S&W model 520

[47knuckle]

This was a "walk up" to my table at the recent Columbia, SC gun show. First 520 I've seen in person, and the price was reasonable, so I bought it.

Looking it over later, I couldn't help but think about the similarities between it and the model 58's. Two fixed sight, N frame magnums, intended primarily for law enforcement, but neither showed much success toward their intended use.

Other than caliber, I guess the number manufactured is the main difference;
mod 58- 20,000
mod 520- 3000

 

[Ameshawki]

Snagged mine three or four years ago. No box. One of my holy grails. A modern version of the 38/44 Heavy Duty (which I also have). Kind of surprised Smith hasn't made a limited run of these in the Classic series.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The 520 was originally a special order for the New York State Police in 1980. By that time the advantages of adjustable sights for duty guns was well established, the M-58 was intended to be the "service" version of the M-57 which never found the acceptance its advocates expected.

 

[ejjeff]

Congratulations! Beautiful piece of blue steel and wood.

 

[Hair Trigger]

This was a "walk up" to my table at the recent Columbia, SC gun show. First 520 I've seen in person, and the price was reasonable, so I bought it.

Looking it over later, I couldn't help but think about the similarities between it and the model 58's. Two fixed sight, N frame magnums, intended primarily for law enforcement, but neither showed much success toward their intended use.

Other than caliber, I guess the number manufactured is the main difference;
mod 58- 20,000
mod 520- 3000

You and I should form the "Lucky Dog" club, I found one this past weekend after several years of searching, also at a gun show about 45 miles NW of Charlotte. I have a thread here, so I won't post any pics. You actually got the PC magna stocks with yours, mine has standard magna, unintentionally switched by the guy I bought it from, and he's sold the gun they went to. Care to share the SN on yours, let's see how close they are to each other. Mine is N558680. I got a letter along with mine, written by Roy Jinks in 1980; mine shipped on July 10, 1980.

It does bear a little resemblance to a M58, the PC magnas, fixed sights and 4" barrel, but I had a respondent say it looked like a M28 with fixed sights. The bull barrel on the M58 changes the profile up front, but the tapered M520 barrel makes the front sight look more like the ones on adjustable sight guns, due to the higher barrel rib. I have a "S" prefix M58.

Congrats on your find. As for me, I feel like a 5 year-old on Christmas morning with a new Radio Flyer red wagon.

 

[raljr1]

There is one that has been at several local shows here in Jacksonville over the last year. Very nice condition, and I think the asking is around $1600 or so. Just not a point of interest for me.

Robert

 

[JP@AK]

I had a respondent say it looked like a M28 with fixed sights.

That is exactly what it is.

 

[03clyde]

The model 28-2 was not around long as the service gun (1979 -1981) for that agency. It was replaced by the 681 which was in service until 1990.

 

[Birdhunter6]

Beautiful piece. A grail gun for many of us. I've never even SEEN one in person. Thanks for showing.

 

[Masterbuck54]

Great find

Great find!!!
I guess I should pay more attention to what them folks are wandering with at the shows.

I’m surprised he made it to your table before it was purchased but glad it has a good home now.

Masterbuck54

 

[SVT28]

Nice pickup, I once owned one with the original box too. Another member on the forums made a great offer on it one day and couldn’t help but move it along since I didn’t want to shoot it.

Is it just the lighting? Seems that side plate looks a little buffed like the gun has been reblued.

SVT28

 

[Hair Trigger]

That is exactly what it is.

My new to me 520 is shinier than my M28-2, but not by a lot; nowhere near my M27-2. It is also polished where the M28 is a matte finish, like the underside of the trigger guard. Where the heck did S&W come up with "520" for a model number? Given the year it was made, I guess maybe they were in full swing with the new L frame guns and pulled a number designated for one of them? Seems like some 2-digit number would be more appropriate, but I guess they were all taken. It's an odd bird on several accounts, partly why I wanted one.

 

[47knuckle]

SVT28, the picture of the lower side plate seam does look strange, but much better in person
Hair Trigger, my serial is N558183, so we are about 500 apart.

And to Hair Trigger and JP@AK, laying my mod 28 and the 520 side by side, there is no doubt about it, it’s a model 28 with fixed sights.

 

[Ameshawki]

My new to me 520 is shinier than my M28-2, but not by a lot; nowhere near my M27-2. It is also polished where the M28 is a matte finish, like the underside of the trigger guard. Where the heck did S&W come up with "520" for a model number? Given the year it was made, I guess maybe they were in full swing with the new L frame guns and pulled a number designated for one of them? Seems like some 2-digit number would be more appropriate, but I guess they were all taken. It's an odd bird on several accounts, partly why I wanted one.

Model 20 was what the 38/44 morphed into in the new numbering system. 5 stood for blued steel in the three and four digit naming scheme. Hence 520. Then there's the "new" 520 which is a titanium L frame and makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[Ameshawki]

Beautiful piece. A grail gun for many of us. I've never even SEEN one in person. Thanks for showing.

I bought the one and only sample I ever laid eyes on. They turn up on gunbroker from time to time.

 

[Pantherclass2004]

Extremely nice….. bit jealous here

 

[Hair Trigger]

Model 20 was what the 38/44 morphed into in the new numbering system. 5 stood for blued steel in the three and four digit naming scheme. Hence 520.

That makes perfect sense, thanks for the history lesson on this revolver. The letter I have on it starts off saying the M520 is "similar in design to Smith & Wesson's Model 20 .38/44 Heavy Duty Revolver, except it is chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge and has a ribbed fixed barrel."

I was almost as excited to get that letter as I was the gun itself. It's "Pre SWHF", with Dr. Jinks' signature, from 1980. He must have been a teenager back then.

 

[scott1970]

The 520 is my favorite .357 Mag., and I had my shooter 520 at the range today. It's probably the revolver I shoot the most. My other one is the only safe queen I own. My shooter came to me with Pachmayr grips, but I had a pair of cheapo Altamonts lying around.