Will someone explain the difference between a stainless steel model 36 snub nose and a M 60? I have the model 36, and always wanted the model 60, or so I thought.

Model 36s are blue or nickel. Not stainless.
I guess there could be a mismarked Model 60 but not a catalog item.

Model 36 came out first in all steel,
the Model 37 came out a few years later same gun but with an aluminum frame and the model 60 came out years later in SS.

Pretty much the same gun in different metals

That is wild because it is stainless steel and it is marked on the inside out the cylinder swing out arm "M-36". Now I sure as heck don't know what I have. It is a true puzzle to me, but thanks for the reply. Jim

A photo here would be helpful. An aftermarket hard chromed 36 would look like a 60, except the hammer and trigger would be case-hardened.

Also, from 1965-'69 they would have been serial numbered in the same series but had different ones after this until about 1980, so if you can tell us any letters and a partial number (like J 123xxx or R 456xxx) that may tell what you have.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Could you be mistaking nickel for stainless?

J-dub, do you see "M-36" or "MOD 36"? The latter is the usual model marking, the former could be anything.

Late 70's early 80's a model 60 was worth its weight in gold. They were very hard to find. So, you got your old 36 or, bought a new one and sent it off to be hard chromed. Most likely Armaloyed.

The odds of it being hard chromed rather than mismarked are extremely high.

And, there's nothing at all wrong with a good hard chromed model 36.

What you are calling SS is more than likely a nickel model 36. Remove the grips and look on the side of the grip frame for markings. I suspect you will find an N on the left side of the frame. Someone please correct me if I am wrong about this.

Trolley

It is serial number ABW9426. Under the grips there are markings of B15, 477X6, 4790, and a A inside a circle. No N mark at all. Does this help in solving my problem as to what this is? Oh and by the way it is marked MOD 36, not m-36 as I had said earlier.

Is your gun shiny or a dull finish?

Both the model 36 and 60 had the same serial number format in 1983. Case hardened or matte silver hammer and trigger? Photos?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

J-dub, I'm thinking you have a hard-chromed Model 36. Like '127 said, hard chrome like Armoloy was a common refinish back in the day. I had several guns done that way myself. Loved the results - looked just like stainless guns. It'll be a great shooter or carry gun, so enjoy!

It is a dull finish with silver hammer and trigger. Thanks for the information thus far. Jim

If not refinished, it could be a mis-stamped model 60.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Near the end of this thread, there are ways to determine if its stainless or plated:
Model 19-3 stainless?

Easy test, under the grips, on the grip frame, use a diamond burr on a Dremel tool, cut a little divot a couple thousands deep. Just to get through the hard chrome, put a drop of cold blue in the little divot. If it turns black, the gun is plated carbon steel. If it stays silver, it's stainless.

After reading this string i had to take the grips off and look at the gun's finish. These grips have been on for years, at least the last 25, with little or no maintenance and it was still pretty clean underneath; light wipe off took care of some residue. I bought the gun in 1974 for 91.50 police price and carried it for 15 years as a detective in lieu of my issued department firearm. Had to cease when we transitioned to semi-automatics. It was then relegated to my boat in case of "sharks" in boats between FL and the Bahamas. For the last five years it has been in a hidden drop down shelf in my office. It is a no-dash gun and has the MOD 60 on the frame. It was carried in shoulder holsters, hip holsters and sometimes in my pocket depending on the assignment and policing. It was near at least three Presidents during their visits. The action was tweaked by the department armorer to facilitate "staging" the trigger and it remains smooth as ever. I still have the box, paperwork and my department authorization for carry as well as one from the Army for concealed carry, that is not seen much these days. It was and remains a beautiful working gun. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

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Does it look like this? This is a 36, with Armoloy. Best I remember done in late 70's or early 80's.

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