Model 60-4

Register to hide this ad
You've got one of the Holy Grails of J frame revolvers. I sold one on here to what I thought was an upstanding member for around $600 and he turned around and put it on GunBroker and sold it for $2,000. Me and the moderators found out he was not an upstanding member and was just shopping to make a deal.
 
nice pick up! and here i was all proud that i found a 60-1 with adjustable sights and a 1 7/8" barrel today... i am however jealous. enjoy!
 
It was produced from 1990-'99 and is thought to be one of the nicest trail carry/outdoors guns. Small, relatively light, good sight radius, stainless steel.

Triggernosis said:
You've got one of the Holy Grails of J frame revolvers. I sold one on here to what I thought was an upstanding member for around $600 and he turned around and put it on GunBroker and sold it for $2,000. Me and the moderators found out he was not an upstanding member and was just shopping to make a deal.
Click to expand...

That was a fair value from the seller to you, depending on condition...who turned it over and promptly found the "original" box and contents, put a "factory high polish finish" on it and discovered Clint Eastwood's Forum name was "Triggernosis" . Am I right? ;).
 
Last edited:
They've got a few names

Writers sometimes call them "Trail Masterpieces".
Collectors call them "grail guns".
People who knows S&Ws in general call them "mini-686s".
People who've shot mine call it a "laser beam".
 
I bought one of the originals when they first hit the market. I was a bit disappointed that it didn't have a 4" barrel. I was doing a lot of bird hunting and trail walking in those days and it was NOT a "spur of the moment" purchase.

The next day I took it to my local club indoor range. I was not expecting great things due to the short barrel. There were a couple of other pistol shooters there. I sighted it in, and the first target I shot (50 feet) I shot in the 90's. The other pistol shooters eyes bugged out. It was not a fluke. That double underlugged barrel with the weight forward, holds better tha my Model 631 with 4" barrel.

I carried it cross draw so as not to interfere with my bird gun. It carries so well, that you hardly know you have it until you need it. I have taken serious numbers of sitting rabbits (both cottontails and snowshoes), wounded Grouse and the occasional ground squirrel. It is a seriously useful piece of gear, for sure.

I have mostly used my home cast " full charge wadcutters" (as per Ed Harris). They work VERY well.



FWIW,
Dale53
 
Last edited:
I would love to find one available. Alternatively, I found a 36-6, the same configuration as the 60-4 but in matte finished carbon steel. These are listed as having been only made in 1989 with only 615 made. I will say the matte finish does tend to show wear rather easily, so I no longer carry it, but it is just as fine a shooter.



The Hogue rubber grips are as issued.
 
A friend on mine bought a 60-4. After being amazed at how accurately we could fire his home cast bullets through it at 100 yards I found one for myself. The similar .357 Magnums that followed them might be just as accurate but neither of us want Magnum recoil in J frames.

It was posted above that "it" was made from 1990 to 1999. That does not match my memory. As I recall the .38 Special only 60-4 was superseded by .357 full lug 3" later dash Model 60s fairly quickly.
 
I thought i would upload some pic's of the Model 60-4, what you see is straight from the LGS, I have done nothing to it as of yet.

I am looking for information on the grips, trigger and hammer.

and i think the sights did not come this way.

Thanks for the help.
 

Attachments

  • S&W 60-4 (1).jpg
    S&W 60-4 (1).jpg
    60.5 KB · Views: 237
  • S&W 60-4 (2).jpg
    S&W 60-4 (2).jpg
    55.5 KB · Views: 229
  • S&W 60-4 (3).jpg
    S&W 60-4 (3).jpg
    127.8 KB · Views: 266
  • S&W 60-4 (4).jpg
    S&W 60-4 (4).jpg
    50.7 KB · Views: 205
  • S&W 60-4 (6).jpg
    S&W 60-4 (6).jpg
    66.7 KB · Views: 224
KevinHee said:
I thought i would upload some pic's of the Model 60-4, what you see is straight from the LGS, I have done nothing to it as of yet.

I am looking for information on the grips, trigger and hammer.

and i think the sights did not come this way.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...



While your M60-4 did not come with those sights, it's very possible that the rear sight blade is factory, the Performance Center did use a similar sight on some of their models, it's also possible someone purchased directly from the night sight manufacturer (Trijicon??).

The overall package you have is outstanding, very handsome and useful.

On my M60-4 (unfortunately not mine anymore :( ) I installed a Patridge front sight, loved it for function and looks.

medium800.jpg
 
Last edited:
Not to highjack a posting...

but do you owners of the 60-4 find that the single action trigger pull is lighter than the standard Model 60's?

Was extra attention given at the factory to these target versions?

Thanks in advance!
 
Really nice gun with upgraded night sights! Hammer and trigger are factory.
I also let my first one slip thru my hands. Found another at Tulsa in November. Keeping this one.
 
I called the factory and was told that the M-60-4 IS "rated" for Plus P. It's the first suffix that was so rated.


But I don't shoot Plus P routinely, just for occasional practice and for carry. Any gun will last longer if you don't hot rod it all the time.


Plus P ammo isn't for routine range use. It's for killing things. Tin cans and rabbits need only normal pressure ammo.
 
MNruss said:
Writers sometimes call them "Trail Masterpieces".
Collectors call them "grail guns".
People who knows S&Ws in general call them "mini-686s".
People who've shot mine call it a "laser beam".
Click to expand...


I think only Terry Murbach (sp?) called them that, and he applied that term to a target sighted M-36 before the M-60-4 was made.


But both of my M-60-4's think they were K-38's, from the way they've shot! Surprisingly accurate...Both really like Speer's 125 and 135 grain Plus P loads. But almost any good .38 ammo shoots well.
 
2K7 said:
but do you owners of the 60-4 find that the single action trigger pull is lighter than the standard Model 60's?

Was extra attention given at the factory to these target versions?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


No and no. Both of mine have actions well within the range of normal M-60 production. But older M-60's have narrower triggers, so the pull seems lighter with the wider trigger.


I've owned several M-60's and all had good triggers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Xfuzz
Smith model 60-4 3 inch .38 special...
2
Replies
21
Views
2K
Crookedcreek
C
K
Model 60 sight issue
Replies
6
Views
434
kelljor
K
H
Model 60 Square butt 3 inch
Replies
9
Views
339
Baxter6551
Baxter6551
JW5400
Model 60-3 Without Adjustable Sights
Replies
7
Views
492
two-bit cowboy
two-bit cowboy
C
model 60-9
Replies
3
Views
423
1911-10MM
1911-10MM

Latest posts

Back
Top