Here’s three you don’t see every day. All three with close serial numbers. All three have the special round top receivers. All three have right side mounted Lyman 48-T’s. One has a Nickel steel bbl., one has an early pre proof steel bbl., and the other has a later Winchester Proof Steel bbl. These are quite scarce. The special round top receivers are NOT sporter receivers. Two are heavy bbls. and one is a standard bbl. Anyway, something to ponder on a slow Forum. Big Larry
clarence said
Why were they made that way?
I don’t know my friend. They didn’t do it very long either. No mention in any books about the right side mounted Lyman 48-T. There are left side 48-T’s as well. All the right side sights I have seen were round top, very early 30’s rifles. The pride of my M52 collection is the one with the nickel steel heavy bbl. with the round top. I have seen many stainless rifles, but not one other M52 in nickel steel. Early rifles were subject to special order and I am sure these three qualify. Big Larry
November 7, 2015

Cool! Can’t wait to get home for a better look.
Big Larry said
I don’t know my friend. They didn’t do it very long either. No mention in any books about the right side mounted Lyman 48-T. There are left side 48-T’s as well. All the right side sights I have seen were round top, very early 30’s rifles. The pride of my M52 collection is the one with the nickel steel heavy bbl. with the round top. I have seen many stainless rifles, but not one other M52 in nickel steel. Early rifles were subject to special order and I am sure these three qualify. Big Larry
I agree, likely a special order. The catalogued version Nickel Steel barrel (with the 82A rear sight) was only offered from 1931-1933. The elimination of the 82A milled flat was a special order feature and would likely be automatically combined with a special rear sight such as the 48-T.
That is a great set of close vintage rifles that illustrates the diversity of the Model 52. To put it in perspective, there are at least 48 different catalog numbers for the Model 52, that is almost as many as the entire list of Model 94 catalog numbers (52) that Bert recently posted. I am still researching the 52 catalog numbers so there may actually even be a few more that I haven’t found yet.
Thanks for the pictures.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
I agree, likely a special order. The catalogued version Nickel Steel barrel (with the 82A rear sight) was only offered from 1931-1933. The elimination of the 82A milled flat was a special order feature and would likely be automatically combined with a special rear sight such as the 48-T.
That is a great set of close vintage rifles that illustrates the diversity of the Model 52. To put it in perspective, there are at least 48 different catalog numbers for the Model 52, that is almost as many as the entire list of Model 94 catalog numbers (52) that Bert recently posted. I am still researching the 52 catalog numbers so there may actually even be a few more that I haven’t found yet.
Thanks for the pictures.
Best Regards,
I stopped collecting the M52’s a while back. I sold off all my standard bbl. models with the exception of a 1926 Stainless and a 1927 standard model that came with a Winchester A5 scope attached. May be factory, maybe not, but it is the correct scope for the period. Sold my M52-D as well. Cannot seem to get up the energy to sell anymore. I have several real nice M52’s of all types, but I cannot seem to divest myself of them. I was shooting them until my M40X blew them all into the water. I have “B” and “C” BULLGUNS, and they cannot shoot with the Remington 40X HB. Big Larry
My favorite 52D outshoots my HB 40XB so I really think it is up to the individual rifle and shooter.
Ford vs Chevy.
For an interesting test we should swap 40XB’s and see how mine shoots against your bull gun and vice-versa.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
November 7, 2015

I need to work on that loose nut behind the butt, my 75 easily outshoots me so no hurry finding a 52.
JWA said
My favorite 52D outshoots my HB 40XB so I really think it is up to the individual rifle and shooter.Ford vs Chevy.
For an interesting test we should swap 40XB’s and see how mine shoots against your bull gun and vice-versa.
Best Regards,
Jeff, I have owned more than 20 M52’s of all types. I have shot them with Red Box Eley, benched at 100 yards and best score ever was 100X9X for 10 shots. My 40XB is a US marked heavy bbl. from the CMP. Twice it has fired 100X10X possible. Good STS 15X scope on all. No, I am not an expert shot. I leave that up to my buddy in Birmingham who is double distinguished. Not a great shot all my life, but better than a lot of folks. Some day, bring your rifles here and we will go to my private 100 yard range just up the hill from here. Solid bench and seats with overhang. Nice setup. Rock solid. Big Larry
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