According to the SCSW in 1980 S&W worked to fill a special order for the N.Y. State Police. It was for a fixed sight N frame .357 Magnum revolver which S&W called the Model 520. Only 3000 were made before the order was cancelled. Below is one of those guns.

Enjoy.















tipoc

tipoc

That is quite the revolver you have there, the 520 is on my wish list and has been for a long time.

terry

...a great carry revolver having no-snag iron sights.

Attached Images

S&W mod 520 (4).jpg (107.9 KB, 165 views)

tipoc, how do you get quality photo's like that. Your M-520 is beautiful. I will post pictures of mine tonight, the revolver is in mint condition however the quality of the photo's is nothing in comparison to yours. I also have original box, that has property label for NYSP attached to it, besides the traditional S&W label. Jack

Thanks for the complement on the pics. I have a decent digital camera, though a bit old now, and standard editing software, but my pics are fair compared to many on this site. There is a good deal I don't know and I can never get nickel right, etc. I just try to get them clear and easy to see.

I don't have the box or papers for this gun unfortunately. I also need the proper grips. When I got this gun it wore a set of rubber Pachmyers.

Nice gun and a rare one. I'm a sucker for a tapered barrel.

tipoc

Here's one I bought a couple of weeks ago. No box, but mint condition.

Beautiful revolver and pics tipoc! The 520 is one of my favorites! My pics don't compare to yours, but here's my gun:

Yep.
I'm jealous.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

IME about 95% are unfired. Everyone knew from the start they were limited production collector guns. Saw one about 1995 at the Dayton, OH show NIB in box as shipped with all accessories and docs for $300. I didn't have $300.

Just as well. Had it fallen into my grubby hands it would have had about 20 pounds of lead pushed down its barrel by now.

The correct stocks for the 520 are the rounded "Modified Magnas" same as came on the Model 58. Hmm... I wonder if they put the MMs on these because they had a bunch left over after they canceled the 58 in 1977?

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No life story has happy end.

The Model 520 was manufactured for the New York State Police in 1979. They never issued them and instead went to the Highway Patrolman, 28-2 in that same year, then to the Model 681 in 1981. BTW - I am retired from the NYSP.

Here is my S&W Model 520, you can even see on the box that it has been marked "357 NYSP 4IN". The serial number on the RS grip does not match the revolver's serial number of
N558241.

My grip has an inked number which I can't really read and a impressed number of 680360 or 580360. Hard to tell.

520.jpg

520 RIGHT SIDE.jpg

520 NYSP.JPG

How do you guys put the actual photo into the body of the message???

Looks like you have the whole family in the reflection in one picture. That's a fine looking gun!

Thanks for posting this thread, I learned a lot. I really like this model.

Take a look at this...
http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum-o...tos-forum.html

I just want all you 520 owners to know if you take a notion to sell yours, I have a hundred dollar bill folded up and hidden in my wallet and its all yours, you don't even have to send me any change back. No kidding...

terry

great 520 photos

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

I'll have to keep an eye on that.

tipoc

It would seem so. Interesting that the 520 went nowhere. It looks like a great idea, and S&W has a history of successful N frame guns with fixed sights. The .44s and the Heavy Duties were popular. And there was also the 1917. Why not a .357?

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Peter
S&WCA #2620

Maybe different loads, poa/poi concerns. Cost? They did go with the 28 and it was a few years before the switch to semis, so I'm not sure.

tipoc

Terrific photos of a fine revolver, thanks for sharing.

Adjustable sights, even when not needed, are always a nice addition to a hand gun, and the Model 28 came with them, probably at a cost equal to, or less than, the Model 520.

The Model 520 was a special run. While the Model 58 frame may have been used, it required a .357 Magnum barrel and cylinder. Tooling and machining were probably set for Model 58's. Set up charges, etc., for a run of 3,000 guns added to the cost. No doubt, though, the New York State Police paid a nice cancellation fee to get out of the contract and buy the Model 28's.

At the time, folks weren't interested in large frame, fixed sight revolvers. The Model 20 .38-44 had long been discontinued, as had the Models 21, and 22. The L frames had just been introduced, including the 581, 586, 681, and 686. Those revolvers fit the bill nicely for a larger frame .357 Magnum. The rap on the K frame, and its problems with 125gr ammunition (excess flame cutting, premature end shake, and early erosion to barrel forcing cones), was solved with the L frame.

The question would have been asked: Why am I paying extra for a special, fixed sight N frame, when I can buy a fixed sight L frame off the shelf, or buy an existing Model 28?

Love this model, and really want one. Have seen a couple NIB ones offered lately, but the price tags were more than I was willing to pay. Came close, though. What a beauty.

I'm happy to see these revolvers used & fired.

I've never seen a 520, but would love to have one. All of the above pictures are excellent.

I had one and sold it to pay tuition in law school. Went up $50 (25% in about a year. I should have given the dude my ex-wife for the price, and kept the M520. All I got out of that period of my life was two sets of regret.

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NHI, 10-8.

This thread needs more photos of 520's.

tipoc

I too would love to find a 520.

Did somebody say "more photos" (tipoc). Here are 2 photos of mine. I bought this from a forum member a few years ago and was very pleased to be able to get it. This is NIB.

Attached Images

	520.JPG (149.5 KB, 66 views)
	520 b2.JPG (153.0 KB, 54 views)

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Ken

A friend at a local shop sold me one, NIB, for 300 back in `1981. He must have then figured out it was a limited run, because a few months later I walked in and he was cleaning up a Luger an older gent had just sold to the shop, he showed it to me and said, I'll trade you for that 520. My famous words were, what , do I look that stupid? Another buddy bought it and researched it and found it was a Mauser Banner with two matching magazines and holster which he then sold to a dealer in Chicago for 900. And that guy bought it for resale.....to this day, I've never attempted to find out what that thing is currently worth. But I wound up trading the 520 for a Gibson 335 guitar, so I didn't do too bad I guess...

I just purchased a model 520 and i am looking for some information on it. The serial number is 5599.. I have read that some of these guns were actually made in 1979. Not a big deal but just curious if anyone could confirm that. I would also like to know if the grips are supposed to be numbered to the gun. My grips are not numbered to the gun. The gun appears to have never been fired and it is in fantastic shape so I am assuming the grips are original to the gun. Thank you in advance for your help.

IMO the 520 is more of a close cousin to the 38-44 HD but in .357 .

Dont remember exactly but ...
IIRC the NYSP placed the order just prior to the introduction of the L frame but cancelled it after introduction of the 581-681 series revolvers.