SOLD - Scarce, Boxed Smith & Wesson Model 520 - Factory Letters & Original Hang Tag

Description

7/20/26 - This is an excellent example of the rare Smith & Wesson Model 520, offered with its two-piece blue Bangor Punta box, original hang tag, factory letters, and an extra 4-inch barrel assembly. The revolver has retained over 98% of its beautiful brushed blue and matte finish, with only a tiny patch of surface oxidation on the left side of the barrel, a tiny spot on the cylinder, and a minor cylinder turn line. Markings are crisp throughout. The smooth S&W medallion rosewood grips are the only notable departure from the standard checkered walnut configuration, but they are minty, well fitted, and each panel is serialized on the reverse. Both bores, including the installed barrel and extra barrel, are mint with no signs of wear. Mechanics are flawless, with perfect timing, tight lockup, and a fantastic trigger in both single and double action.

The Model 520 is one of the most desirable modern Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum variations. It was developed in 1979 for the New York State Police, who were considering a move from K-frame fixed-sight Magnums to a similar large-frame revolver. Smith & Wesson planned a one-time run of roughly 3,000 revolvers, but the NYSP order was never completed, and the guns were released commercially in 1980 rather than becoming a standard cataloged production model. These are especially notable as the only fixed-sight N-frame Smith & Wesson revolvers chambered in .357 Magnum. This example shipped June 11, 1980 to Randy Tarska, a Smith & Wesson employee, and originally shipped with a 4-inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered walnut grips. Tarska later made changes to the revolver’s original configuration according to the letter (though we believe that change was only made to the grips and the additional barrel assembly), and the handwritten box label was added to match the gun, though the opposite side label features a torn NYSP label which we belive to be original to the revolver. A rare, well-documented Model 520 package with employee-shipment provenance, extra barrel, box, hang tag, and paperwork, this is a gorgeous, desirable, and complete package that would be extremely difficult to upgrade.