Log In
February 24, 2024
Offline
Good afternoon all,
I’ve been on the hunt for a nice example of a 52C Sporting rifle for some time. I don’t get the opportunity to travel to the big shows so am limited to the local shops and internet. The link below seems to show a fine example. I would very much appreciate the opinion of those with greater knowledge than myself. It appears to be all correct complete with swivels.
As a side note I have the 52A and B as well as the 75 and 75 Sporting rifles that I enjoy shooting regularly.
winchester-model-52b-sporting-bolt-action-rifle-w-lyman-peep-mfd-1953-exceptional
March 31, 2009
Offline
I am not the expert on Model 52’s but this website has a LOT of parts for sale.
December 9, 2002
Offline
They are a stand up outfit, and the pictures, look pretty clean, and a nice looking, crisp specimen, to me!
According to the WACA Forum site, here, mfg. year is 1952, not 1953. Not a big deal. IMO! Even though this rifle was mfg. at the end of the, “B” , production era, and during the beginning of the, “C” , production era, as a short overlapping period, during those years. It’s a nice example, and in very nice condition, with very few honest looking marks, on it. It would be nice to verify the stamped marks under the barrel, and on the hidden underside of the barrel, and the inside of the wood stock.
Nothing sticks out to me as far as a red flag, but I don’t consider myself an expert on these either, as much as I do a few others here on this Forum.
Steve, (seewin), and, BRP, and JWA, to name a few, have a lot of experience and their knowledge is second to none on the model 52’s! IMO!
Serial number #76907 B, is between the serial numbers that seewin, has in his survey, according to the model B sporting rifle. (45775B-84338B That would be an important factor to me.
You’ll always get different opinions on the dollar value, and or the asking price, but that’s to be expected, also!
Anthony
June 1, 2023
Offline
I see a couple of red flags on that 52-B Sporting rifle.
The butt plate, which always shows some wear, even on the most pristine specimens, has 100% bluing on it. That is odd.
Second, I see bluing at the bottom of old nicks and pits in the steel, which makes me wonder if that rifle has been re-blued. It was a pretty good job, but I don’t believe that’s the original finish. The price is pretty much top of the market for a post-war 52-B Sporter, the most common of the 52 Sporting rifles by far. I would look for one without the issues, if I were in the market for one.
BRP
December 9, 2002
Offline
BRP,
You’re eyes and experience here has surely got me on this one!
Are you referring to the small nick in the barrel on the right side showing the front Sling Swivel?
I didn’t pick up on the butt stock plate either!
Anthony
June 1, 2023
Offline
The spots I see are in pic # 15 and # 18, behind the breech bolt, and on the right side of the barrel.
BRP
December 9, 2002
Offline
Looking closer now, as you’ve stated, I have to agree with you, but I’m also not afraid to admit, that I was fooled for the most part!
I did notice the nick in the barrel, in #18, that had my attention, without zooming in, and in #15, I noticed the finish behind the breach bolt as you stated, but, brushed past it, and didn’t zoom in either, as I should have!
If this was an all original, and completely untouched up, or cleaned up rifle, I wouldn’t have had a problem paying that for it, to be completely honest! I was refraining from using the phrase, refinished!
Anthony
March 12, 2008
Offline
I believe it has been redone. This is based on the light colored stock finish with darker checkering panels, along with the general finish on the metal with doesn’t match up with Winchesters polishing grain and overall finish. The screw heads have been over polished compared to Winchester procedure. The bolt handle has definitely been reblued due to the fact that the rear of the bolt handle was left blued instead of being ground and left in the white when adjusting headspace as was the procedure at Winchester. The grain of the polishing at the muzzle looks wrong to me as well based on the pictures as does the triggerguard. As BRP mentioned previously, the buttplate is way too shiny as are the screws attaching it. Also, the nicks and pits under the blue surface would have never passed Winchester muster. The roll stamping looks slightly washed out in areas and the proofmarks look too flat for my liking. I do believe the it is an original rifle and would bet the barrel date is 52 due to the rollstamping on the barrel being the later 52C style which was used on the very late B’s as well.
Steve
March 12, 2008
Offline
I forgot to mention that the Micromotion trigger tag is not correct for this rifle. The B’s did not have Micromotion triggers, and the parts of the B trigger were not hard chrome plated and hand honed. This is the tag for a 52C.
Steve
February 24, 2024
Offline
Thanks very much everyone for weighing in on this. It’s always good to have another set of eyes on a rifle that one wants to be correct. I would much prefer to have an honest gun. Having been burned by a big name dealer in the past I’m ever wary.
January 20, 2023
Offline
This is probably kicking a corpse but does anybody else think the sight hood is way too low to be a #3279/BH? I can’t see under the hood but shouldn’t it have a Redfield #255 Full Gold Bead?
And as Steve has already pointed out, the trigger tag is for a C. You can tell by looking at the floorplate there’s no trigger adjustment holes. The C floorplate had to omit “Sporting” to make room for the Micro Motion trigger adjustment holes and labels. Somebody didn’t do his homework.
The Web-based firearms business looks and smells more and more like the bazaars of ancient Persia: a World of beautiful things that aren’t exactly what they seem. “Feel the texture of this Isfahan, Honored Sir…..and for you it is on sale for 40 gherkins. But you must act quickly, before my master returns…”
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
December 9, 2002
Offline
Chuck said
I am not the expert on Model 52’s but this website has a LOT of parts for sale.
A lot of wisdom here in this post, as is, this whole thread. IMO!
I have learned a lot from this thread, and will remember it for a long time.
Besides, BRP, knowledge and shared opinion, pointing out some things that I rushed through, in my haste full quick evaluation. Seewin’s, shared knowledge, that is always educational, and a great learning tool for me, pointed out a few other things that I overlooked.
These Gentlemen are experts in this field, and have looked at far more model 52’s than we can possibly dream about! IMO!
Thank You for the Tutorial! 
Anthony
