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Recently, I looked at a 52 B sporter that a guy has decided to sell. He says that he bought the gun new back in the late 40’s or early 50’s and has been its only owner. He says he special ordered it with nickel trim and it has a nickeled trigger guard, buttplate, sling swivels, and bolt handle. I didn’t get any photos of it and I’m going to look at it again soon. So, is it possible he ordered this way and, if yes, what would you look for to make sure it was legit? The plating looks quite proper and the marking on the trigger guard is sharp and clear.
Was this fellow in his mid 90s ? If not, he was not being truthful to you about when he ordered it! Assuming it was ordered and purchased in 1948 (late 1940s), that was 70-years ago! Even if the fellow was a young man when he purchased it, that would make him 90 years old today!!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Yes, his age matches the story. I believe he is telling the truth as he remembers it.
sb said
I believe he is telling the truth as he remembers it.
Oh brother, what a myriad of distortions, conflations, fantasies, falls into that category! Even in Junior High, I was always most interested in old, not new, things, and constantly questioning “old timers” about guns, cars, etc., of the distant past. Some of what I heard was accurate, but what a raft of BS went with it, as I later discovered through reading & research! By BS I don’t mean deliberate falsehoods, just faulty recollections.
clarence said
sb said
I believe he is telling the truth as he remembers it.Oh brother, what a myriad of distortions, conflations, fantasies, falls into that category! Even in Junior High, I was always most interested in old, not new, things, and constantly questioning “old timers” about guns, cars, etc., of the distant past. Some of what I heard was accurate, but what a raft of BS went with it, as I later discovered through reading & research! By BS I don’t mean deliberate falsehoods, just faulty recollections.
And, so the reason for my question….
According to this 1940 ad, at least, you could order with “Nickel plated trimmings”, for an extra $5.60. If you wanted full nickel plating (presumably including the barrel & action) it cost $8.35; not a trivial amount for a rifle that cost $89.30.
In fact, you could also order with SILVER or GOLD plated trimmings, with “Prices on application”! I’ve never heard of one of those, but presumably they exist.
Looks like you might well have found a rare gem. One that is also backed up with first hand evidence, which makes for a whale of a story to boot! Should it turn out to be what it looks to be, have the old boy describe all of the details in writing and have it notarized. Keep us posted please.
One of my uncles and his wife owned a small country store in the very small community of Rose City, Texas, between Beaumont and Vidor back in the 40s and 50s. He also had a rack of Winchesters behind the counter. The vast majority of his business might well have came from special orders rather than from those in stock.
James
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