The New Nambu M60 (ニューナンブM60) is a double-action revolver chambered in .38 Special based upon Smith & Wesson-style designs.

M1917 revolvers were beginning to be seen as obsolete and deteriorated significantly, so malfunctions or reduced accuracy had been a problem.

[2] In 1957, the development was started by Shin-Chuō Industries under the leadership of the MITI to promote domestic firearms production.

On the other hand, the revolver, completed as New Nambu M60, was satisfactory for the National Police Agency, and mass production was started in 1960.

[6][7] Basic design was based on those of the "J-Frame" and "K-Frame" revolvers of Smith & Wesson company.

[2] A sport-use intended variant equipped with weighted longer barrel, adjustable rear sight, and adjustable competition grip called the New Nambu M60 Sakura was considered for production, but the product never went past its prototype phase.