60-3 3"

[Waveski]

I was given the opportunity to acquire a 60-3 Lady Smith with a 3" barrel from a friend who had no need of it. The price was irresistible. The point and balance of the 3" J-frame is remarkable. I am not a fan of "Goodyears" , but the Pachmayrs shown fit my hand really well and are just flat enough to not print IWB , so I may test drive them for a while before considering a change to wooden combats. The caliber is .38 Special - which , in my opinion , is the proper caliber for a J-frame. Trigger and hammer are stainless ; much more attractive than the MIM parts on my 60-9. Round count is inside of 50 , most of that number discharged by me on a test run prior to purchase.

I wonder if Ford's could buff the brushed stainless to a soft gloss and lose the "Lady Smith etching...? Anyone have an opinion on that?

 

[BE Mike]

I carried a 3" model 36, nickel plated, many years ago. I really liked that revolver. I don't know why I ever traded it off. I now have a model 60-10 and it is my favorite revolver. I've shot full house 158 gr. JSP through it (a box at a time) and felt that it was very controllable and not that unpleasant with Crimson Trace LG-305 grips.

 

[chief38]

Buffing out the Lady Smith would involve a complete refinish in order to be done properly. LS's also have a different finish - more bead blasted satin than the normal S&W Stainless guns. I have no idea what they charge for that these days but a few phone calls would let you know if it is worth doing. If I had to guess, I'd say around $200 bucks with freight - maybe more. Some people do not have a problem with carrying a Revolver with the LS logo and others dislike it. After getting a price quote I suppose you can then ask yourself just how much it bothers you or if you can live with it.

I would not be surprised to learn that more LS's are carried by men than intended Women. LS's might be sort of a collectible one day, especially with the different finish and the 3" bbl.

 

[murphydog]

I would leave the etching as is. A proper holster and trigger finger position along the right frame when not shooting and no one will know it's there .

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Get some grips that work for you-
Leave the gun as it is.

 

[Waveski]

The grips - The Pachs actually work very well for me , that is why I am tossed up on the grip question --- NONE of my revolvers wear Goodyears , that is a personal standard of mine ... but these really fit my hand. I'll chew on it.

As to the finish , Ford's would be happy to polish the stainless and to lose the etching in the process. It won't be cheap , but it would yield beautiful results. I have decided to impose a 30 day waiting period on decision making regarding the finish. Don't want to do something rash.

Got in some more range time - really points more readily that my trusty 60-9 2". Smaller cylinder carries a bit better too. A keeper for sure.

 

[jsmith357]

I have same gun. My favorite woods guns. Get some Uncle Mikes boot grips and call it good. Leave Ladysmith alone and be confident in your "manliness" - you'll love this gun!

Adding pic

 

[jban357]

I would have no problem keeping the "lady" If someone says something tell tm not to piss the lady off, she has a mean bark. Learn to carry it everyday and you will always have a lady with you.

 

[Waveski]

"carry it everyday and you will always have a lady with you."

Nice way to put it,

 

[KSDeputy]

It would not bother me. I am looking for a 3" model 65 in mint or near mint condition. A LS would be fine.

 

[Green Frog]

I got a pair of ebony smooth finger groove combats from Thailand via flea-Bay to use on my Model 60-4. LOVE IT! Of course as with all things YMMV.

Froggie

 

[chief38]

PS: I forgot to mention in my above post, but I doubt your hammer and trigger are stainless. More than likely they are Flash Chromed Carbon Steel which was most of what came on these revolvers. The TRUE stainless ones were on earlier models and Smith had a problem manufacturing them - hence the switch to the "stainless-like" Flash Chromed ones. They do look similar!

 

[Waveski]

"Flash Chromed Carbon Steel"

Very interesting. That is the first I knew of that detail - thank you. And , I was fooled - the hammer and trigger do look stainless , at least that is the conclusion I drew in comparing those parts to the later (and not so attractive) MIM parts.

 

[Lt JL]

I had a model 36, the blued version, 3:" , when I was in the Defective Bureau. Loved it still have it, but don't tote it anymore. I used to carry it Mexican style with a couple of rubberbands wrapped around the stocks, and a couple of speed loaders in my jacket pocket. Fun shooter; never fired a shot in the line of duty, but sent a lot of rats to the promised land at the city dump on midnights.