Grandfather Left Me a Gorgeous .38 Special with an Inlay Gold Bear

From a southern CA guy living in VA, Shadoe, welcome to our forum, your revolver is truly a work of art, I was given the same model revolver as yours except mine is a plain model, it was given to me by a dear friend who no longer is with us.
For that reason my M60 is priceless, enjoy yours.

This is what my plain M60 looks compared to yours.
m60.jpg
 
Wow that is amazing! They look like totally different guns. I would love to find out if this one was born like yours then engraved or if it came from the factory with the engraving.
 
f8 crusader said:
From a southern CA guy living in VA, Shadoe, welcome to our forum, your revolver is truly a work of art, I was given the same model revolver as yours except mine is a plain model, it was given to me by a dear friend who no longer is with us.
For that reason my M60 is priceless, enjoy yours.

This is what my plain M60 looks compared to yours.
m60.jpg
Click to expand...
By the way I lived in VA for several years myself, lived in the Richmond area and worked for Reynolds Metals before they became Alcoa. :)
 
Shadoe,
Mr Roy Jinks, the Smith and Wesson historian, can give you a factory letter telling you the condition of the gun when it left the factory, and where it was shipped. You may find clues there as to who did engraving. The letter is also important for future generations as to the identification of the Model 60. The charge for the letter is $50 bucks, which is a deal for a unique firearm like yours.
As for the grizzly bear, I urge you NOT to take that particular gun grizzly bear hunting, as shooting such a critter with it would likely infuriate the bear. You need a bigger gun for bigger critters.
I would also suggest your 60 has been fired some, as evidenced by the carbon rings around the front of the cylinder (the little black rings are shown in the pictures)
Those can be cleaned off in a number of ways.
 
Shadoe, I also welcome you. There was a gun similar to yours in one of our S&W Collectors Association magazines with a Golden Ram or Mountain Goat on the side. I would definitely get the gun lettered, which will come from the S&W historian. He may know if it was factory engraved. Send pics with your application. He may letter it just from your asking on the forum with those pics. That gun is so special I would never even think about selling it unless it were going in a museum for everyone to enjoy. Please insure it and store it safely.
Like one of the other members said, it would be priceless if it were my own Grandfather's.
 
S&W will, for a fee of $50, write you a nice letter that will tell you when the gun was shipped, where it was shipped to and whether or not it was engraved and inlaid by them. While the date and destination of shipment won't be too exciting (you already know it was made about 1977, and most S&W handguns of that era will have been shipped to a distributor rather than an individual) whether or not it was engraved there may be good to know. As has been mentioned, factory engraving will elevate the gun's dollar value. I know you aren't likely to sell the gun, but replacement value will be a good thing to determine for insurance.

Your fiveshooter has been shot, so shooting it some more won't hurt it or it's value. If you do decide to shoot it, get some instruction, wear ear and eye protection and have fun!
 
MeAmMe said:
Shadoe, I also welcome you. There was a gun similar to yours in one of our S&W Collectors Association magazines with a Golden Ram or Mountain Goat on the side. I would definitely get the gun lettered, which will come from the S&W historian. He may know if it was factory engraved. Send pics with your application. He may letter it just from your asking on the forum with those pics. That gun is so special I would never even think about selling it unless it were going in a museum for everyone to enjoy. Please insure it and store it safely.
Like one of the other members said, it would be priceless if it were my own Grandfather's.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I will definitely get it lettered, I'd love to have that information to store with the revolver and pass to my son or his children when he has them. I will never sell it, it could be worth $25k and I wouldn't let it go, it means a lot to me, not at all about the money, its like holding my grandfather and my mother in my hands.
 
Hello Shadoe and welcome to the forum.... besides all the beauty and love that the Model 60 represents... it is VERY important the you research the legality of you owning or even possessing the gun..

Although I do not live in California and cannot advise you.. I am sure that all local and state laws must be followed for you to own the weapon. I would urge to to follow the law, for you own sake and so that you may keep your Grandfathers treasure in the family...
 
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If I had to guess,,it looks like it could be some of Angelo Bee's work.
He's in Chatsworth, CA.
Been at it since the 50's and started as an engraver at the FN factory in Belgium/

Signs his work with a tiny 'ABee' or very small 'A' tied to an equally tiny (bumble)bee caricature.
He's cut thousands of guns and is not shy about putting gold inlay on them.
Here's his website link:
Angelo Bee Guns Engraving

Scroll down for 'contact' info. send him the pics and see if it's his work. He's a very busy guy and sometimes out on the road or out of the country but will get back to you.

Very nice looking revolver and a special keepsake.
 
wow, an attractive woman with a great gun. wanna get married?

just kidding (well mostly kidding)

My pal Dave Nash, also on the forum, should be able to tell you if the engraving is "factory" or not, and maybe who did it. His dad was an engraver and he's judged engraving competitions, so he's familiar with a lot of guys work.

Search his name and forward him a photo with the first part of the serial number and I'm sure he'll have an answer for you.

welcome to the forum

/c
 
ditrina said:
Hello Shadoe and welcome to the forum.... besides all the beauty and love that the Model 60 represents... it is VERY important the you research the legality of you owning or even possessing the gun..

Although I do not live in California and cannot advise you.. I am sure that all local and state laws must be followed for you to own the weapon. I would urge to to follow the law, for you own sake and so that you may keep your Grandfathers treasure in the family...
Click to expand...
Thank you I will look into that right away. I have several friends who are retired Torrance police, they should know. Thanks for looking out for me.
 
That gun should be cleaned, oiled and stored. Get advice on how to do that. You dont want to mess up that gun.People pay a lot of money for guns like that. You should then go get another revolver and learn to shoot that one. Keep your grandfathers as a keep sake.

Dont ever use it for home defense because if you shoot someone they will take it as evidence no matter how special it is to you.

Get a nice smith and wesson model 19(blue) or 66(stainless steel) in 2 .5 inch barrel or 4 inch barrel. That will serve you well for home defense.
 
lougotzzz said:
That gun should be cleaned, oiled and stored. Get advice on how to do that. You dont want to mess up that gun.People pay a lot of money for guns like that. You should then go get another revolver and learn to shoot that one. Keep your grandfathers as a keep sake.

Dont ever use it for home defense because if you shoot someone they will take it as evidence no matter how special it is to you.

Get a nice smith and wesson model 19(blue) or 66(stainless steel) in 2 .5 inch barrel or 4 inch barrel. That will serve you well for home defense.
Click to expand...
Thanks I have no intention of ever shooting it, I will have it looked at and oiled or whatever is necessary and put it back into my vault now that I have recorded the pictures. I just want to learn all of its stories! I appreciate the advice on a gun for home defense, but I hope to leave protection to the man in my life, if I ever find one! Honestly I can't imagine ever firing a gun. I know life is unpredictable and I may be put in that position one day, but I hope it doesn't happen. Scary. I need a protector instead! LOL I don't think my Yorkie will do the job although she thinks she can. :)
 
ditrina said:
Hello Shadoe and welcome to the forum.... besides all the beauty and love that the Model 60 represents... it is VERY important the you research the legality of you owning or even possessing the gun..

Although I do not live in California and cannot advise you.. I am sure that all local and state laws must be followed for you to own the weapon. I would urge to to follow the law, for you own sake and so that you may keep your Grandfathers treasure in the family...
Click to expand...

Shadoe, welcome from another SoCal resident. Ditrina gave good advice. Check out the California DOJ website and review the firearms ownership FAQs to make sure nothing disqualifies you from owning a gun. If there are no obstacles, find and download the form that is used for "Operation of Law" transfers. It is on the DOJ web site. This is the form that is used for recording gun inheritance and gift transfers between parents and children. Just fill it out and send it in with $19 and the gun is officially yours. (I'm simplifying this a little, but just read the relevant paragraphs and do it the way they say to.)

Nice gun, great story. I have a feeling the suggested Angelo Bee connection is going to pan out.
 
Looks like a Model 60 (stainless steel version of the Model 36 "Chiefs Special"). The engraving is nice but not spectacular until you get to that gold inlaid bear on the side plate.

Maybe someone who really knows engraving can ID the artist.
 
Shadoe,
I doubt I would have posted the need for some protector on this site....I have a feeling about 346 Smith totin' "protectors" are gonna end up on your doorstep!!!!
 
Shadoe said:
By the way I lived in VA for several years myself, lived in the Richmond area and worked for Reynolds Metals before they became Alcoa. :)
Click to expand...

That's just 60 miles north of my adopted city of Fredericksburg, I still miss southern cal.....:(
 
Wow, I've lived in Virginia for the past 30 years and never saw a gun gal here as good lookin' as you!!!:D Virginia's loss is California's gain I suppose! That is a sweet looking Model 60. I would advise you to take some shooting classes through a local gun shop until you get comfortable with shooting, and try that little jewel out at a local range! Your Pap sure did have very good taste when he gave the specs on the engraving!!!!
Steve in Roanoke, VA

Shadoe said:
By the way I lived in VA for several years myself, lived in the Richmond area and worked for Reynolds Metals before they became Alcoa. :)
Click to expand...
 
Shadoe, here's a link to the letter others have mentioned and comments on filling out the form. It would be a good idea as it would add valuable provenance to your gun.

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

Congratulations on a great family heirloom. You're a lucky girl.

Bob
 
Shadoe I would also like to welcome you to the forum. Sorry to hear about your grandfather. He certainly thought alot of you to leave you such a fine work of art. One that could save your life one day. Hope it is never needed for that purpose but if it is it will be there for you. You seem very excited about learning about your new gun. Remember you are just starting out in the gun world. We all have been where you are today and one day you will be where we are. After 30+ years of handling guns, being a Beretta Armorer, and a Firearms Instructor (trained at FLETC) there are still things that I learn about each day. Ask whatever questions you wish. Asking questions is one of the ways the "experts" learn.

On a side note I'm from Charlottesville and have been to Richmond hundreds of times over the years. I have passed many Reynolds office buildings there.
 
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