How many M520's do we have here in the forum?

[TTSH]

As usual, TTSH left poor Jeppo in his dust. Mine isn’t NIB.

Ha!!! I'm not so sure about that. Usually it's the Jeppo who comes out on top and it's not even close!

Anyway, I had my 4" Highway Patrolman at the time and there was no need to dirty up the Model 520 (Remember how much I hate cleaning guns). So the 520 is still unfired and in it's original factory box, papers and all... just as it came from the factory.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

Mines been fired 102 times.

The first two by the original owner. One test round and he took his own life with the second round.

The investigating office's mark is on the bottom of the grip.

The second owner fired it 100 times and never shot it again. It sat in his safe for years........

I'm owner number three and I have yet to fire it.

How many of the 3000 produced do forum member have?

Gorgeous 520!

Interesting story too. Is there any proof that it actually happened or is this just something you were told by a guy selling a gun?

My name is Frank and that looks like the "F" I put on all my handguns. I'm just a regular guy that marks my firearms to make them feel more personal to me.

 

[Mike C2]

I’ve got a 520 myself. 95% at least but no box and with its factory PC Magnas. After finding a 58 and deciding the N frame with fixed sights made for a pretty neat package I searched for a 520 adding it last year for the princely sum of $750.

 

[jscott]

I never understood an Officer marking up a weapon with His I.D. number.
You have the model number, serial number, caliber, barrel length, finish, plus outstanding features particular to the individual weapon. Plus the weapon goes into a sealed evidence bag.

Some people have no appreciation for nice things.

 

[rubiranch]

I've got one. Bought brand-new-in-box four decades ago. Never fired it. Nope, not for sale.

How much were they going for back when they were new??

 

[rubiranch]

Ha!!! I'm not so sure about that. Usually it's the Jeppo who comes out on top and it's not even close!

Anyway, I had my 4" Highway Patrolman at the time and there was no need to dirty up the Model 520 (Remember how much I hate cleaning guns). So the 520 is still unfired and in it's original factory box, papers and all... just as it came from the factory.

My brother hated cleaning guns too.

I marveled at just how bad a few of them were. It did make it easier to tell which ones he liked shooting.

 

[rubiranch]

Gorgeous 520!

Interesting story too. Is there any proof that it actually happened or is this just something you were told by a guy selling a gun?

My name is Frank and that looks like the "F" I put on all my handguns. I'm just a regular guy that marks my firearms to make them feel more personal to me.

This is a copy of my brother's post that he posted here in the forum back on Oct 12th 2001.

"My M-520 had 2 rounds fired through it by the original owner. One into the ground to see if it worked and then one through his noggin. His family had a gunshop sell it on consignment when they got it back from the sheriffs office. I traded a Model 39 for it. Later, when I got hired by the same sheriffs office, I talked to the investigator and then pulled a copy of the report.

I figured that since it had already been fired, shooting it some more wouldn't hurt it any. I fired a couple of boxes through it and then sat it aside. Shot great, but I prefer the bigger, blockier, easier to see adjustable sights for range use."

And this is how he acquired this 520.

April 28th, 2012

"I bought mine in 1981. Actually, I traded an as-new Model 39-2, which I had $85.00 in, for the -520. The -520 was for sale in a local shop for $250.00, but as a newly married home owner, I was cash-poor. While eyeballing the 520, another customer asked the dealer if he had a Model 39, which the dealer didn't. I followed the customer out of the shop, proposed a trade, and we met back near there the next day and swapped.

It is interesting that when S&W released these for retail sale, they were slow movers, untill they were gone. Then, suddenly, everybody wanted one!

I have shot a few boxes through mine. It shoots like an N frame .357 Magnum. To me, it shoots like a Model 28 with lousy sights! I prefer the bigger, blockier, easier-to-see adjustable sights on a S&W of any substantial size. I like a 4 inch Model 57 more than my Model 58, as another example.

It's good S&W has made so much variety, because we all prefer different things."

Knowing my brother's user name has enabled me to learn quite a bit about several of my guns.

 

[rubiranch]

I’ve got a 520 myself. 95% at least but no box and with its factory PC Magnas. After finding a 58 and deciding the N frame with fixed sights made for a pretty neat package I searched for a 520 adding it last year for the princely sum of $750.

I haven't shot my 520 but I LOVE shooting my 58.

I have no idea what these's 520s are worth these days. I hope you got a good deal.

 

[rubiranch]

Do 4" M28s have fixed sights??

 

[THEmodelof1989]

This is a copy of my brother's post that he posted here in the forum back on Oct 12th 2001.

"My M-520 had 2 rounds fired through it by the original owner. One into the ground to see if it worked and then one through his noggin. His family had a gunshop sell it on consignment when they got it back from the sheriffs office. I traded a Model 39 for it. Later, when I got hired by the same sheriffs office, I talked to the investigator and then pulled a copy of the report.

I figured that since it had already been fired, shooting it some more wouldn't hurt it any. I fired a couple of boxes through it and then sat it aside. Shot great, but I prefer the bigger, blockier, easier to see adjustable sights for range use."

And this is how he acquired this 520.

April 28th, 2012

"I bought mine in 1981. Actually, I traded an as-new Model 39-2, which I had $85.00 in, for the -520. The -520 was for sale in a local shop for $250.00, but as a newly married home owner, I was cash-poor. While eyeballing the 520, another customer asked the dealer if he had a Model 39, which the dealer didn't. I followed the customer out of the shop, proposed a trade, and we met back near there the next day and swapped.

It is interesting that when S&W released these for retail sale, they were slow movers, untill they were gone. Then, suddenly, everybody wanted one!

I have shot a few boxes through mine. It shoots like an N frame .357 Magnum. To me, it shoots like a Model 28 with lousy sights! I prefer the bigger, blockier, easier-to-see adjustable sights on a S&W of any substantial size. I like a 4 inch Model 57 more than my Model 58, as another example.

It's good S&W has made so much variety, because we all prefer different things."

Knowing my brother's user name has enabled me to learn quite a bit about several of my guns.

That's definitely reasonable.

 

[TTSH]

How much were they going for back when they were new??

I don't have the original (August 1980) sales receipt in my firearm records binder. I do have the MA registration record, but that doesn't include what I paid for it. If I've still got the original sales receipt, it's either in the box or it's buried in my old household receipts never to be seen again.

Best I can tell you is the insurance value I assigned to it in late-February 1982: $295.00. That's either what I paid for it or I added a couple years of early-1980's hyper-inflation to what I paid for it. After 40 years, I can't remember.

 

[TTSH]

The -520 was for sale in a local shop for $250.00, but as a newly married home owner, I was cash-poor.

That sounds about right to me. Add some sales tax and early-80's inflation to that and it could easily explain my assigned insurance value.

 

[rubiranch]

If I've still got the original sales receipt, it's either in the box or it's buried in my old household receipts never to be seen again.

I can relate to that.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[LPD256]

Do 4" M28s have fixed sights??

28’s have adjustable sights.

 

[rubiranch]

28’s have adjustable sights.

Thanks. My 28-2 does but I wasn't sure about the early ones.

I think I would be more interested in a 4" 28 of they were fixed to go with my 58 and 520.

 

[UncleEd]

Thanks. My 28-2 does but I wasn't sure about the early ones.

I think I would be more interested in a 4" 28 of they were fixed to go with my 58 and 520.

Seek a Heavy Duty .38/44, an N-frame developed
originally for hot .38 Specials back in the 1930s.
Production continued after WWII for a time.

 

[LPD256]

Seek a Heavy Duty .38/44, an N-frame developed
originally for hot .38 Specials back in the 1930s.
Production continued after WWII for a time.

Here’s what they are Kenny. 1954 38/44 Heavy Duty. 4 inch barrel and fixed sights.

 

[delcrossv]

Here's my 520. They're fun to shoot, much more so than a K framed .357

 

[Flattop5]

[Humor]

As Moe from the 3 Stooges: "Ohhh, workin' a racket, are ya? Tryin' to find out my guns and then steal 'em, ehhh? Whyyy, I oughta...(*slap!*)...(*bonk!*)...(*whap!*)...(*poke!*)...(*smack!*)...(*eye gouge!*)...

[/Humor]


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[rubiranch]

Thanks UncleEd and LPD256.

Then I'd have to buy more ammo.