Model 60 square butt bought new late 80's?

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Breakaway500

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This was the first new pistol I ever bought.It was around the middle or end of the 1980s.Was told then by the dealer (working out of his auto repair shop) it was some sort of "special run" but I didn't care..I just wanted it. I have the box somewhere..I would not have thrown it out. I got a 4th edition of the "Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson" recently, and don't see any mention of this particular variation of the 60 no dash. Just wondering if anyone has any knowledge of this variant. Not that I ever expect to sell it..:)
 

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Here's a few. I'm pretty sure these are the original grips,although they are not marked. I use to carry it daily with Pachmayrs and about 15 years ago retired it to nightstand duty and put the original grips back on.Luckily,I had put them in the original box so still had them.(I should look for the box..) I remember having to tell the grip salesman a few times that my model 60 was SB and he kept arguing with me..:)
 

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When you find the box there will be a product code on it. That number will tell you everything you need to know about this revolver.
 
I suggest you letter the gun to satisfy your curiosity and get the info on it

It will help if you ever decide to sell it.

The grip appears original and unaltered
 
Your Model 60 was a special order by John Jovino, Inc. of NYC. The order was for 5,000 guns, most of them were 3 inch heavy barrels, the rest were 2 inchers, like yours. They all were shipped with walnut checkered Magna stocks.

I had my friendly local gun shop order me a 3 incher when the ads for them appeared in ShotGun News. I got it from him in October, 1984.

The product code for your gun is 102303 and it is listed on page 262. There is a batch of 3 inch heavy barrels shipped in 1988. I think the date in the book is wrong because both 2 and 4 inchers were in the same ad.
 
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I did see that option code..when first looking in The Book..but for some reason thought it would have been a 60-1 or 60-2 if made in 1984. The box says 102303..so that must be it.

I Googled John Jovinos inc. Interesting little place,Here's a clip on them:

"The store opened in 1911 by John Jovino (of course) and later sold in 1920 to the Imperato family, who also own Henry Repeating Arms — bustling company.

The store on its own with sales mostly to law enforcement and some licensed gun owners reportedly does $1 million in sales annually, more than enough to keep the tiny shop in Little Italy alive.

While we didn't get all the answers, it was an interesting experience. John Jovino Gun Shop will remain a mystery for many, both casual New Yorkers and gun owners wondering how in the heck a gun store stays open in New York City?"

The dealer I bought it from is of Italian descent and so am I. Kinda cool..:)
 
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Nice and fairly rare gun.

In that era, the Special Order code indicated the day it was ready to ship, and 4089 is the 89th day of 1984, or March 29. Enjoy!
 
I know John Jovino's Gun Shop well.

I was in the Jovino store many times during my time on the NYPD and bought a few of their offerings.

It is well know for customizing S&W revolvers.
 
Told ya. The product code was the key to everything.

I'm not sure $75 for a factory letter is worth it at this point. What could it tell you that you don't already know? Would it increase the value by $75?
 
I can echo the OP's sentiment... My square-butt model 60 "no dash" revolver fits my hand very well.

Pictured below is my (really the better half's) model 60 which I bought in the mid-to-late '80s. It was purchased used, but in like new condition without the box and with Pachmayr rubber grips. The little revolver now sports a set of Altamonts with a Tyler T-Grip. I haven't looked hard, but would love to find some original wooden grips.

My model 60 has a serial number of AEC50xx, so it was made just after the OP's. Several years ago I noted the hammer pin was broken and shipped it back to the mothership for repairs. You can see the new hammer pin just below the cylinder release.

Edmo

imagejpg1_zpse8bf646b.jpg
 
What a coincidence, I just picked up a mod 60 no dash just like the OP's in a pawn shop for 200.00. I was confused by the fact that it was a no dash, yet has an AFC serial no. It also appears to have a tiny P under the Mod 60 on the yoke. Is this the same run of guns? I forgot to add that mine is a round butt. Any help greatly appreciated.
 
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Chuck24 said:
What a coincidence, I just picked up a mod 60 no dash just like the OP's in a pawn shop for 200.00. I was confused by the fact that it was a no dash, yet has an AFC serial no. It also appears to have a tiny P under the Mod 60 on the yoke. Is this the same run of guns? I forgot to add that mine is a round butt. Any help greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

No, they were all square butts.
 
Chuck24 said:
What a coincidence, I just picked up a mod 60 no dash just like the OP's in a pawn shop for 200.00. I was confused by the fact that it was a no dash, yet has an AFC serial no. It also appears to have a tiny P under the Mod 60 on the yoke. Is this the same run of guns? I forgot to add that mine is a round butt. Any help greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

The round butt frame was/is the 'normal' frame configuration for the Model 60. The M-60's in this thread were unusual and specially ordered with square butts, an oddity for the model. In contrast, S&W ran off round butt M-60's several times a year during the 1980's, they were extremely popular then.
 
The model 60 (without an engineering change number) was produced from 1965 to '87, and went from pinned to unpinned barrels, number only SNs to R prefix (during which the pin was deleted) and well into the three letter SN prefix era.
 
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