Any Love For The Smith & Wesson 60-4 3" Heavy Barrel "Chief's Special"?

[Ala Dan]

As the title ask, who here owns one other than myself and Mr. Brian
Williams? These are kind'a a rare breed these days, as they were
manufactuered for just one year - 1990. Like I said, its a taget
sighted, 3" heavy barrel Smith & Wesson .38 Special with a semi-
target trigger and hammer. Mine was found in a sizeable collection
out of Chicago, late last year.

*Footnote: With full length ejector shroud.

 

[GaryP]

Ala Dan,

I have a S&W MOD 60-4 (BNE06xx) I purchased NIB in August of 1993. DMFG is Feb/1993. From what I can determine The S&W MOD 60-4 was produced in 1990 as a limited production of target model with full underlug and became standard production in 1992. They were produced from 1990 - 1995 in .38 spl as follows:

As per "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" Second Edition; 2001 by Jim Suprica and Richard Nahas.

Product code: 102298
Configuration: 3" S TH TT FL AS SG RB
Year: 1990 - 1995

---------------------------------------------
The numbers on my original box are:

S&W 60 3" 38 SPL AS Rubber GR

SWE102298 BNE06xx 56658V
---------------------------------------------

The only way I know to distinguish a 1990 DMFG 60-4 from the rest of the pack is by serial number.

I really like mine and have put around 1500 rounds through it over the years.

 

[Brian Williams]

YEP, these are a great gun, with a 9mm cylinder installed it makes a great carry gun and with the 38 cylinder installed, it will handle some very heavy loads.

 

[Nasty]

Lotsa love...Sweet handguns!

 

[Ala Dan]

Att: Gary P-

I don't have the orginial box for my S&W model 60-4, so many thanks for
sharing that information. My S/N is as follows: BSC 2xxx~!

Yours probably was produced before mine, if S&W S/N's hold too form~?

 

[Whole Hog]

I have one that I like real well. I bought it used from a coworker a few years ago and it's become one of my favorite range guns. I don't carry it often, but it fits just fine in a Don Hume holster for my SP 101.

 

[Bailey Boat]

I have a 60-10 and wouldn't part with it for any price......

 

[mesinge2]

It a model 64 but I love the 3" heavy barrel Smiths.


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[S&W-Keeper]

I have one, I found it the first of last year, unfired with box,etc.Great little revolver.

 

[Racinbob]

It's one of my favorite to shoot. Perfect balance and accurate.

 

[Bob79]

I recently got both a 60-4, and a 60-10 off Gunbroker. The -10 is rated for 357 mag with no lock, and has the laser etched markings.

The -4 is .38 special +P with roll marked barrel, and has a target hammer and trigger. This one just feels more "classic" being .38 only, and with roll markings.

However its nice to have the availability of the .357 round in these guns. Although .357 in this platform would not be "ideal" for black bear, it will work. And should work for pretty much anything you'll come across in the lower 48.

Great guns, with great balance, and size/power.

 

[Guillermo]

Wish I owned one. Nice "mid sized" revolver.

 

[Triggernosis]

I've got one of these (60-4) on the way. Any more recommendations for holsters?

 

[Kernel]

Also, in the 90's, S&W breifly (for a year or two) made a nearly identical, 3" full lug, adjustable sight, round butt, matt blue, .38 Spl only, model 36. Came from the factory with a Hogue finger grove rubber grip, IIRC. You see'em on Gun Broker once in a blue moon.

 

[Confederate]

There is no doubt that these are great little guns, but adding the heavy barrel wasn't a great idea, because what's the point? The gun is popular because it's light. So let's make it heavier to make it easier to shoot! It like putting a scope mount on a short-barrelled .44 mag.

The gun isn't made for shooting, but for carrying. S&W reduced the size and weight of its .357s, then in the 80s made it bigger and heavier. Okay, maybe they made it too small and too light with the K-frame, but then they added too much weight with the full-lug barrel. Even the L-frames without the full-lug barrels were still too heavy, in my view. And Ruger foolishly followed suit! No one complained that the Security-Sixes were too light -- and S&W has never offered its 686 with a moderate-weight barrel. I can still shoot my Security-Six with full magnum loads with no complaints. So these heavy barrels are only good for range use. I like the 60, even with the heavier barrel, but if given a choice between it and a Model 66, I'd take the 66 in a heartbeat! And if given the choice between a standard 3-inch 60 and a full underlug 3-incher, I'd take the former.

 

[Triggernosis]

Confederate, do you know what model would be a 60 with a standard 3" barrel?

 

[jfh]

I had a current 60 (what, -10?--mfd. '07 or early '08) that, after shooting 1000s of rounds from a 640 and an M&P 340, quickly became my favorite SA / DA gun--the reason being what Racinbob says--its perfect balance.

When it blew up and I haggled with the factory to replace it, I got them to come up with a Pro 3" version instead--and really regretted it. Not only does it have that silly 'tapered' underlug profile, but it simply doesn't balance as well. Yes, it had a better trigger, and it has a good grip--but the balance isn't there. Lock or no-lock, 38 or 38/357, it really is a nice compact pistol.

I may try to get a 9mm cylinder sorted out for it, as Brian mentions--

Triggernosis: The Simply Rugged pancake holster is highly recommended. google them; they just moved to AZ in the near past, IIRC....

Jim H.

 

[Kernel]

There's one of those "blue moon" model 36, round butt, matt finish, w/3" full lug and adjustable sights on Gun Broker, now. Says only 615 were ever made. It's got the wrong grips, though.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=165952485

 

[Triggernosis]

Thanks, Jim, for the holster recommendation. Considering his prices, I don't see where I could go wrong. I'll get one on order.

 

[SwampWolf]

I like to carry mine "on the trail". A great Boundary Waters sidearm.

 

[clang]

I've got a 60-10 that I added wood S&W Combat Grips to. I like to think of it as my mini-686.