Model 52|Page 2|Winchester .22 Rim Fire|Forum|Winchester Collector

Thanks for the added clarification Steve. The pictures always help to illustrate the referencing of the problem, and it this case it does so tremendously.

Tony

That’s a neat old 52.  The “Patent Applied For” marking is one you seldom see.  I also tip my hat to the craftsman who altered the (later era) Winchester butt plate by creating a trap door.  The A-5 scope looks to be in excellent shape.  Nice find!

BRP

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

Mike

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

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. 

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

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.