Early Model 60 variants, 3" barrels, with new pics

PeteC · Sep 17, 2020

Does anyone know what the early Model 60, stainless variants were, especially regarding 3" barrels? See example below.

I do have the SCSW book, but it is a little vague, especially when it comes to the 3" barrels. The book does not mention 3" barrels until a "limited production run" in 1972.

Thanks.

texmex · Sep 17, 2020

The 3 inch I have is a 60-10. It has adjustable sights. I have had it for over 30 years.

80sgyrene · Sep 17, 2020

Mine is a 60-3 Ladysmith

Hondo44 · Sep 17, 2020

First we need to know what model # is stamped on the frame with the cyl swung out. The serial # will help a lot to know when it was made. The pinned barrel ony indicates it was made before 1982.

The Mod 60-1 produced in 1972 with 3" heavy barrel had square butt grip frames, but yours looks like a rd butt. Is yours in that serial # range, R56962 - R57239?

Yours has a wide trigger that's polished which was likely a replacement. It's possible the 3" barrel is also a replacement.

linde · Sep 17, 2020

Hondo44 said:
First we need to know what model # is stamped on the frame with the cyl swung out. The serial # will help a lot to know when it was made. The pinned barrel ony indicates it was made before 1982.

There was a special run of 3" Model 60s with heavy barrel and square butt produced for John Jovino (major S&W dealer in New York) . . . but that was in 1984 so they did not have the pinned barrel. The serial number range was AEU, AEV & I believe some in AEW.

Russ

PeteC · Sep 17, 2020

@linde, no, not part of that special production run (pinned barrel, small S&W on left side, the one you posted a pic of looks awesome, but not the same).

@Hondo44: Six digit s/n, 516xxx

Anyway, what I was more interested in was whether and when they made them with a 3" barrel, was it from the beginning, did they stop and start later, etc. The SCSW book is not very specific on that. I did find a mention the two different triggers, and some being chromed v. case hardened.

two-bit cowboy · Sep 17, 2020

Hmmm. That serial number is intriguing.

Is there a "J" in front of the numbers?

PeteC · Sep 17, 2020

No "J". If you have the SCSW book, look on page 260, right hand column, 3rd bullet point. It looks to me like the serial number is in that range.

However, I have no idea if they actually made ANY of those with a 3" barrel, aside from the "special" production runs.

Hondo44 · Sep 17, 2020

PeteC said:
@Hondo44: Six digit s/n, 516xxx

Anyway, what I was more interested in was whether and when they made them with a 3" barrel, was it from the beginning, did they stop and start later, etc. The SCSW book is not very specific on that. I did find a mention the two different triggers, and some being chromed v. case hardened.

The Model 60 was introduced in 1965 and your serial # indicates it's an early one, pre 1969 when the R prefix to the serial # was introduced after # 786544. So yours is a Mod 60 pre dash #, most likely from 1967 to 1968.

There were no 3" models produced until 1972 as the Model 60-1. That and the John Jovino special run were the only 3" heavy regular barrel production before the Lady Smith in 1989 as the 60-6 with 2" and 3" heavy barrel.

Then the limited production run of 3" full-underlug barrel target models were offered in 1990 as the Mod 60-4.

The 3" standard style heavy barrel was discontinued in 1992.

After that we only see 3" barrels of the full-underlug style.

Now having said all that, there's always the possibility that yours was special ordered with 3" barrel, but only an Historical Letter will confirm it.

Is there a factory rework date stamp on the left side of the grip frame near the bottom under the grip? That could indicate it was sent back to the factory for a barrel change after the 3" was introduced on the 60-1 in 1972.

Hope that helps,

Sgt911 · Sep 17, 2020

those pictures look familiar

Hondo44 · Sep 17, 2020

PeteC said:
No "J". If you have the SCSW book, look on page 260, right hand column, 3rd bullet point. It looks to me like the serial number is in that range.

Yes pg. 260 in the 4th edition, your serial # is in that range from 1965 to 1969, and yours does have the satin finish with flash chromed hammer and trigger.

PeteC said:
However, I have no idea if they actually made ANY of those with a 3" barrel, aside from the "special" production runs.

The book says 2" only, so they didn't make 3" as regular production. Again if special ordered, only a Letter would be of help, not the book.

PeteC · Sep 17, 2020

@Hondo44, yes, thanks very much, that was exactly what I wanted to know,

. See below, I believe that illustrates what you said.

holo · Sep 17, 2020

here is my 60-4 full under lug

1chessiefan · Sep 17, 2020

Dear Friends,
I have had two model 60-3s with 3” heavy barrels. I still have one. The one I recently traded was a DAO with factory bobbed hammer.

1chessiefan

Hondo44 · Sep 17, 2020

PeteC said:
@Hondo44, yes, thanks very much, that was exactly what I wanted to know, . See below, I believe that illustrates what you said.

Well Pete, your Mod 60-1 may be an anachronism. And if so, likely a bit rare. Not that we haven't seen examples of other models like this from S&W.

But that could explain your 3" barrel, with rd butt and in its serial # range. Chances are we'd find out from a Letter that your gun w/o an R prefix and obviously from the pre 1969 old serial range was not produced when it's serial # would normally suggest in '67-'68. It's clearly a rd butt frame from that era that was not model # stamped nor assembled until after the regular production run of the Mod 60-1 begun in 1972.

Did you look for a date stamp?

Hondo44 · Sep 17, 2020

1chessiefan said:
Dear Friends,
I have had two model 60-3s with 3” heavy barrels. I still have one. The one I recently traded was a DAO with factory bobbed hammer.

1chessiefan

Likely an overrun gun for the NYCPD order in 1987 or since the entire order of 2500 was returned to the factory, one of the actual order. The order was for 2" barrels but we know at least one was reported to have a 3" barrel installed. And if there's was one, there's likely more.

PeteC · Sep 17, 2020

Hondo44 said:
Well Pete, your Mod 60-1 may be an anachronism....

LOL, maybe. Or, someone found an unfinished frame on the shelf when they were making the -1, and some order was short a piece or two. If the factory reworked the NYPD Model 60's, they would easily have done this one.

I'll do my best to look into it, and the first step would be to find out when it actually shipped, but I found out what I wanted, and thanks again!

Ibmikey · Sep 18, 2020

My 60 is a Jovino special that had the department star engraved on the side plate. I ordered a couple of dozen as I remember for members of the department, can’t remember the year but probably early eighties.

Hondo44 · Sep 18, 2020

Ibmikey said:
My 60 is a Jovino special that had the department star engraved on the side plate. I ordered a couple of dozen as I remember for members of the department, can’t remember the year but probably early eighties.

Which dept star is that?

Ibmikey · Sep 20, 2020

Hondo, The dept is Fairfield Police in Ca. About 120 sworn personnel.

Early Model 60 variants, 3" barrels, with new pics

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