S&W 520 Question NYSP

[jbcap]

The story on the 520 was told to me a few years back by a retired NY Trooper.

When Smith sent the evaluation models, before shipping the actual full run, several NYSP members were tasked with running the new guns through the paces.

As told to me, this is not the gospel, mind you, the evaluation was done in Troop G, Loudonville, NY. The major who was in charge couldn't hit a barn if he was standing inside it.

As he was a senior trooper, he raised enough of a stink over the lack of adjustable sights that the order was cancelled.

I have no idea which ammo they used for the testing or many of the other details.

Thought I would pass this on.

This is probable an old tale, as the NYSP ordered the model 520 and changed the order and adopted the newly released stainless L-frame Model 681 instead. Both guns were fixed sighted 357 mag.

The model 520s came with grips that didn't match the gun, common place, my model 520 doesn't match either. Congrats on a nice find. Joe

 

[BCDWYO]

I bought an unfired 520 earlier this year and love it...haven't been able to bring myself to shoot it yet (my ONLY true safe queen) but I probably will eventually. I agree with other posters in that my other fixed sight Smiths (13, 65, 581, 681, 10, and 58) have all been very accurate. I do have a question regarding the 520 though...a previous poster mentioned (and I've read before) that the 520 is "a fixed site model 27". But based on its matte finish and lack of checkering shouldn't it more accurately be considered a "fixed sight model 28"? Just curious as to others opinions (trivial semantics I know!)

 

[Aircrewman]

Actually, I believe, the 520 is the final version of the old, classic model 20, Heavy Duty, which was originally a .38 spl. and, in the model520, was produced in 357 mag as specified by the New York State Police. It isn't a Military and Police as it has the underlug for the ejector rod as did the Heavy Duty/Model 20. I think the #5 was Smith and Wesson's designation of blue steel in the new model numbering system which came out in the new numbering system after stainless and aluminum models became more numerous and became separate models in their own right. I don't think it ever was or could not be considered a fixed sight model 28 or 27.

 

[BCDWYO]

Actually, I believe, the 520 is the final version of the old, classic model 20, Heavy Duty, which was originally a .38 spl. and, in the model520, was produced in 357 mag as specified by the New York State Police. It isn't a Military and Police as it has the underlug for the ejector rod as did the Heavy Duty/Model 20. I think the #5 was Smith and Wesson's designation of blue steel in the new model numbering system which came out in the new numbering system after stainless and aluminum models became more numerous and became separate models in their own right. I don't think it ever was or could not be considered a fixed sight model 28 or 27.

Thanks for the clarification. That makes more sense!