I have two interesting Model 60s Question about 1

[boatboy]

I went to my local gun show yesterday "just to look for parts"
and seen a snappy model 60 I had bought one when I was a "Ladd" many years ago. That one I believe is unique because it had adjustable sites I was told it was made for a foreign secret service and they never took then .I really don't know if its true but I still have the box etc it was bought new
Ser # ALU3xxx
Of course Tylers was standard issue at that time

But the one I am very curious about is the one I picked up yesterday
It has a safety?? If you push the cylinder release and flip it up the gun is locked I have never seen this. I assume that its factory but who knows maybe a Gun smith did it. Maybe a LE organization required safeties?
I am thinking of making this one a moon clip gun Thoughts?
Ser # R35xxx

I know someone here will know help me out
Hank

PS I also wonder why a 442 is plus P rated and these are not
Is it Plus P was not around as much or changes in manufacture? I was always to some would be fine but not a steady diet of Plus P But I never shoot Plus P anyway

 

[ralph7]

Well, I never...

 

[tekarra]

I have not heard of that, hope someone has the answer.

 

[Alk8944]

I don't recall who did the safety modification to the thumbpiece, but it is after-market. Really a pretty simple mod that could easily be reversed by replacing the thumbpiece, and, probably the nut. This just holds the bolt forward a bit so the rear leg blocks the hammer. Another solution looking for a problem to solve!

 

[younggun22]

A local gunsmith friend of mine used to do that conversion.

He used to do it a lot for off duty poice officers that used the barami hip grip without a holster and we afraid of an AD

It works well but I've never seen a need for it

 

[murphydog]

A nice pair of model 60s! The adjustable sight version is reportedly one of 660 made; never heard any story about them being produced for a foreign contract.

S & W made a manual safety model 12 for the French in 1966; it has a right side thumb piece for this. Agree your model 60 is an aftermarket job.

 

[shouldazagged]

The "foreign secret service" line smells a bit of low tide to me, but I'm sure somebody here will confirm it momentarily.

The safety conversion is an interesting novelty; but given the DA trigger pull of a typical J-frame I can't see the point, Barami or not.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

It sure is a more elegant solution than the one Saf-T-Lok came up with. I understand this one is not child-proof, though.

 

[kaaskop49]

Memories! The gent in NYC who did this conversion was one Frank Murabito. It was supposedly a big deal in the 70s to have this done, but like some of the above posters, I never saw a real need for it. It was certainly not child proof and I would think the heavy DA pull would be safety enough for adults. Memories!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[ultra45]

The "foreign secret service" line smells a bit of low tide to me, but I'm sure somebody here will confirm it momentarily.

The safety conversion is an interesting novelty; but given the DA trigger pull of a typical J-frame I can't see the point, Barami or not.

Can't attest to this gun, but have seen many "oddball" S&W's back in the '70's while working for one of S&W's largest distributors. Similar to this gun, back around 1976 or 77, we got a batch of blue, 2" model 36 Chief's with adjustable sights and Lanyard butt swivels. They were for some third world country's police force, but the order was canceled. They were ***** looking.

 

[boatboy]

I went to the S&W Catalog and they did mention that there was 660 made with the ALU prefix with ADJ sights
They said they were made for Ashland I assume Ashland was a distributor? But I don't know

Hank

 

[Green Frog]

That Model 60 with safety was made for the hundreds of writers of cheap adventure novels that contain a line like, "when he heard the bad guys coming, he slipped the safety off on his trusty S&W revolver and..." We wouldn't want all of those guys to be doomed to perpetual incorrectness, would we? (... and then tongue is removed from cheek! )

Froggie

 

[JackM]

Was thinking the same thing as Green Frog. In the book "The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three" there's an NYPD officer training his service revolver on the hijacked subway car and he's described as cocking the hammer, releasing the safety, decocking the hammer, etc. At some point he accidentally fires and then lots of other things happen. But who knows, maybe the author wasn't as completety in the dark about firearms as I thought he was.

 

[chief38]

Most good selling items are eventually "monkeyed with" by someone either looking to profit or gain attention. In this case a M60 is only hindered by this type of modification IMHO. I would never carry that particular example and would be concerned that in a stressful moment it might get locked up in a fire fight or a re-load. I'd also never want to carry a Revolver that operated substantially different than the ones I am use to carrying for 35+ years. Just my opinion of course..........

 

[murphydog]

I went to the S&W Catalog and they did mention that there was 660 made with the ALU prefix with ADJ sights
They said they were made for Ashland I assume Ashland was a distributor? But I don't know

Hank

Correct, their full name was Ashland Shooting Supplies - appears they are no longer in business. I think these are found with more than one three-letter SN prefix but not 100% sure.