My First Real Deal ~ Found a Nice M-60

[Ala Dan]

Smith old model 60's ( in .38 Special were the first all stainless steel handgun
(except for the walnut grips of course); first introduced in 1965, and living a
good life until 1996 when some S&W engineer had a brain fart and decided
to build a new model 60 on a J-magnum frame. Even tho' its chambered for
the more powerful .357 magnum cartridge; believe me, it ain't the same gun.

 

[LeonCarr]

From what I understand, most of the early Model 60s went straight to Vietnam, and it was a while until they were available to civilians. I read a story once about an air force pilot that had one in country, loaded with scrounged Super Vels instead of FMJs.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[bannockburn]

LeonCarr

I remember hearing that story too, that Model 60's were in such short supply because most of them ended up going to Vietman. I also recall that for a number of years after the war, it still was very difficult to find one, and when you did, it was for well over twice what the retail price was supposed to be. Even the regular blued Model 36 2" were sometimes hard to come by, though they were usually priced near or a little below their suggested retail price.

 

[Ala Dan]

In Viet-Nam

reports from in country troops state that after the war ended, and as the
troops were preparing to come home; crates of S&W model 60's were pushed
overboard from U.S. Navy ships returning to U.S. ports. I can't confirm
or deny this information; but knowing our government the way
I do, I would not doubt it one bit~! After all, it was us (taxpayers)
who paid for them in the first place.

On a lighter note, my first encounter with an original model 60 S&W came
in the summer of 1973; to the tune of $185 NIB. Back then, MSRP was $90.
I bought two of 'em; one for my dad, and one for me. Later, in October of
1998 I found one slightly used (but not abused) for only $249.95; so I
snatched it up. Its also an "R" serial prefix model, that has seen its share
of daily carry by me.