Hey guys & gals, Need some information please. The attached pictures are of a model 52E according to a fellow gun lover. He got this passed down to him and is trying to understand what he has and what might be a value. Sorry there isn’t more pictures, but his questions were: Is that stock a factory stock?, (my first impression is No), but I’m not sure. Next question, What should expect this gun to bring?
Andy Kessner
[email protected]
"A Collector of Winchester Rifles"
Member Winchester Arms Collectors Association-7947
Member of Cody Firearms Museum
Member Houston Gun Collector Association
Lifetime Member of the NRA
Lifetime Member of Texas State Rifle Association
Sure it’s an E, last & scarcest of the 52 models, which went into production in 1975, & though I think they’re uglier than sin, they usually bring more than other variants. Speaking of ugly, the stock on this one has few equals, but if it’s the work of a well-known 52 stocker, it might be worth more than an original. Rather than seek “opinions,” check out what they’ve sold for recently on Gunbroker, because as I’m sure you’ve heard, money talks & BS walks. Of course sights & accessories made a BIG difference in value. Suggest you inquire for further info here:
https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=265
It is a mid production 52E model with a custom prone stock. The “E” rifles began production in 1970 and ran up until 1980 when U.S. Repeating arms bought out Winchester, and did not continue with 52 production. This rifle started out as an International Match, International Match barreled action, or possibly even an International Prone model
. I say this because it has the matte blued finish and the IM’s were the only E models with this finish on barrel and receiver. It also has a very desirable Kenyon trigger, which was an option on the IM’s. There were a total of right at 500 International Match 52’s produced. Of that number 310 were equipped with Kenyon triggers, and 188 with the factory Winchester trigger. The other 3 were equipped with the special Kenyon ISU trigger. There were only 37 of the International Prone match rifles manufactured and they have a similar high comb to the one you have pictured, however those were not laminated stocks, and the comb was not as high as the pictured rifle. No way of really knowing what configuration of the 3 it started as, but I would bet it was most like a factory barreled action with Kenyon trigger.
As far as value, original IM’s go for $3K – $5K. I would think this one would be substantially less since the stock is not factory. It looks like a very nice rifle.
Steve
Thanks Steve!
Andy Kessner
[email protected]
"A Collector of Winchester Rifles"
Member Winchester Arms Collectors Association-7947
Member of Cody Firearms Museum
Member Houston Gun Collector Association
Lifetime Member of the NRA
Lifetime Member of Texas State Rifle Association
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