Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester .22 Rim Fire

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 wonderful...

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

drice0517 on Increase Value for First Year Models..?

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:17:27 +0000

Thank you Bert..!

Jeremy P on Model 52

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 19:46:30 +0000

I quite like that rifle, lucky "13" alone would have sold me on it!

I would try a glue stick tip, melt it and stick it to the lyman tube and see if you can pull it out.

Bert H. on Increase Value for First Year Models..?

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:34:35 +0000

With a high production model (like the 9422), "first-year" has little to no effect on the value (though many gun dealers will try to convince you otherwise). Now, if the serial number was inside the first 100 rifles made, then Yes, there would be a moderate value premium.

Bert

Bert H. on Looking for Serialnumber on a .22 Thumb trigger

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:04:31 +0000

JWA said
Hi Goatkeeper,
Keep the rifle as is! Bluing it will de-value it (and not make it shoot any better).
We can narrow the date of manufacture down even further with a bit more information. Whether it has the WP in an oval proof mark in front of the breach on top of the barrel or not.
Based on your roll-marking (with the Feb. 1905 patent date and lack of Ex. Long chambering) your rifle was made between: March 1905 – June 1908 if it does NOT have the proof marking and July 1908 – 1914 if it DOES have the proof marking.
It is what I call a "Variation 21" (no proof mark) or "Variation 22" (with proof mark) in my notes.
Best Regards,

I knew there was a good reason we keep you around!

Bert

Blue Ridge Parson on Model 52

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:56:57 +0000

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

seewin on Model 52

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:53:26 +0000

That's a very nice rifle with a host of custom touches. I like it.

Steve

MFoster on Model 52

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:13:40 +0000

Not the best pics but will have to do for now. I was surprised to find the sight inserts in the trap on the buttstock, however they seem to be stuck currently.

MFoster on Model 52

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:11:32 +0000

MFoster on Model 52

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:09:47 +0000

MFoster on Model 52

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:08:03 +0000

MFoster on Model 52

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:06:19 +0000

MFoster on Model 52

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:44:38 +0000

Attempting to load pics but not sure how well that going currently. Standby

JWA on Looking for Serialnumber on a .22 Thumb trigger

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:40:21 +0000

Hi Goatkeeper,

Keep the rifle as is! Bluing it will de-value it (and not make it shoot any better).

We can narrow the date of manufacture down even further with a bit more information. Whether it has the WP in an oval proof mark in front of the breach on top of the barrel or not.

Based on your roll-marking (with the Feb. 1905 patent date and lack of Ex. Long chambering) your rifle was made between: March 1905 – June 1908 if it does NOT have the proof marking and July 1908 – 1914 if it DOES have the proof marking.

It is what I call a "Variation 2¹" (no proof mark) or "Variation 2²" (with proof mark) in my notes.

Best Regards,