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September 16, 2025
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Looking for information on a model 52, serial number 13. 28 inch barrel, barrel stamped patent applied for as well as 22 long R. Has an a-5 scope mounted as well as hooded front sight and ladder type rear sight. Has a deluxe walnut stock with checked pistol grip and forend. Has a horn pistol grip and schnabel forend and a Winchester steel buttplate with trap. Comb has been modified to raise the cheek, the addition matches very well to the stock. Optics are clear and bore is excellent.
July 3, 2020
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Pics are important…
September 16, 2025
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Ben said
Pics are important…
Yeah I know, unfortunately I don’t have the rifle in possession just yet. I have contacted the Cody museum about the rifle and they stated they don’t have records on the early 52’s. When I mentioned the rifle has the a-5 scope, deluxe stock checkering ect the individual I was speaking with stated those were unusual additions and gave me an email to someone who may be able to provide some info. I haven’t contacted that person yet, waiting to get possession so I can take photos. I am looking to see if anyone here would know how best to tell if the additions that are on the rifle could have been factory additions or aftermarket. I do know that the first 12 rifles were given to the US Dewar Team to compete with at the shooting match in Caldwell New Jersey in August 1919. This would make 13 the next one out of the factory. I have had some speculate that this could have also been an upgraded rifle for a special order or a Winchester executive, but this is just speculation and have not been able to find any evidence to support this claim.
November 7, 2015
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Michael-
There’s a good possibility this rifle has a custom stock, not unusual for a match rifle. Without factory records or provenance this will be what we call a “story” rifle. Wise collectors will advise you to buy the rifle, not the story. Speculation is worth little to a serious collector. OTOH if someone spent the money on a custom stock I’m betting it’s a very good shooter. This may be your best opportunity to chase down or request provenance. What are your plans or expectations for this rifle?
Mike
September 16, 2025
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TXGunNut said
Michael-
There’s a good possibility this rifle has a custom stock, not unusual for a match rifle. Without factory records or provenance this will be what we call a “story” rifle. Wise collectors will advise you to buy the rifle, not the story. Speculation is worth little to a serious collector. OTOH if someone spent the money on a custom stock I’m betting it’s a very good shooter. This may be your best opportunity to chase down or request provenance. What are your plans or expectations for this rifle?
Mike
No expectations, plan to just add it to the collection. The only facts I do have about the rifle are the deluxe stock, scope etc. The rifle unfortunately doesn’t have a passed down story, or any additional information attached to this rifle.
July 3, 2020
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If it does turn out to be serial number 13, it should be able to be traced. Seewin (resident 52 guru & all around good guy) should be along shortly to fill in the blanks. JWA is also well versed in these as well. My 2 cents… as long as the barreled action hasn’t been modified, cut, re-blued or violated in some nefarious way, pursue it.. don’t hesitate…get your wallet out and buy it. Congratultions in advance… we still want pics… Cheers. Ben
September 16, 2025
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Ben said
If it does turn out to be serial number 13, it should be able to be traced. Seewin (resident 52 guru & all around good guy) should be along shortly to fill in the blanks. JWA is also well versed in these as well. My 2 cents… as long as the barreled action hasn’t been modified, cut, re-blued or violated in some nefarious way, pursue it.. don’t hesitate…get your wallet out and buy it. Congratultions in advance… we still want pics… Cheers. Ben
It has been purchased, awaiting its arrival. I will post pics and look for any advice to try to figure out the history of the rifle.
July 3, 2020
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I’m always looking for unique Winchester 52’s…
Here’s a Griffin & Howe custom and another custom from the 1930’s… they have been previously discussed in this forum, but I still can’t believe I own them… 🙂
January 20, 2023
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Ben,
That G&H is about as high class as a custom 52 can get. What they could do with a barreled action – of anything — put Holland and Purdey in the shade. That long forearm they favor is distinctive and says Griffin & Howe from across the room.
If G&H had stocked a Snake Charmer, I’d buy it sight unseen (if I weren’t already gun-poor.)
The feather crotch Black Walnut on the other rifle is very impressive, too. That kind of American stump is getting mighty seldom.
The price you take in these two pieces is fully justified.
Bill
If you don’t give that G&H range time at least twice a year, the ghost of James Howe may pay you an evening visit. If you ever smell cutting oil and carbon black in the night, that’s a warning.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
December 9, 2002
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I’m enjoying this thread post as I’m sure others are and can’t wait to see pictures of the OP’s rifle, that he’s waiting on. Documentation is everything, in this World of collecting. In many cases the M-52 is a little harder to document, based on what Cody told the OP!
Calling the person Cody referenced to verify, will certainly help determine what he’s about to acquire. IMO Pretty sure we know who the party is, as I have an idea myself, thinking they recommended someone who frequents here on occasion. There isn’t a larger more knowledgeable group anywhere in the World, better than this WACA Forum, to try to honestly distinguish, the factual manufacturing of a Winchester Rifle.
Ben,
You’re Custom M-53 G.& H. Rifle, is phenomenal. We never get tired of seeing it. Refresh my memory please. Did that come with G. & H. Documentation?
I’m in agreement with Bill on his statements about, that top notch outfit!
Thanks again for sharing it.
Purely Speculation, and some thoughts.
If serial number #13, M-52 was pulled and possibly made into a custom rifle, and probably not gone to the Caldwell, New Jersey Competition, with the U.S. Dewar Shooting Team. One would think that it was pulled and set aside for a reason, and or a special assignment. With few details, waiting on pics. and more information, the Schnabel forend, and horn pistol grip, butt plate with a trap door in it, are most certainly possible, but by who is naturally the question. Who D/T it for the a-5 scope? The checkered stock work, with the raised comb and possible added parts to do so, are not uncommon in some later M-52 rifles. This one could possibly be the first M-52 with many firsts on it, including the Schnabel forend we see on other manufactured rifles of the time period.
The first 12 rifles off of the assembly line we’re no where anything like what is described here in this specimen, as they we’re all target versions of the first M-52 rifles. The G22R samples used at Caldwell we’re a hit, as that’s no secret.
We know “when it comes to Winchester we never say never”, but this one has me curiously wondering. I’m certainly looking forward to hearing more about this and the verifying information that hopefully will accompany it
Tony
March 12, 2008
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I only have the auction pictures to look at, but I am certain the stock is custom on the rifle. The barrel band is not a Winchester piece and looks to be a custom part. The stock does not have the production finger groove down the forearm sides, and the checkering does not look like any Winchester pattern I have seen. The factory production butt plate should be relatively flat with a slight radius formed in it to match the curvature of the stock and a horizontal lined pattern stamped in the center between the mounting screws. The butt plate on your rifle appears to be the same part used on later model 54’s, 70’s and some earlier lever actions. There were no pictures of the pistol grip cap, so I cannot comment on that. In my opinion it is all original except for the stock and possibly the scope blocks on the barrel. These early rifles typically were not drilled/tapped for scope blocks. You will note when you receive your rifle that the rear scope block is mounted over the barrel proofmark. Both proofmarks on the early 52’s were on the top of receiver and barrel. When they started factory drilling/ tapping for scope blocks, the proofs were relocated to the familiar location on the left hand side. Your rifle also still has the original magazine which had no stampings on the bottom plate. These are very scarce and seldom stay with the rifle over the years. One more oddity to note on your rifle is the fact there is no “MODEL 52” included in the barrel roll stamp. These barrels were the same barrel used on the low wall single shot muskets, with the exception of the barrel tenon dimensions. My #12 is roll stamped the same way, while #24 has the “MODEL 52” included in the barrel roll stamp.
Steve
January 20, 2023
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Hi, Steve. Glad to see you are still eating well and in good coat.
BILL
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
