I saw this offered for sale on GB and did a "double take" ------

Seller description ---

"A S&W 520, one of 3000 originally produced for the NY State Police but never delivered. They were then sold off commercially. This is one of several purchased and customized by gunsmith Karl Sokol in the mid 90's. He did about 10 of them for various customers. This one was a part of a set that Karl did in various calibers. This one stayed in its original caliber. The barrel started out very much like a 4" Model 27 barrel. He then milled off the rib and formed the front sight base from the rib. Looks largely factory." ------

What the heck !? I guess one man's "crazy" is another man's "good idea".
I have to go with "crazy" on this one.

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	520-2.jpg (111.1 KB, 408 views)
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	520-4.jpg (164.9 KB, 346 views)

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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

I dont know about good idea or crazy but that sure is a nice looking N frame .357. I like it.
Jim

I'm guessing somebody or bodies wanted an old style looking Heavy Duty, only factory chambered in .357 Magnum.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

It looks nicely modified. Would have been cool to see the pre-war patent information on the top of the barrel.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Be a nice revolver to convert to 45 ACP.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Here's my Model 520.

I would have to go with crazy too. For the most part I like mine the way they left the factory.

I don't mind grips being replaced with era correct S&W grips or hammers and triggers being upgraded to targets or smooth triggers.

But for me I wouldn't want anything done that wasn't reversible.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

What rubiranch said.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

That's a nice looking gun, but i do have a little problem with the way the redone barrel tapers from the frame. It's a longer slope than on the Heavy Duties and just looks a little weird. But not enough to stop me from buying it if price was right.

I agree that bbl contour needs a bit of work. But the idea isn't all bad.
I love custom projects.

No matter what anyone were to convert one of them to, either the conversion itself of a 520 or the caliber converted to would be questioned.

I think the Model 58 is almost in the same catagory but not quite.
The 520 is unique with low production and it's connection to the NYSP.

Seems like it would have been a lot easier to find a Heavy Duty that had been rechambered to .357 (or have one rechambered) and re-mark the barrel.

$950 to open - no bids yet. For me a "right price" would have to be lower for this particular gun. It is certainly unique and pretty ....but.... I would rather have a high condition unaltered M520 for that money.

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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

Mmmmmm, you mean like a 22-4?

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NRA Benefactor Member

What are high condition unaltered M520s worth these days?

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

As of time of this post, I see one being offered at $1275 opening (no bids) and one true auction starting at one cent currently at $621.16 with 5 days to go.

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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

I like it, makes it a shooter

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Support your Police, & NRA

An interesting and informative thread, at least for me. Until a couple of days ago I didn't even know what a Model 520 was. Another recent thread noted that S&W DID make an N frame with fixed sights, the Md. 520.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

I suspect at the time those familiar with the model looked at it as an excellent springboard for modification. They had been rejected by NY State police then put up for public sale. I doubt gun folks back then looked at them as some collectors item. I have seen many fine project guns here that started life as every Smith under the sun, up to and including Registered Magnums.

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Possum—The other white meat!

When you think you have seen it all........something new shows up.

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Front sight and squeeze

This is my M520. ^^^^



The M58 .41 Magnum is also a fixed sight N frame.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Yes. But prior to the reintroduction of the 22-4, such a revolver, from the factory, was expensive. I wanted something like that when I was a LEO. Everyone wanted collectors prices. I grabbed a cheap 28-2 and had the barrel rebored, fitted a new ACP cylinder, r&r’d the frame lug and adjusted the sights. Took a run of the mill 28-2,and created a 4” tapered barrel 45 ACP revolver. Only thing I goofed on was I rounded the grip frame. After a couple of years, I came to prefer the square butt.

This was before S&W made the Mountain Guns and before the new gun of the month era.

Kevin

Attached Images

AA2A6B82-8BAF-4B84-B729-2BE409C7FB11.jpg (74.4 KB, 64 views)

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

This was before S&W made the Mountain Guns and before the new gun of the month era.

I like it the way it is. I did the same thing with a 1917. Cut the barrel to 4", added adjustable sights and rounded the butt.

I now have a M625 .45 ACP Mountain Gun.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

"The M58 .41 Magnum is also a fixed sight N frame." ---

Yep, but no "cool factor" ejector rod shroud.
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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

Ouch! For me an original N frame 520 should remain unaltered.

I dig it. I put 520 grips and a Tyler T on my Heavy Duty so this is in my wheelhouse I suppose.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

Thanks.

They didn't become collectible until after S&W sold number 3000.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

That's why I have one of each.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I bought a nice one recently $840 no box

Back in the day (70s-80s) I think there was a lot less "collecting" going on and more of an emphasis on working guns...... and custom carry guns.

Custom .45s and Hi-Powers, chopped big bore belly guns and guns like the ASP and Trapper cut down Model 39s and 59s....... Magna-porting......

....... also 3" 65s and 66s were all written up in the Gun Rags.

I have a 4" 686 no dash round butted, action job, long red ramp and Pachmayr Professional grips. Perfect for my needs then and still a go to .357.

Thank you, I also have an ACP Mountain Gun. They are nice but perhaps subject for another thread?

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I personally 'almost' always prefer the typically older style tapered Smith barrel design to the "stovepipe" trend that largely edged them out during the era of this Forum's focus.
That said... While I greatly admire what appears to me as well executed modification in the "Bigmtnman" Thread opener; yet a 'modification'. Where 'no harm, no foul, as in 'already modified', a plus, plus, plus for such work. Where taking uncommon original guns and so modifying... Joining with those who say essentially, "Not for me!"
I'm with 2 NIB 540 Models, not to be 'fiddled with' on my watch!
The ideal for me is where I can purchase such a 'nifty' done-deal gun with personally 'clean hands!
If this appears as something of a backhanded "Congrats", please do read it just that way!
Just my take
John

Karl Sokol does do nice work I have a PPC gun done by him.

Its a very nice piece, an outstanding shooter with an excellent trigger.

Every time I see a thread about 520's I want one BAD. But then I remember why I sold the two I had previously-All I did was fret over them rusting. I never shot them and kept them safely wrapped in treated gun socks and would inspect them for telltale signs of ANYTHING that might be going wrong with the finish. NO WAY would I actually shoot one. Ao I sold them off with no regrets. BUT I love the idea of a robust fixed sight 4" barrel duty weapon in .357. I wished for a 520 in stainless. Then one day God reached down from Heaven and slapped me upside the head and said "Hey Dummy....... take a look at what I had S&W make up for you-I even had them letter the new frame with the initial of your last name, L." I took that to mean that he would understand the collection plate being light for a month or so and I bought a 681. He speaks-one just has to listen
Even now He is whispering in my ear "Super Redhawk 7.5" barrel in 44 ,mag"

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Forum consigliere

This one went for $980 today Smith & Wesson model 520 Never issued NYSP duty gun - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 853751988

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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

I've been tracking them off and on for a couple of years. The cheapest I've ever seen is $799. Most go for around a grand. People ask more, I've seen as high as $1,600. But actual sales are closer to the thousand mark.

Thanks bigmtman and Ameshawki.

At this point it would take more than $1000 to get me to part with mine.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

The 520 357 magnum is a dandy......Even better as a 44 Special




Using a 520 frame for a mock HD....is kinda the long way around the barn.

Plenty of HDs around....

An old HD up graded to a 45 LC & 45 ACP. Could have easily been a 357.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I can understand a M520 converted to .44 spl . Yours looks fantastic !

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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

I always enjoy seeing these creations. Wish I could stumble on one, especially a 45 ACP.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

a little over a grand usually

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"Free dirt, you dig."