Parotected One,
I began working as an LEO back in the 60's. Shortly after I began, I made the decision to shoot my revolvers double action only, especially those that I carried and used for duty work or personal protection. A revolver used for hunting, etc, is a different situation, but a J Frame is not intended for that kind of thing! I would NEVER cock a revolver single action and hold it in that condition pointed at someone. Too easy to fire it without intention! I have carried Centennial models for personal protection for many years. Double action is my much preferred action drill. Practice will make it an accurate way to shoot, even at longer distances!
If that Model 60 was converted by a trained armorer, sounds like it was, I would have no qualms about owning it. In fact, after I purchased my first Model 60 which had the single action and hammer spur intact, I removed the hammer spur to avoid the possibility of that spur catching on clothing if and when I decided to carry it in a pocket for some reason. I was able to buy a hammer spur that came from a Model 60 that had been dropped causing the hammer spur to be broken off at the tip. I installed that in my Model 60 and it worked just fine, so I removed the rest of the broken spur and polished it smooth and it's been in place ever since. Again, I only shoot it double action. That's my own preference. The work done to make that revolver double action only involves only work on the hammer so you could fairly easily get another hammer and be able to have single action on yours if you wish. Sometimes the new hammer might need a bit of "fitting" but a good gunsmith should be able to do that easily, especially if the hammer comes from a revolver that's of the same vintage as yours. It just depends on what you prefer, but I would not be concerned about the revolver you are considering being reliable and able to do anything you might wish to do with it for the purpose for which it is intended. But these are my personal feelings. You have to do what is comfortable for you! I own a couple of revolvers, K Frame Model 64's, that were originally ordered for LEO duty guns, that came from the factory with double action only hammers with the hammer spurs removed. One is a four inch barrel and one is a two inch barrel. If I carry this type of revolver for personal protection, I choose one of those two!
I can cock the hammer on my Model 60 since the hammer has not been modified internally, but I don't! First because I do not care to shoot it single action, and secondly, if I do that and need to lower the hammer without firing, there's a lot of things that can go wrong without the spur in place to safely lower the hammer. It can be done, with practice using an empty cylinder, but it must never be done in a hurry or when you might be distracted during the process!
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