Finally Completed Sq Butt M60 Collection!!

[PatriotX]

Hi folks,

It took almost 7 years from the time I started actively looking until today; I finally received the last missing Square Butt Model 60 left of which I’m aware, the 1-of-171 3-inch HB 60-1 made up of leftover 1972 frames and shipped in 1978. This is R56990 for those who track such things. Note the pinned barrel.

Complimenting the boxed example are two 3-inch HB and one snubby Model 60 no-dash Jovino Square Butt guns, from the 1984 run. Some have said it comprised of 1000 guns, some say 1000 of each barrel length. Please feel free to chime in.

The last 3-inch gun is an oddity, and am awaiting a letter for both it and the R-prefix gun. It is a 60-3 marked frame, BBN prefix (c.1988) and is identical to the Jovino guns, aside from the updated yoke retention system and its multi-piece screw. The only visual difference is the larger #1 screw head.

Thanks for letting me celebrate, and enjoy the pics. All comments welcome.

 

[Breakaway500]

First revolver I bought brand new was a model 60 in 1984. I had no idea it was a Jovino square butt 2.5" till I joined this forum. I carried it for many years but retired it to its box as a "collectible". Never got the itch to collect the whole family like you did! I did buy a 3" that came up for sale on the forum. Beautiful family you have!

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Congratulations on your R-serial 3" square butt Model 60-1. (I know the literature says there were 171, but that is an error. Smith & Wesson shipped 169 guns to eight of its distributors on June 12, 1978.)

I remember you posting your 3" square butt 60-3 three years ago. It's still the only one in that serial series I've documented.

There were 600 2" square butt Model 60 "Jovino Specials" as Dr. Jinks calls them, and 1,000 of the 3" square butts.

 

[El_Phantasmo]

Hi folks,

It took almost 7 years from the time I started actively looking until today; I finally received the last missing Square Butt Model 60 left of which I’m aware, the 1-of-171 3-inch HB 60-1 made up of leftover 1972 frames and shipped in 1978. This is R56990 for those who track such things. Note the pinned barrel.

Complimenting the boxed example are two 3-inch HB and one snubby Model 60 no-dash Jovino Square Butt guns, from the 1984 run. Some have said it comprised of 1000 guns, some say 1000 of each barrel length. Please feel free to chime in.

The last 3-inch gun is an oddity, and am awaiting a letter for both it and the R-prefix gun. It is a 60-3 marked frame, BBN prefix (c.1988) and is identical to the Jovino guns, aside from the updated yoke retention system and its multi-piece screw. The only visual difference is the larger #1 screw head.

Thanks for letting me celebrate, and enjoy the pics. All comments welcome.

Great collection!

 

[PatriotX]

Congratulations on your R-serial 3" square butt Model 60-1. (I know the literature says there were 171, but that is an error. Smith & Wesson shipped 169 guns to eight of its distributors on June 12, 1978.)

I remember you posting your 3" square butt 60-3 three years ago. It's still the only one in that serial series I've documented.

There were 600 2" square butt Model 60 "Jovino Specials" as Dr. Jinks calls them, and 1,000 of the 3" square butts.

Thanks very much for your valuable input. The info is appreciated.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Congratulations that is a huge milestone as a collector. Especially with a favorite gun, I imagine that puts you in the top 1% of Model 60 owners. More importantly you likely have a wealth of experiences and stories from the journey. Which one was your first and why did the Model 60 in particular capture your heart?

 

[PatriotX]

Congratulations that is a huge milestone as a collector. Especially with a favorite gun, I imagine that puts you in the top 1% of Model 60 owners. More importantly you likely have a wealth of experiences and stories from the journey. Which one was your first and why did the Model 60 in particular capture your heart?

I love three inch guns. K, L, N…whatever. But I didn’t have any J frames in the best barrel length yet.

The model 60-10 3-inch was my first foray into the 60s, and I appreciated the “mini 686” looks with Magnum capability.

Realizing Magnums are little fun unless required, I discovered the more elegant 60-4 with its hammer-mounted firing pin.

A Jovino 3-inch square butt started the fascination with square butt 60s, and a half-dozen 3 inchers followed, but only one snub - and that one from a member here.

The 60-3 square butt oddity was purchased thinking it was another Jovino gun, until the surprise discovery of the later revision and its updated cylinder retention.

As soon as I got my first 3-incher, I stumbled upon knowledge the one-of-169 offering and wrote it off as being too rare to acquire. Until recently.

My only other 60s of note are one of the Ashland Shark Fin adjustable sight examples -another one that was long sought and recently acquired- and a NY1 60, also from a forum member.


That’s my 60 saga, please feel free to share yours.