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Good evening,
I hope this messages finds those who are reading it well. My great uncle Ralph left me a few of his antique firearms recently one of which is a Model 52C, .22 LR “heavy barrel” target rifle. Ralph, a product of the great depression and for better or worse was a collector of all things and an expeller of nothing. Ralph was also very meticulous and cared for all of his rifles with the utmost attention to detail. What is unique about this firearm is that he saved the original shipping crate and scope.
My questions to the forum is what is a collection like this work. From my limited research I have determined that the gun was manufactured in 1956 and my great uncle was the sole owner.
Thank you in advance for your time, comments and posts. If anyone would need or like any additional photos please let me know. I have a link to some google drive photos (please email me and I will send you the link) but I am having difficulty posting the photos into this forum.
Regards,
Andy
Hello Andy,
Just to set things straight, the Winchester Model 52 is not legally an “Antique” firearm. In order for a firearm to legally qualify as “Antique”, the production date must be no later than December 31st, 1898.
Now with that cleared up, your Model 52C is potentially quite valuable. We do need to see pictures of the rifle and the crate & scope. You need to be a registered user on the WACA website to post links and pictures, or better yet, a WACA member. We have several WACA members that are quite knowledgeable about the Model 52.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert,
Thank you so much for the reply! Very interesting about what qualifies a rifle as “antique”.
Please see the link here for photos: here
https://goo.gl/photos/P7u17xmk3FEhXQNr9
Thanks
andy
WOW
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
January 26, 2011
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That’s a great set. The Super-targetspot alone would bring a pretty penny.
~Gary~
Andy, beautiful rifle and scope. I would estimate your rifle w/crate at about $1,500+ and the scope w/box at $600. Does the rifle have any of the original paperwork such as manual, bolt tag etc? How about internal packing materials and original restraining cradles that were used to secure rifle in shipment? Target sights would be a plus also.
These values are retail values and would most likely be somewhat higher at a major auction houses. The downside to these is the high fee’s they charge.
Steve
All,
Thank you for the responses and comments.
Steve,
Thank you for your response. To answer your questions. The rifle does not have any original paperwork (at least none that we have found yet – you can only image the boxes of items we have to go though). The crates does however have all of the original restraining cradles in it, including the green felt used to secure the rifle. Unfortunately the original target sites are not with the rifle just the scope.
Thanks again
Andy
Andy, thanks for the info. Your rifle, which is Winchester’s catalog designation 5255(see end of crate), did not originally come with sights. So it is correct. That said, most were later equipped with sights and thus my question as to whether yours had any additional sights. The reason for the question is that sights can add to overall value of rifle.
Steve
November 7, 2015
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Very nice!
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