Model 60 kit gun ???

[target tech]

I recently picked up a 631 kit gun, and have begun to wonder why Smith & Wesson never made a 4" .38 special kit gun. I know all about the 60-4, and have loved mine to death since 1991, but why not a four inch light barrel. Would probably be lighter, and a longer sight radius. Does a 5 shot .38 special not meet the definition of a "kit gun".

I was just curious if anyone else had ever thought about this. Perhaps someone has built one.

Just food for thought

 

[OKFC05]

I think its a matter of semantics.
Although the J-frame line offers models capable of firing .22 LR, .22 Magnum®, .38 S&W Special and the more powerful .357 Magnum® loads, I've never seen the "kit gun" label on anything larger than .22 magnum / .22 bore. I have the .38 Spl 3" model 60 with target sights that I often carry afield, but the larger cylinder seems to me bulkier and heavier than my Model 63 .22 LR. "Kit Gun" YMMV

 

[D Brown]

I think its a matter of semantics.
Although the J-frame line offers models capable of firing .22 LR, .22 Magnum®, .38 S&W Special and the more powerful .357 Magnum® loads, I've never seen the "kit gun" label on anything larger than .22 magnum / .22 bore. I have the .38 Spl 3" model 60 with target sights that I often carry afield, but the larger cylinder seems to me bulkier and heavier than my Model 63 .22 LR. "Kit Gun" YMMV

If you look on page 311 of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition, the final paragraph of the introduction on the Model 631 - .32 Magnum Target Stainless, you will find it's referred to as a "Kit Gun". The .32 bore easily exceeds the .22 bore size and is only .045" smaller than the .38/.357.

Personally, I will continue to refer to my Model 60-4 as a Kit Gun. We all have our own ideas when it comes to defining certain terms.

No offense to your idea on the definition; just pointing out that Supica and Nahas don't necessarily agree with the .22 only definition.

 

[Grayfox]

Technically it may not be called a Kit Gun. But my 60-4 has ridden on my belt on many a hiking and camping trip. Its a kit gun to me!

 

[k22fan]

[...] have begun to wonder why Smith & Wesson never made a 4" .38 special kit gun. [...]

Would a 5" be satisfactory? They made a 5" .357 Model 60 dash ?. It was not full lug which kept the weight to about 27 ounces. They were making 5" .22LR Model 63s at about the same time.

 

[Chukar60]

If I want to plink the 63 no dash is my kit gun.
If I am fishing or otherwise engaged outside and want a kit gun, the 60-10 goes along. Something about being in bear, cougar or 2 legged varmint country packing a 22 just dont make much sense to me when you can have a 357 of nearly the same size on your hip.

 

[target tech]

Would a 5" be satisfactory? They made a 5" .357 Model 60 dash ?. It was not full lug which kept the weight to about 27 ounces. They were making 5" .22LR Model 63s at about the same time.

I was not aware of a 5" model 60 or 63. I don't follow "modern" S&W revolvers much. I'm assuming they were probably made for Canadian sales, due to their barrel length restrictions.

 

[The_Truth]

Any gun is a kit gun if you carry it in your kit!

 

[Bhemry]

I was just thinking a couple days ago, I've never owned a .32 caliber revolver, but if S&W put out a stainless adjustable sighted J-frame in .327 with a 4" barrel.. I'd own one.

 

[Redford]

I was just thinking a couple days ago, I've never owned a .32 caliber revolver, but if S&W put out a stainless adjustable sighted J-frame in .327 with a 4" barrel.. I'd own one.

Me too

Sent from my SM-T830 using Tapatalk