S&W Model 60 Question

[OC4ME]

I have a Mod. 60 from my father-in-law after he passed away. Just got off the phone with S&W and asked about the manufacture date. Jeff, the customer service rep, told me based on the serial number (657XXX) that the gun is one of the first manufactured Mod. 60's. Any info on a more specific date. Jeff did tell me not to shoot +P through this gun. He also said that this gun has collector value. I got the impression that their records don't go back that far since he did not give me an exact date.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks

[berto]

Go to the S&W forum. Those guys will give you an answer.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/

[BigDogatPlay]

Their records absolutely go back that far. And a lot farther. They don't give it out over the phone.

More detailed information would cost you a check sent to S&W for a factory letter. The best you could get from the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson is a date range based on the s/n. The factory can tell you the day it left the plant and where it was shipped to, typically, but that comes as a factory letter with a cost associated.

An early Model 60 would indeed have some collector value. More if it has the original box, papers, etc. It is absolutely not rated for +P ammo. It could probably handle it, but continued use over time would likely cause some damage.

ETA: there is a page on the S&W website for requesting letters. See it here.

[psango]

The model 60 was one of the first if not the first stainless revolver they made.
I had one with a pinned barrel. I always used standard velocity ammo. Buffalo Bore makes some good standard velocity ammo: Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Ammo - 125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point (900fps/M.E. 225 ft. lbs.) - 20 Round Box. They also make solids and wadcutters. Their ammo is expensive but almost always in stock.

[smguser]

Can you post a picture of it? Are you sure there are no letters in the SN? The Model 60 was first produced in 1965. Do you think it's that old?

[littlejake]

I had one of the early model 60s. It was a stainless steel equivalent of the model 36 Chiefs Special. While not made for +P, it was certainly stronger than the model 37 airweight.

My experience with my model 67, which I bought in 1973, leads me to believe that the SS used back then was more malleable that that used later.

[runninmike]

I learned from my Standard Catalogue of Smith & Wesson that without a alpha in the serial, years 1965-1968 they were numbered from 401754 to 786544, and in 1969 the numbers were precursed with a letter "R". So yours is 1965-1968. Prices mentioned are ANIB..$500, Exc.. $375, VG..$325, & Good..$275. Hope this is helpful.
Best-Mike

[OC4ME]

Can you post a picture of it? Are you sure there are no letters in the SN? The Model 60 was first produced in 1965. Do you think it's that old?

No letters in the S/N.

[matrix056]

That thing is sweet! I also have a Smith with a 688XXX prefix, but I believe its an old M&P. Not sure if you can shoot +P through yours, guys at the S&W forums should be able to help.

[smguser]

Nice! I'd have to agree with runninmike. Pre 1980 because of the pinned barrel, SN with no letters puts it 1965-68. I'd think it would be worth getting the letter from S&W.