520 NYSP question.

maglvr

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Hi All:
I have a question, in all your travels, have any of you ever come across a 520 NYSP that had actually been used, and looked like any other 357 that had enjoyed some outdoor life?
I've been looking for one for a while to use in the woods but I am beginning to think they are all snug and warm in a safe, where they have been since birth.
Just curious.
Thanks in advance.
Maglvr
 
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I believe your observations are typical. There are a large percentage of Model 520's that are still unfired, snug in their factory boxes with all the original stuff.

I actually shot mine a few times when I got it back in 11980-1981, and when I went into law enforcement, I qualified with it and carried it for about a week. Still, there is pretty much no visible wear.

I have never seen one with significant finish wear. I think that most folks looking for a gun to walk the woods with choose something lighter than an N frame.
 
I actually saw two model 520's that had been used by their owners. I have a model 520 but it is still NIB and I plan on keeping it that way. I have been looking for a shooter grade 520 but they are few and far between. Joe
 
I've only seen one that wasn't NIB or close to it. It was on one of the auction sites four or five years back. It appeared not to be a holster wear issue, but a storage issue. Most of the barrel had lost it's blueing and appeared to be a patina while the rest of the gun looked mint including the grips. Lasted about 45 minutes with a BIN of $ 300.

Shooter grade 520's are a defnite rarity.

Brian~
 
I have a 95% 520 that I shoot. Get this----I got it at a gun show in Gainesville GA a few years ago from a dealer who I thought would know what it was...I wont call any names, but his initials were "Bernie" and he had two beautiful daughters who helped him. It had just come in on a trade....I picked it up and asked what he wanted and he thought for a second and said.."250." The real trajedy is the fellow who traded it. He got less than that for it. Another Joe with a 520.
 
When these were offered to the public following the NYSP backing out on the deal (nobody talks about how crappy that was to do) everybody and his cousin Elmer knew they were limited production items and so were instant collectibles. Few have actually seen any use.
 
520

I have a M 520, and as usual it is factory fired only in the original box. S/N 559xxx.
But some where out there there is one without the original box, because I acquired another box , tools , and paper in a trade. This box has S/N 5604xx.

________
``Terry``
 
I have only one, and it was used and slightly modified when I bought it. Didn't pay much for it, either. A couple of years later, I still saw an ad for one on the board at the NRA in Fairfax for $300, and it wasn't selling. Needless to say, this was more than a few years ago.
 
Well here we are a mere 12 years after I asked the group the question, and I am happy to report that a few months back I in fact found a shooter grade 520NYSP :-)
It looks like about a 90% + / - but has been drilled & tapped with holes plugged to nearly invisible from topside.
Moral of the story here is NEVER give up those dreams or looking for them! In some dark closet somewhere sits your dream , just waiting for you to find it. Happy searching!
MagLvr
 

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Well here we are a mere 12 years after I asked the group the question, and I am happy to report that a few months back I in fact found a shooter grade 520NYSP :-)
It looks like about a 97% + / - but has been drilled & tapped with holes plugged to nearly invisible from topside.
Moral of the story here is NEVER give up those dreams or looking for them! In some dark closet somewhere sits your dream , just waiting for you to find it. Happy searching!
MagLvr

You're a persistent bugger, I'll give ya that! :)
 
My 520 is well worn…..no safe queen.here it is with the model 58.
9324a135405a4ba5ef609e020b71bd5c.jpg
 
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For many years I thought the prettiest handgun ever made was the mod. 58. Then I laid eyes on the 520 and the 58 went to second place. That slimmer barrel just won me over.
 
I can relate. I have spent thousands of hours in gun shops, been to probably 100 gun shows and I have never seen a single 520 or mod. 58 in all that time.
 
I owned one for 30 years and the person I bought it from had shot 100 rounds through it and I shot 300. I sold it as someone really wanted and Dad always said everything is for sale at the right price. Mine was about 85% at the time I sold it.
 
Bought mine from a retired sherif so it has some minor holster wear and it had goodyears on it. He didn't carry it to long before they transitioned to wonder nine's. I put SW diamond wood combats on it and have enjoyed it About ready to pass it on'
 
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