J frame 3"

[DUNTOV]

Got that one two years ago.
Look around, they can be found....

I have one also like yours, GREAT shooter, very accurate

 

[JoeM19]

This ain't good!!

You mean like this old thing here?

I shouda' stayed out of here today. I just barely escaped my lgs a couple of days ago. A 640 Pro was almost glued to my gun-hand. I've been sort of looking for a 3" J. There were 2 686s close by, one a 2" +, and the other a 3", non fluted cylinder with rather fancy grips (lock). Both to big for me now. The first was $100 more than the Pro and the other $200. If I had seen the one above in the 'consignment' case it would have been a goner. Thanks for posting what I'm looking for, TexMex. - 'ole joe

 

[Road Rat]

My only three inch "J" frame...Model 36 (.38 Special...5 rounds)

 

[Old TexMex]

I shouda' stayed out of here today. I just barely escaped my lgs a couple of days ago. A 640 Pro was almost glued to my gun-hand. I've been sort of looking for a 3" J. There were 2 686s close by, one a 2" +, and the other a 3", non fluted cylinder with rather fancy grips (lock). Both to big for me now. The first was $100 more than the Pro and the other $200. If I had seen the one above in the 'consignment' case it would have been a goner. Thanks for posting what I'm looking for, TexMex. - 'ole joe

Joe, three years ag that model 36 was in a hock shop, and looked new. I gave 325 for it and the counter man said " oh, yeah...theres a box in the trash that it was in, you can have that." It had the orig sales receipt, tools and all other paperwork. Doesn't appear to have been fired at all.

 

[diyj98]

I had a nice 36 with a 3" barrel but sold it. In a 38 special, I want a 2" or shorter barrel. If I'm going to a 3" or longer barrel, I want a 357 or larger caliber.

 

[M3Stuart]

Best gun ever made - bar none

You cannot go wrong with a 3" J in .38 special.

I'm not a huge fan of .357's in J frames, AND, without having to 'jump the gap' I think that the .38 3" J's are a tad more accurate.

Sooooo, I think they are the best gun ever made, bar none.

 

[mochahooligan]

Well got info she got it new in 1990 and is going to sell it to me. Next Saturday. Its a 640 with Pachmeyer grips that look very worn down. I will be on the lookout for something a little nicer that way.
I will post up pics when I get it.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Well got info she got it new in 1990 and ...Its a 640 ...

It will be a "no dash" in .38 Special. The original grips would of likely been smooth wood Magnas, or (less likely) Uncle Mike rubber boot grips. All the ones I've seen from that era had one of the two.

If the s/n starts with CEN you have one of the first of the "revival" Centennials made in February of 1990. It would also be marked "TESTED FOR +P+" under the top strap. Those are kinda desirable.

 

[mochahooligan]

It will be a "no dash" in .38 Special. The original grips would of likely been smooth wood Magnas, or (less likely) Uncle Mike rubber boot grips. All the ones I've seen from that era had one of the two.

If the s/n starts with CEN you have one of the first of the "revival" Centennials made in February of 1990. It would also be marked "TESTED FOR +P+" under the top strap. Those are kinda desirable.

Well I thank you for that info Kernel! I will post up all info and pics next week after I cget it home. I can't wait !

 

[jsfricks]

Here's my 36-1 I recently picked up. It doesn't get carried.
Factory grips

Factory Target grips

 

[Tony2much]

Less than a week ago, I picked up this model 60-10 3" - Lew Horton Special with factory mag-na-port.

 

[Biggfoot44]

More in the Spirit of Thread

I kinda figured the OP was refering to .38Spls .

*IF* the given parameter is specifically for " BEST" J Frame to be a semi-serious Belt Gun , then yes a 3in HB Sq Butt M36 is the answer. ( No , To Me a J Frame .357 is a pointless stunt.) Good balance without needless weight. The sight radius can't hurt , but the 3in Bbl would be worthwhile if only for the increases vel to get prettier mushrooms from old school 158LHP.

BUT , if the parameter is best reasonably concealable S&W belt gun of about the same OAL , I would instead go with my once and current fetish gun , the 2in RB K Frame. ( Have both an M10, and M64 , and use them interchangably. )

And from personal experience , 2in K Frame with with Boot Grips in a Pancake holster is more concealable than a 2in J Frame in a tunnel loop holster. ( The weight difference is meaningless with a vaguely suitable 1.5 to 1.75in leather belt.)

And in somewhat ineresting nostolgia story : Once upon a time in the early '80s ( somewhat out of taditional sequence ) I was studing for a degree in Security Management. The students were a mix of college age students , and mid career professionals looking to advance/ specialize. As people of the gun do , we occasionally discussed guns. One of my fellow students had been a US Customs Agent in late '70s ( specializing in shipboard checks of crewmembers of Internation frieghters in the Cheasapeake Bay ). He related :

At the time , , for plainclothes Agents would be reimbursed for the cost of a "snubnose" revolver , capable of chambering issued ammo , *Of Their Choice* !!!! Some of the lazy Agents wanted a J Frame just to have somthing lightweight. HIS choice , and the most popular among the gun savy agents was a .... 2.5in Python ! Viva El Uncle Sugar ! Second most popular among the gun savy , and admitted would have been picked by most Python guy if they had to use their own money , was as expected ... 2.5in M19 .

 

[Texas Star]

I find my 60-15 one of the most useful revolvers I own. While mine is mostly a field gun (a 75 yard coyote would be in big trouble with this gun), I often carry it as a ccw.

When hiking out west, I load it with 180 grain hard-cast Buffalo Bore ammo. With large, closed-back grips it is amazing easly to shoot with this load. And, best of all, it is SOOOO much easier to tote around than my 4" K-frame or 3" L-frame.

Is that knife a Puma Silver Lion? Mine has black handle scales, but I think they had wood options.

 

[JoeM19]

It has to be the clean liv'in.

Joe, three years ag that model 36 was in a hock shop, and looked new. I gave 325 for it and the counter man said " oh, yeah...theres a box in the trash that it was in, you can have that." It had the orig sales reciept, tools and all other paperwork. Doesn't appear to have been fired at all.

It has to be all your clean living, TexMex. I know Who found that for you and tweaked the memory of the counter man. He's the only One who can put it all together in a flash. - 'ole joe.

 

[Biginge]

I sure do like the little boogers. Fun, fun to shoot and very accurate. Sorry for the pics, the nickel one almost looks like brushed stainless. Humidity is 111% down here today after all the floods. All three are in really good shape, especially the nickel.

 

[Old TexMex]

It has to be all your clean living, TexMex. I know Who found that for you and tweaked the memory of the counter man. He's the only One who can put it all together an a flash. Semper Fi, Marine. - 'old joe.

No doubt about that, old joe.
Just to stay clear: I'm not a Marine, I'm just one of those lucky cats that was in the delivery service
The good Lord does His best for me when I get out ofthe way.

 

[JoeM19]

I remembered just barely in time.

No doubt about that, old joe.
Just to stay clear: I'm not a Marine, I'm just one of those lucky cats that was in the delivery service
The good Lord does His best for me when I get out ofthe way.

I remembered you weren't while at dinner and as soon as I was able I amended the post. You're definitely in the right Service now. - Joe.

 

[Mister X]

I had a 3" 60-15 which S&W still offers as far as I know, but found it pretty much defeats the purpose and negates a lot of the advantages a small framed snubnose offers in my opinion without offering any real substantial benefit. There were 3" Centennials offed years ago IIRC, but I've never personally ran across one of those for sale, so I would say those are pretty rare.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I had a 3" 60-15 which S&W still offers as far as I know, but found it pretty much defeats the purpose and negates a lot of the advantages a small framed snubnose offers in my opinion without offering any real substantial benefit. There were 3" Centennials offed years ago IIRC, but I've never personally ran across one of those for sale, so I would say those are pretty rare.

Check out my post #17..... IMO this is where 3" J-frames shine!!!!

 

[Mark6005]

Have a 3 inch Jovino m60 38sp from late 1984. Fired 6 times by me. I keep telling myself I'm going to use/carry it but so far remains in the safe. I'm curious of how nice a gun it is. One of these days I'll give in and begin using it.