Model 60 Chiefs Special Target

[ohiobuckeye]

I thought it better to start a new thread here instead of continuing to stretch the forum rules with Q & A about the history of the CST listed in the classified section.
The model 60 CST currently listed has been identified as one of the 660 produced in 1986 for the now defunct Ashland Sports, in Ashland Ohio. The SCS&W leads one to believe these were the first of the model 60's produced as a "target" model with adjustable sights. To confuse that line of thought, I have a model 60 no dash CST in my collection with s/n AFC9XXX that appears to have been manufactured in November of 1984 and it's configuratioon is identical to the Ashland guns. Until I can get it through the current Jinks letter log jam, does anyone have any information regarding CST's earlier than the Ashland run?

 

[ohiobuckeye]

I thought it better to start a new thread here instead of continuing to stretch the forum rules with Q & A about the history of the CST listed in the classified section.
The model 60 CST currently listed has been identified as one of the 660 produced in 1986 for the now defunct Ashland Sports, in Ashland Ohio. The SCS&W leads one to believe these were the first of the model 60's produced as a "target" model with adjustable sights. To confuse that line of thought, I have a model 60 no dash CST in my collection with s/n AFC9XXX that appears to have been manufactured in November of 1984 and it's configuratioon is identical to the Ashland guns. Until I can get it through the current Jinks letter log jam, does anyone have any information regarding CST's earlier than the Ashland run?

 

[Texas Star]

The PHOTO, man! The PHOTO!

Were these snubs or three-inch guns, like the later M-60-4, one of the best S&W's ever built?

T-Star

 

[deanodog]

I bought one of the Ashland model 60s with adjustable sights and 2 in. barrel. They advertised it as 1 of 5000 in Shotgun News. I had a FFL at that time and if I remember correctly I paid approx. 220.00. I sold it many years ago. This probably adds nothing to this thread but I thought I would throw it in.

 

[toroflow1]

does anyone have any information regarding CST's earlier than the Ashland run?

S&W made CSTs all the way back in 1955, then sporadically after that. Course, these were blued model 36s, but CSTs none the less! I have an early 2" CST and a 3" CST made in 1975.

 

[handejector]

Is it a 60-1 ??
How are you arriving at that date for that serial number?

 

[dwf6666]

Here is a picture of my 60-1. I think that this is one of the guns in question. The serial # is ALU13XX and the barrel measures 1 7/8".

If memory serves me, there were model 36's made with adjustable sights that became the model 50.

 

[toroflow1]

If memory serves me, there were model 36's made with adjustable sights that became the model 50.

Yep, some became model 50s, some stayed model 36s and 36-1s, while some were of the pre-36 variety. Here are my two, a 2" 36 and a 3" 36-1:

Book says that 568 model 50s were made in 1973, and 213 3" model 36-1s in 1975, along with over 1,000 model 36s (and pre 36s) made between 1955 and 1966.

 

[jcelect]

Hey fellas
Be Careful boys! The CST was one of the guns that certain people faked a few years ago. ohiobuckeye has found a couple in southern Ohio and I have found a couple in northern Ohio. Here are the serial number ranges for the CSTs.
1955-1957 114 guns produced in 55050-57xxx
1959 198 guns produced in 149811-150133
1966 1006 guns produced in 391811-392778
1973 Mod 50 568 C 930-J-45 = 936-J-19
1975 Mod 36-1 213 guns produced in 2-J-3124 = 2-J-3347
1989 Mod 36-6 615 guns produced in BEAxxxx

As to ohiobuckeye's question, in 1985 Ashland Shooters Supply made an order for the adjustable sighted mod 60. The run was for 666 guns with product code 102305. Most of the guns were made with an AL?xxxx serial number.
jcelect

 

[toroflow1]

Be Careful boys! The CST was one of the guns that certain people faked a few years ago. ohiobuckeye has found a couple in southern Ohio and I have found a couple in northern Ohio. Here are the serial number ranges for the CSTs.

Good point!! I checked that very same serial # listing before I laid out the "green" for my two CSTs!

 

[yooperpat]

Can anyone tell me when the 60-4s were made? I just recently picked one up.
Thanks.

 

[BUFF]

I bought my Ashland Shooters Supply Model 60 stainless "Target" in July, 1985, after seeing the same ShotGun News ad and having my dealer order me one. ALU32XX.

So, the 1986 date in SCSW III is in error.

 

[Dale53]

I am on a trip in North Carolina so am away from my guns.

However, I DO have a Stainless Model 60 target 3" full underlug barrel that I am quite partial to. It is a near perfect "Trail Gun" that I can shoot quite well in spite of the short barrel.

It carries well in a holster (it is so light you hardly know you have it with you). It works quite well on edible small game with .38 Wadcutters. My load is a solid base wadcutter ahead of 3.0 grs of Bullseye with a taper crimp.

This or my 631 .32 H&R Mag work perfectly to "side" a shotgun when bird hunting for those sitting rabbits that I seem to always encounter. The family MUCH appreciates a sinle bullet hole in an eating rabbit (both cotton tails as well as snow shoe rabbits). I have also used them when on occasion I have knocked a grouse down with a broken wing. The dad burn little birds will stay just ahead of you (running on the ground) if you try to chase them until they run into a briar thicket so thick you can't get through it without a bulldozer. However, they WILL let you get close enough that it is relatively easy to clip their heads off with a revolver. I have never felt comfortable shooting them twice with a shotgun (generally end up with tatters...). The revolver solves this quite nicely where allowed (some areas I have hunted do not allow handguns).

FWIW
Dale53

 

[ohiobuckeye]

Originally posted by handejector:
Is it a 60-1 ??
How are you arriving at that date for that serial number?

Lee, The Nov 84 date is based on the s/n/date chart in Supica's SCS&W, so until Roy catches up, and it's lettered, there's no way to know the accuracy of the Nov 1984 date. The gun is clearly stamped model 60 with no dash suffix, and is identical to the photo posted by dwf6666 with the exception of having checked wood grips instead of the goodyears.
I suppose incorrect model stamping sometimes occurs at the factory and is another possibility that the -1 was omitted in error. Anyway, my curiosity is toward finding out if this may be a model 60 CST produced prior to the Ashland run or simply an example that strays outside the block of ALU serial numbers known to be from the Ashland Sports batch.

 

[ohiobuckeye]

Originally posted by jcelect:
Hey fellas
Be Careful boys! The CST was one of the guns that certain people faked a few years ago. ohiobuckeye has found a couple in southern Ohio and I have found a couple in northern Ohio. Here are the serial number ranges for the CSTs.
1955-1957 114 guns produced in 55050-57xxx
1959 198 guns produced in 149811-150133
1966 1006 guns produced in 391811-392778
1973 Mod 50 568 C 930-J-45 = 936-J-19
1975 Mod 36-1 213 guns produced in 2-J-3124 = 2-J-3347
1989 Mod 36-6 615 guns produced in BEAxxxx

As to ohiobuckeye's question, in 1985 Ashland Shooters Supply made an order for the adjustable sighted mod 60. The run was for 666 guns with product code 102305. Most of the guns were made with an AL?xxxx serial number.
jcelect

Joe, Hmmm...I wonder if this one might be home made?....

I'm beginning to think this model 60 is simply a stray s/n that's probably from the earliest of the Ashland run. Have to wait on a letter to see.
So far, I've managed to snag a 36 CST that Roy dated from the first run in 1955, a three in. CST from the 1989 batch, one of the later three in. CST's in 357, and a stamped model 50. I let one from the 1959 run slip through my fingers and still whack myself on the head for being that dumb.

 

[ohiobuckeye]

Originally posted by yooperpat:
Can anyone tell me when the 60-4s were made? I just recently picked one up.
Thanks.

SCS&W says 1990

 

[stiab]

They advertised it as 1 of 5000 in Shotgun News.

I have always been suspicious of the 660 number, because they show up so often. I'm not speaking of the 3" models here, just the 1 7/8 inch like the one below, which I found at a pawn shop. They show up on GB and here with a degree of frequency that make me believe far more than 660 were made.

 

[toroflow1]

I have always been suspicious of the 660 number, because they show up so often. I'm not speaking of the 3" models here, just the 1 7/8 inch like the one below, which I found at a pawn shop. They show up on GB and here with a degree of frequency that make me believe far more than 660 were made.

That's a good point. I've seen more of the 60 CSTs show up than the model 36 or 50 CSTs over the years.

 

[ohiobuckeye]

Originally posted by jcelect:
Hey fellas
Be Careful boys! The CST was one of the guns that certain people faked a few years ago. ohiobuckeye has found a couple in southern Ohio and I have found a couple in northern Ohio....
jcelect

Joe..Add this one to our CST bogus list. I just heard back from Roy and s/n AFC9798 left the factory as a standard model 60 with fixed sights. Wouldn't you know it...the only one I neglected to check out before buying is a phony...and a darned good one..

 

[toroflow1]

Joe..Add this one to our CST bogus list. I just heard back from Roy and s/n AFC9798 left the factory as a standard model 60 with fixed sights. Wouldn't you know it...the only one I neglected to check out before buying is a phony...and a darned good one..

DANG that is too bad! If you are able, I would love to see close up pictures of this phony CST to see if we can see any tell-tale signs of the creation. Thanks in advance.