Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester .22 Rim Fire

Anthony on Model 52

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:53:14 +0000

I'm in agreement with the above comments, as it's important that you use the right screw drivers, or "turn screws", as an ole' time terminology. You stated that you we're a little nervous doing the work to be done, in removing the stock. There's nothing wrong with that. Setting up properly at a comfortable uncluttered area, bench or table is important. Everything must be stable and no slipping and sliding around. Securing the rifle in the proper rifle/gun vise is very helpful, after the Bolt and magazine are removed, as Steve has indicated. Padding the bottom of the vise with a towel or cloth that will only help, from scratching or adding any dents or unwanted marks, is always a good idea.

Carefully cleaning out the slots in the screws of dirt and grime that could hinder good screwdriver blade fit, can also be important. A lot of times a light tapping on the end of the bit, on the two piece screwdriver, can really help to loosen the screw, without marring it or beating up the top of the screw. As Zeb suggested, Kroil, setting overnight in the screws to be removed works wonders. If it they get messed up, you'll wish you'd taken even more precautions.

Many of us are looking forward to you're pics of the inside of the barrel channel of the wood stock, the underside of the barrel stamps, and even the inside of that custom worked butt plate. In many cases these stamps and marking can be facing different directions, so several different pics will help.

With the wood being custom made, and the front barrel band not being Winchester made, I agree with Steve's recommendation, on the front sling swivel, taking the place of the front screw, and holding the front of the stock on. A light tapping with the heal of you're hand in all likelihood will release the wood stock, as you're careful to remove it and not force anything.

After you remove the butt plate, try to be careful trying to get the metal sight tin out of the storage hole, compartment, as that seems to be made special for that, and scratching the tin, would be a casualty to avoid also. Don't try to pry the thin, tin sides of the sight tin, as it will scratch and or cave in, making it even harder to remove. Even some strong, yet cheap Harbor Freight Earth magnets that are small enough, yet extremely strong enough to help remove the metal tin, from it's hold.

Tony

Anthony on Winchester Thumb Trigger

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:30:52 +0000

I'm in agreement with the previous gentlemen. It's hard enough to find a thumb trigger, let alone one in much better condition. I have passed on a couple reconditioned examples over the years, only to accumulate a few original which have character as yours does!

I also like you're pictures!

Thanks for sharing.

Tony

Ben on Winchester Thumb Trigger

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:11:11 +0000

Your rifles have character... I'm not a big fan of some of the "restorations" being done, but that's me. I can just imagine the stories that they could tell... cheers! Ben

JWA on Winchester Thumb Trigger

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:08:23 +0000

Nice, great pictures Goatkeeper!

Thanks for sharing.

Best Regards,

Goatkeeper on Winchester Thumb Trigger

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:59:16 +0000

I recently bought a Thumb Trigger. The blueing is mostly gone, and there was a lot of lead in the barrel. Also, I decided not to refurbish the blueing.

Anyway, it is cleaned and test fired with RWM „.22 Z Long“ ammunition and did great.

It is kind of an odd rifle, but it settles in well with my other older Winchester rifles…

seewin on Model 52

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:22:31 +0000

There should only be 2 screws to remove. The front action screw is just in front of the of magazine at the front end of the trigger guards. The second screw should be the barrel band screw. Based on pictures, it appears that the front swivel acts as both a swivel and also the attaching screw for the barrel band. Remove the magazine and bolt prior to removing stock. I would look at the stampings on the bottom side of the barrel just in front of the receiver. There will be possible inspection stamps and maybe a barrel date. Look also in the barrel channel of the stock for possible stampings, as well as under the butt plate. If not too much of a problem please take a picture of what is stamped on the bottom side of the barrel.

Steve

Zebulon on Model 52

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:01:56 +0000

Even Proto or SnapOn mechanics' screwdrivers are not suited for gunsmithing. Their tips have tapered sides. If you don't have a set of gunsmithing screwdrivers, get a set before doing anything else. The tips have parallel sides and a selection of thicknesses and widths. Brownell Magna-Tips are the standard. You'll use them a lot, so don't hesitate. And get a set of pin punches while you're at it, although you shouldn't need to remove pins right now. The screws may be frozen so get a small can of Kroil penetrating oil in case you need to loosen a screw. Take your time. Leave a Kroil treated screw overnight to work. Beefing down to turn an ancient screw usually results in a buggered screw slot. Let chemistry do the.hard work

If you already have the right tools- or once you get them -- get, borrow or download an exploded drawing of your gun and study it carefully. Then look for a YouTube video on how to disassemble a Model 52. You aren't going to do anything but take the buttplate and the wood off to get a look at what's underneath. No need to go further.

Best thing is to photograph every mark and stamp while the wood is off and anything you see under the buttplate. Then you can reassemble. While the furniture is off you can seal.the unfinished wood of the inletting with wax or shellac.

Post the images here and we'll all take a look.

MFoster on Model 52

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:38:34 +0000

Please let me know best possible ways and precautions to take when removing the action from the stock, makes me a bit nervous to be honest. Also locations to look for markings and clues to help put the story together.

seewin on Model 52

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:04:29 +0000

I always remove the stock and butt plate whether factory stocked or custom. I like to record all the information on the bottom of the barrel and always hope to dig up some markings possibly related to past owners etc.

Steve

MFoster on Model 52

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:44:47 +0000

Thank ya’ll for the comments. I’ll try and take the buttplate off once I get home in a few weeks. Any other advice or thoughts on the rifle please continue to post. I’ll post pictures once the buttplate is removed. Would y’all recommend removing the action to see any stock makers marks or leave it be.

Zebulon on Model 52

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:26:26 +0000

That custom work is first class and it would be foolish and disrespectful to the craftsman to destroy it. The point pattern checkering looks very well done and is typical of the work of Griffin & Howe that I've seen. No blacksmith did this job and I would look very, very carefully with the barreled action out of the stock for evidence of the maker.

Between the World Wars, there were many fine immigrant craftsmen come to the Connecticut River Valley and St. Louis and Chicago, fully capable of doing this level of work and whose names we will never know. But the work speaks for itself.

A Biesen or Brownell or Goens custom model 70 is as "original" as it ever needs to be. So is this Model 52.

TXGunNut on Model 52

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:48:11 +0000

A picture may be worth a thousand words but I can only come up with a few: "Nice, leave it alone!"

Mike

Anthony on Model 52

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 11:15:53 +0000

I'm in agreement with the others, as that sure is a nice specimen. Different in a lot of very interesting ways. Originally when this was posted, and before the OP was able to post pictures of it. I thought it might be a good candidate to remove the custom stock and find a donor rifle, and replace/install an early finger grooved stock on it, like the other early examples. Now that I can see better pics than we're first listed in the Auction, I also like it, and would leave it alone. Maybe time will provide some more details on who did the custom work on this early number #13 model 52.

Thanks for sharing!

Tony

Ben on Model 52

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 04:55:53 +0000

Wonderful! Oh, I can't wait for the rest of the story to be discovered. That trapdoor buttplate is classy... if you do take it off to inspect, please take pics of the mechanism... what auction was it on?

TXGunNut on Model 52

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 02:15:29 +0000

Sight insert tin appears to be hung up on the butt plate; have you tried loosening or removing the butt plate?

Mike