Hello, I am looking for a little knowledge and advice from those experienced with the initial production run Model 60 from 1965 - 1966. I recently acquired a very nice Model 60 that, based on serial number and prior threads in this forum, is from early 1966 toward the end of the first production. The grips are not original as they are not diamond grips but it came with original box and paperwork. The hammer and trigger are the original all stainless steel parts that were put on this first production run until the issues appeared with using all stainless parts. The gun had been fired very, very little. My question is that I would like to shoot a few rounds of standard preassure .38 spcl (Not any +p ammo) through it each year to stay in practice. With the original stainless hammer and trigger can I get away with this without developing issues? What issues should I be looking for now since it had these original stainless steel parts? Thank you
Model 60 First Production Run Question
- Thread starter mtice
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crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Mine is serial 4105xx that shipped may1966. I would not be concerned about shooting it.
Charlie
Charlie
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No problem with occasional, or even frequent use of standard pressure .38 Special. My recollection is the stainless parts were subject to galling from use so were changed out for chromed forged parts.
Is it highly polished stainless steel? I remember seeing one many years ago in a gun shop. It took me a lot of years to get a model 60, but was a much, much later production, but still a nice revolver.
rburg
Member
Charlie...my buddy! Tell us more. You're the first person I've found with one close to mine. Mine is 410014. I also have no fear of shooting it. If you dig out old gun magazines, you'll find articles that relate to production difficulties related to the material. Cutters that could produce hundreds or even thousands of mild steel parts went dull after just 10 or so stainless guns.
Anybody know how they marked the returned guns with replacement parts? Anybody got any idea if inferior steel Chiefs were intermixed in the serial sequence? What I'm really looking for is the numbrer produced between the start of production and when mine (and yours) was produced.
To the OP: Good luck finding the correct grips. They're like hens teeth and usually cost about $100 if you can locate them. As a hint, test fit them before handing over the cash.
mtice:
Does the box have the USS sticker on the end label?
Ed
Does the box have the USS sticker on the end label?
Ed
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United States Steel - have a look at the Pittsburgh football team logo and you are close 
. The sticker is found only on boxes within the first two years of production.
. The sticker is found only on boxes within the first two years of production.
One other question, while this Model 60 is a round butt (original box also indicates round butt), the previous owner put beautiful S&W walnut square butt J frame stocks on it. These are not round to square butt conversion stocks (no cut out for the round butt frame) but they fit like a glove. They are a perfect fit between back of the triggerguard and front strap so the the grip does not move on the frame. Is this common? I realize most would not put square butt J frame target stocks on the Model 60 but the wood is so nice and they fit so well.
The first run Model 60s did not come in a Bangor Punta box. Should be a pre BP box with a US Steel label on the outside.
IIRC (others will be by to check in) the very first models had more of a case color hardened / darker hammers and triggers and were highly polished.
Then next run that followed were polished but not near as aggressively. More of a lighter buff than a high polish.
Somewhere about here or thereafter the Hammer and Trigger were changed to stainless or appear to be stainless satin finish or composition.
410xxx range is one of the earliest with high polish. The 490xxx has the satin finish hammer / trigger. BOTH are in PRE-Bangor Punta boxes with US Steel logo-ed labels which overlap the S&W serial numbered label on the far right.
It is not unusual to find a early model 60 in the wrong box, usually put back into a wrong box and a reprint / reproduction label sometime in the years that followed.
IIRC (others will be by to check in) the very first models had more of a case color hardened / darker hammers and triggers and were highly polished.
Then next run that followed were polished but not near as aggressively. More of a lighter buff than a high polish.
Somewhere about here or thereafter the Hammer and Trigger were changed to stainless or appear to be stainless satin finish or composition.
410xxx range is one of the earliest with high polish. The 490xxx has the satin finish hammer / trigger. BOTH are in PRE-Bangor Punta boxes with US Steel logo-ed labels which overlap the S&W serial numbered label on the far right.
It is not unusual to find a early model 60 in the wrong box, usually put back into a wrong box and a reprint / reproduction label sometime in the years that followed.
Last edited:
rburg
Member
Thats an impressive one. 200 lower than mine, I like it.
For the OP: I'll head out to look in my gunshow bag to see if I've still got an early diamond J frame grip set. No promises.
rburg
Member
OK, I have them in hand. They look for all the world like a set of J diamond round butt magnas. I have no clue what they might have been on. I've been known to just buy hard to find grips at gun shows. They've got a "too high" serial on the right grip, and J frame guns, to the best of my knowledge, stopped having diamond magnas before numbers that high were made. They moved to unique numbers in 1968 using a letter code. Might have come off a .32 or something. Still the same grip frame.
I would be interested in them Dick, please email me at: [email protected]
Thanks
Thanks
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