Customized 520 (NYSP) UPDATED PICTURES ADDED

[charlie sherrill]

I saw one today. The barrel had been shortened to 3 1/2" and the butt had been rounded. It looked professionally down but the seller nor I have any idea who did it. It was wearing wood finger groove grips. I'd give it a 99% on condition, possibly minus whatever the custom job did to the value. The price was less than what a 520 without a box,etc., is selling for today but I did not buy it because I wasn't sure what it is worth. Any ideas?

 

[VM]

Cool Factor Charlie - it's only money!
The other thing is, you'd have the only one

 

[bamabiker]

I saw your thread last night and have been thinking about it. This would be a little easier if we could see the gun but I think this comes down to how bad you want it. How does the barrel look? Stampings off center? Front sight? Knowing who did the mods might help.
It sounds like a cool gun and if it looks really well done and was priced anywhere around $600 I'd take a serious look at it. $700 or more I'd probably let someone else have it.
That's just my opinion and , as they say, worth what you paid for it.
If you get it we'd love to see pics.

 

[Jack Flash]

I can understand rounding the butt for more comfortable carry.

What's with shortening the barrel from 4" to 3.5"? An awful lot of trouble for a half inch.

Since collector value is now nil, I would only buy it if I had some specific purpose in mind for it. It would make a nice concealed carry gun if you're wearing enough clothes.

 

[pharmer]

I met up with Dimonback Dick at the gunshow yesterday. He had a perfect, in the box 520 he was asking $850 for and sold it right quick. I can't imagine anything you could do to such a gun without reducing the value by half. Then again, the nice thing about cash is that you can do anything you please with it. Joe

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I would imagine that since the barrel was cut and the grip frame reshaped to round, it may have been reblued as well? A 3 1/2 inch 27 would be a better choice for someone going in that direction. Too bad it has been modified. It's collector value is history. People alter, modify or customize guns for many reasons, some are practical and some are simply whimsical. For a 1/2 inch difference of barrel length the value of the gun probably has dropped to less than half the book price, plus whatever the guy laid out for the custom work. Seems like a poor bargain in my view. Personally, I'd pass unless the asking price is commensurate. Good luck!

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[VM]

The fact that it is a 99% gun - who's to say that it's not possibly a Jovino gun or a copy of one?
People pay big bucks for them all the time.
We do not know the price of this {custom} gun, but what's not to like?

N frame, rd butt, fixed sight, 357 Magnum, short tube............
I think I would have had a hard time putting it down and walking away from it.

 

[girvin02]

It would be hard for me to walk away from that gun, provided the work was professionally done. IMO, someone made the gun that S&W should have, but never offered - blue, 3 1/2" barrel, .357 Magnum on a fixed sighted, round-butt N-frame - that sounds like a sweet piece to me.

I hope that the OP buys it and posts some pictures.

 

[Jack Flash]

I agree with Lefty. Maybe you could talk price with him IF it starts somewhere in the $450 - $550 range.

Of course, if you were all set to buy a M520 and have these exact modifications made, you can pay all you want for it with my blessing!

Personally, I don't buy the idea that it is worth what he has put into it. He may have upwards of two thousand in it. Anybody want to pay that much for it?

Not too long ago, there was a highly modified M520 in the Classifieds. The seller had Hamilton Bowen install a 5" barrel and convert it to .45 Colt. Of course it was refinished and looked beautiful. A 5" fixed-sight N-Frame in .45 Colt! Yes, it's a gun S&W should have offered as a standard factory model.

I dearly would have loved to buy it, but he was trying to get back all he had invested in it ($2,500 IIRC). Half that figure would have been a better starting point. He kept it in the Classifieds for a couple of weeks and then let it fade away with no takers.

Was it "worth it"? You would have to ask him. Didn't seem like anyone here thought so, at least not anyone who was willing to put his money where his mouth is.

 

[Sgt 127]

Unless you can get it for around $400 its not worth it from the standpoint of a collectible Smith and Wesson. It has no collector value. The original finish is zero.

However, as others have said better than I, if you WANT it, its worth whatever its would cost you to buy another 520 and have the mods done to it, and, that would be expensive...

Who knows why its that way. Original owner dropped it on some concrete stairs and it went end over end dinging the muzzle and the butt? If that the case and he was getting it refinished anyway, it may have been worth it for him to build up a dandy carry gun.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I own a 520, it's a shooter and not NIB, probably 98% more or less original finish condition, because I carry it often in all sorts of weather. It's an ideal platform for any .357 load and it's one of my favorite large frame revolvers for carrying afield. I agree the alterations made to the OP's subject revolver we are discussing may make it more concealable and probably a bit more comfortable. But in my estimation, it's all about the price being the determining factor. It's no longer original, has been altered, so it's a shooter and should be priced as such. I agree with Jack Flash, $450 or so would be my ballpark, $525 tops if I just insisted on owning it.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Jack Flash]

Charlie:

Is there any update on this? IE, if you bought it and would graciously share the details of the transaction, your post would have many avid readers...

Or if you just know any more information at all on this subject...

 

[charlie sherrill]

I'm sorry it took so long to reply to my original post. I first saw this gun back in January. I wrote the guys name down that had it but that was all. I went back to a show in the same building a few weeks ago and he wasn't there. I went back today and he was. The guy is a FFL holder and said he was selling some guns for his brother. Here's what he had: (A) three 27-2's with 3 1/2 inch barrel, one with wide hammer and trigger. (B) one 5" 27-2. (C) one 6" 27-2. (D) The short barrel 520 with the round butt. All the above named guns were in 97% condition or better, blue steel finish and with the exception of the 520 were wearing diamond targets with the football cutout. He was asking $650 each for all but the 520. He was asking $750 for the 520. If anyone is interested in the 27's I have his phone number and e-mail address and will be glad to give them to you with a PM.

I bought the 520 for less than the asking price and would have probably have bought the 27 with the wide hammer and trigger except for a minor depletion of funds. (I knew I should have carried more) I've already got a 3 1/2" 27-2 but it's not quite as nice as these. A little upgrade would have been nice. Back to the 520. It is blue steel, round butt (apparently altered), 3 3/8" barrel, grips are aftermarket walnut finger groove glove type grips with the screw at the bottom. On the right side of the grip frame at the bottom there is a "E" in a circle on the left and a "K" in a triangle on the right. The number 459B is directly below the grip pin. There is the number X5131 under the grip pin on the left side and the serial number is N5598XX. Jr. is going to put some pics up in a few minutes. They probably won't be as good as the ones he will take tomorrow with good light.

Why did I buy this gun? I know whatever collector value it had is probably diminished because of the alterations. Wouldn't it be nice if it wasn't altered and was a one of a kind? The main reason I got it is it just looks so cool and I'm probably the only kid on the block who has one. Pics coming soon.

 

[sherrill15]

better pics added below.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I left out that the seller thought someone in Arizona did the modifications. He had no idea who that would have been. Does anyone know anybody in Arizona who does this kind of work?

 

[Allen-frame]

Hello charlie.

I have a right model 520 , Ser. # S5588xx , and I have $750.00 into the gun.
Your pictures do not show detail of the modifications.
If done right, I would guess that the gun would be close to the
value of a real model 520 with p.c. magna stocks.

Better pictures will tell the tale of your gun.

Good luck.
Allen Frame

 

[Lt JL]

2,999 or less left, now.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Better pictures have to wait until tomorrow and some good outdoors light.

 

[whitecoyote]

A very interesting S&W 520. Thanks for posting.

 

[sherrill15]

Better pics.

better pictures taken outside