Model 60 Enigma

[Bhfromme]

My 60-15 is an enigma. Not that it really matters but the SWSC isn't much help determining the birth year. Serial number is one of the dreaded three letter prefix numbers, DAF58xx. Can't find DAF anywhere in the book but I've narrowed it down to 2005-2006. And regarding the dash numbers, the dashes the dashes 14, 15, 16 and 17 are all intertwangled like this:

M60-14: 2001 LadySmith with ILS
M60-15: 2001 3" Target with ILS
M60-16: 2001 .38 Special 2" fixed sight with ILS
M60-17: 2001 .38 Special 3" Target with ILS
M60-18: 2005 .357 Magnum 5" Target with ILS w/ 2 piece barrel

No matter. I love my 3" Model 60 and it shoots real nice so it's a keeper but holy cow, S&W really got wrapped around the axle on those dash numbers.

[s&wchad]

If your gun came with the box, the special order code may reflect the packaging date. If your gun came with a fired case, the envelope has a firing date.

S&W used engineering change leves to designate different versions the model's 10, 36, 60, 625 and probably others too. Several EC/revision levels were often produced simultaneously and reflected standard weight/heavy barrels, fixed/adjustable sights, the caliber and even the frame material.

They had no qualms about capitalizing on the appeal of popular base models and didn't give a hoot how it might confuse future collectors.

[Bhfromme]

Thanks for moving this thread Chad. I got the idea to start this when I was reading a 1960 to 1980 Model 60 thread and lost track of where I was. God help me if I start forgetting where I am when I'm driving!