've seen them with various different grips, as many people change them soon as they bought the gun.

You picked the grips that fit me the best, Altamont. I have several of my J Frames in those.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

OP,

Is it necessary to point out that the 60-4, and the picture you have posted, have the S&W adjustable rear sight, not fixed? And, BTW, there is only one rear sight, singular.

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

Dang. Now I have to go find me one of those. Didn't even know they made them.

__________________
Dr. B

The 60-4 came with uncle mikes round butt j frame rubber combats (bring a premium on the used maket, considered one of the best round butt j frame grips).

The matte blue version of the same revolver, the 36-6, came with hogue rubber round butt j frame grips.

Not sure but based on what I have seen the production numbers on the 60-4 would be in the 1000 plus range.

Must have been the cold medicine

Thanks ALK8944

Masterbuck54

Many thousands of 3" Model 60 Chief's Special Target revolvers have been made over the years.

Product Code 102298 was manufactured from 1990 - 1992. Yours is most likely a 102298. A call to Smith and Wesson or a CHAT on the website will quickly confirm this if you can provide them a serial number.

A change in the engineering revision (often called dash number) does not make it a different model.

Most all product codes span two or more engineering revisions, as does 102298.

The only reason so few of the -4 engineering revision are presumed to exist is that 102298 was introduced just shortly before the -5 continued the offering with it's wider front sight.

Smith and Wesson does not track quantities of production guns or how product codes are split along engineering revisions.

Some quantities are known on Distributor Exclusives and other special orders simply because there is a written order for the product.

The only two "rare" variations of the 3" Chief's Special Target that come to mind are the 615 pieces of product code 101549, the 3" Model 36 Chief's Special Target as pictured above by H Richard and mine pictured below
Or product code 102432, the 182 3" Model 60 Chief's Special Target Small Hunters that were ordered for Lew Horton and built on the J-Magnum frame in 357
Probably tens of thousands of the Chief's Special Target revolver have been produced since the Model 60 went to the J-Magnum frame

Only 2,000 of the model 60-4 were made. It's almost a rare bird. I sold one here on the forum to a "sniper" who immediately posted it on GunBroker where it sold for $2,000.

Any idea what the final bid was?

$2000? Thats crazy money. I have 2 of them. Never thought they could be worth anywhere near that much.

The final bid was $2,000.

I've never known for certain just HOW rare the Model 60-4 is (BTW, that engineering designation is specific to the stainless 3" gun with full lug barrel and adjustable sights) but I know I looked long and hard to find one and finally Dale53 had to find one for me so he wouldn't have to hide his every time I went to visit! Mine came to me ANIB but didn't stay that way long, which is OK because I don't intend to ever sell it until... ⚰️

Froggie

I have a 60-4 and also a 60-1 which is "sorta" rare.......

Attached Images

100_0792.jpg (78.4 KB, 200 views)

__________________
S&W Accumulator

SCS&W IV says the 60-4 was made from 1990 to 1999, but I don't recall seeing them in stores and shops during that period. I had my LGS order me one when I saw a printed ad for them, my notes say I picked it up 1-11-1990. BFV2771, paid $297.10. I haven't shot it yet. Sounds like I mebbe could get my money back out of it.

Comes close to being the .38 Special Kit Gun I always wanted.

That's $550, adjusted for inflation. You should be able to get that easy. That's why owning Smiths is such a great past time. Take care of them, shoot them, enjoy them for decades, and still not loose on the flip side. Even when accounting for the long term devaluation of the dollar.

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~

WOW!
I traded a Berlin Police Walther PP in 32ACP for the 60-4 I have now.

You're just confusing him. He asked specifically about just Model 60-4. There were two runs, about 1990 and maybe 1994, as I recall. Some have flash-chromed hammers and triggers and some have color case-hardened.


I paid $350 each for mine, both without box or papers, but about new. This was at gun shows, and the dealers seemed to think the guns would be harder to sell than a true snub, as the mass public wants the snub.


Both of mine had Uncle Mikes grips, but I switched to Pachmayr Presentation Compacs.


I think the Model 60-4 is the finest small revolver S&W ever made. The .357 that came later is, IMO, too much gun for a J-frame.


Those selling to collectors may try for a high price, but the average gun show dealer may sell a M-60-4 for about what any M-60 brings.


Both of mine have been exceptionally accurate, and the adj. rear sight lets you dial it in for the loads you prefer. Mine shoot the lead HP 158 grain well, but are just outstanding with Speer's 125 grain and 135 grain (Short Barrel) loads.


That gun in the OP is NOT anywhere NEAR 98%, but the scuff on the side can be polished out with metal polish and elbow grease.


I don't know how many M-60-4's were made, but if you find a nice one, buy it . Treasure it.


My holsters for these are from El Paso Saddlery. Because of the full-lug barrel, you'll probably need to order custom leather for that gun. But any holster for the later M-60-9-on will probably fit, as they also have that barrel profile.

Thanks for all the info.
As stated in original post this is a buddies of mine or should I say was
Apparently he sold it for $900 this past weekend.

I'll be on the lookout for one but not inclined to spend $900

Masterbuck54

Bump <<<< found this after starting another thread on the 60-4.....thought I'd remember it.

? are they round or square butt????????

Round butt.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

My 60. But I would pay dearly for your Chiefs Special Target

Where did you get the grips??

As the Green Frog mentioned, I have been a proud owner of a 60-4 since they first hit the market. Just before that happened, a Gun Digest article on putting target sights on a custom "J" frame Smith got my juices flowing. However, having a custom gun smith do this can be expensive. I did a good bit of bird hunting with my Beretta Silver Snipe 12 gauge over/under and a good, small frame handgun for a centerfire cartridge sounded like a VERY good idea.

I wanted a 4" barrel and when I ran onto the Chief's target when THEY hit the market, it started me thinking. I live in SW Ohio and the Indianapolis 500 Gun Show (about 100 miles from me) was on. I with a couple of friends, were there when I first saw the Chief's target. However, I was disappointed in that it only had a 3" barrel. I reluctantly passed. However, all the way home and for days afterwards, I wished that I had brought one home. I made up my mind that the next show I would get one.

Well, the next show I eagerly went to buy. Money in hand, and ALAS, the Chief's Target was a limited edition and they were GONE. However, the dealer said, "Maybe you will want to take a look at this!". That's when he pulled the 60-4 from his table. I took a gander, handled it and reached in my pocket.

I was still a bit disappointed that it only had a 3" barrel. However, I could hardly wait to try it out. The next day or so, I went to my local gun club's indoor range (it was COLD out). There were two or three of the club's competitive pistol shooters on the line. I sighted it in (only took a few clicks) and proceeded to shoot a 97x100 on the fifty foot timed fire target! The other shooter's couldn't believe it. The next target was nearly as good. It was REAL. The heavy underlug barrel just flat held well with that weight out front. I shoot it better than my 4" barreled 631 (target sighted .32 H&R)! In spite of it's "limitations" it proved to be a REALLY useful revolver in the field.

I have taken a considerable amount of rabbits (both cottontail locally, and
the much larger snow shoe rabbits in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) and grouse in Eastern Ohio and Michigan. I wore it cross draw when bird hunting where it was out of the way of the shotgun and instantly available for sitting rabbits and wounded and sitting grouse.

I mostly used a full charge home cast wadcutter but it also worked well with a good SWC. It's not the handgun you would pick for silhouette use but for typical field use it is a DANDY!



I am a bit "long in the tooth" for bird hunting in rough country these days, but I still take it to the range on occasion and "let it run". It has been a worthy addition to my favorites.

Dale53

When I saw the GUN TESTS right up I knew I had to have one. They called it a mini 686.

LOL...I refer to my 60-10 .357 in many post as; "think micro-686"

I do not like adjustable sights. Is the snub nose model 60 with fixed sights made on the same frame that you mentioned for .357?

I love mine! Very handy little 38.

A shooter grade on Gun Broker now for $675

It's on the basic J-frame but not milled for and fitted with adj. sights, of course. Find a photo and that will be obvious. I think current ones are on the J-Magnum frame, but haven't looked at any. I lost all interest in modern S&W revolvers after they introduced The Lock. My subsequent revolvers have been Rugers. But somone more tolerant of the new S&W's will probably be along and answer your question better.


The M-60-4 is the correct size with the full-lug three-inch barrel. If the man in Ohio who made the long post had been able to find one with a four-inch full-lug barrel, I think he'd have found it to be too nose-heavy. That's probably a big reason why they never made that version.


To have a four-inch barrel on a J-frame. you'd want something that looks like the Model 63, but made in .38 Special, not in .22. And, no, they haven't made that and probably never will. There have been .32 versions like the M-631 Dale mentioned.


The M-60-4 was the best small field .38 yet made, I think. The present version, made in .357 on the newer J-Magnum frame, is too violent in recoil for most shooters. The Ruger SP-101 is the correct answer if you need a small .357. It's just enough bigger where it needs to be to matter.


BTW, a .38 with a three-inch barrel shoots more like a four-inch gun than it does like a snub. I'm not surprised that Dale53's gun is so accurate or that it kills rabbits and grouse well. I am curious to know if his full power lead WC load damages much meat on grouse.

Thought I would share mine, picked up last week.

Attached Images

20170127_163358.jpg (94.1 KB, 153 views)

60-4 in box.jpggreat gun.

About 10 years ago a friend asked me if I was interested in buying a 60-4. His mother had purchased a pair brand new back in the 1990s for home protection but had gotten to the point the recoil was too much for her.

I bought one of the guns but don't remember who got the other.



It went a long nicely with a 60-1 and 60-10 I had...





Ended up selling it after I found a second 60-10 which turned out to be a limited edition TALO Mag-Na-Port version. Just shot some Magnums out of it last weekend and don't find it all that bad. I use them for my packpacking-hiking-fishing-boating guns...





Not sure if the .38 Special cylinders can take the pressure but I fitted a second cylinder to my stock 60-10 and had TK Custom modify it to take .38 Super and 9mm...it will also run 9x21 and .356 TSW...

5 yards with 9mm...




Great little trail guns no matter which one you get...

Bob

Here's how mine came from the factory.


This is how it looks now.


Looks & feels much better, I think!

Let's not forget the latter-day M 60 also was sold with a 5" barrel. Ungainly but a dream to shoot. We saw a few at the store/range we instruct at.
I would have much preferred a 4" barrel.
The 3" is still plenty good. Just the other night, we had our "gun buffet" class that includes a newer 3" 60. There were a few .357 rounds in the box so I helped empty the brass for the recycler. Not tough to shoot at all.
Some years back I traded into a 3" M 36 Target and shot it a while before trading it off again. Not a wise move!

I sought out a 640 .38 as soon as I heard they had Magnumized the model.
Wish I had gotten one of these, too.

I bought a NIB Model 60-4 from an Omaha wholesaler whose name escapes me. I had an FFL then and bought several special editions in the early 90s when S&W was doing what came to be called the "Gun-a-Month" club. I have the box in front of me: 3"bbl., Stock "C S" and a Target Hammer. The serial no. is BKVxxxx; product code 102298 and spec ord is 1330(which I think means built the 330th day of 1991. The stocks are in the box and are Uncle Mikes RB rubber. They are so petite I couldn't use them.

This one of those long ignored guns somewhere in my safe. Thanks for helping me remember.

__________________
Bob.
SWCA 1821

To KenL and IOWgan,
Ok, just wrap them up and tell me what your price is. lol
I have 3 model 60's, two 2.5" and one 3". None are -4's,
they are -9,-10 & -14.
I love them, they are for home defense along with:
my .22,.22mag,.32,.327mag,.357,.38, 9mm,.40,.44 mag,.45,.454
Arn't Smiths just about the best fun we can have?

Texas Star:
>>>I'm not surprised that Dale53's gun is so accurate or that it kills rabbits and grouse well. I am curious to know if his full power lead WC load damages much meat on grouse.<<<

All of the grouse I have shot have been wounded when bird hunting with friends. A wounded grouse will typically let you get pretty close but not close enough to catch. In fact, if you push them too far, they will bury themselves in a briar patch that would take a bulldozer to get them out. Having said that, you can get pretty dern close (20 feet or so). They will stick their heads out and up like a periscope and it is no great trick to shoot their heads off. Any pistol shot of "Expert" or higher classification can do that. As a result, I haven't shot any through the breast. However, if you do so, it will put a near 1/2" hole straight through what ever you shoot. Most game birds will face you. If, per chance, they should have their side to you, you can put one through the "slats" and you won't damage much meat.

FWIW
Dale53