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I have a pristene model 52 heavy barrel speedlock, serial 35099. It came with Redfield (patent pending) sights–as best as I can determine a 100A rear and a 60 series globe front. The rifle also carries a 10 power Unertl target scope, serial 19021, complete with Unertl adjustable mounts. The gun is in perfect shape as the original owner built a wonderful kit box for it and apparently always kept it in the box and probably shot it very little as the wood and metal is completely original and unmarred. No wear is detectable anyware. The gun has been fired but looks flat new. My question is very simple. How do you remove the bolt on this gun. I plan to do some serious target shooting this spring and wish to check and clean the bore. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
To remove the bolt, pull and hold the trigger back, and cock it and the bolt will come out. You have a pre "A" rifle, also known as a Speedlock, made late 1934. The bolt will be numbered to the rifle.
This was the last of the pre "A"s. Magazine should be a 2 rib, marked with the 1919 patent date. Your sights are very unusual, but are correct for this rifle. Most have a Lyman 17-G front and either a Lyman 48J rear or the standard Winchester 82-A. Many combos of sights were used. Cannot tell you the mfg. date of a Unertl. Lymans records are available. Big Larry
Hi Bill. If you have any more questions about your rifle feel free to contact me. I have two exactly like yours. Different sights. Big Larry
The biggest problem with these early 52’s is that the blueing is prone to flaking. Just thought I’d warn you since you plan on using it for some heavy shooting as you stated. If you start looking you will find very few in the condition as your gun in this era. Believe me-I am a collector of 52’s and see several of these early guns(also have several) and seldom come across one that hasn’t flaked(bluing turns brown) alot.
What is amazing about this gun is its’ overall condition. The wood and metal are about 99 plus percent condition. As i mentioned in my earlier post, the original owner must have built and used his kit box from day one. I have never seen a target rifle that had been used in this good of condition, particularly from a time that the bluing might flake, even from non use. For those of you that may question my superlatives about this rifle, it is all original and no part has been refinished. I still plan to shoot it, but will carry it back and forth to my back yard range in the kit box. Thanks again for the comments and help. Bill
My two rifles from this era are near mint as well. One is also a good 99%. With what folks paid for these during the depression, I would think they took real good care of them. Big Larry
I have serial #39500 a rifle in perfect condition and the number shows up in Houzes’s book as the last rifle made on 1/10/36.
reddogge said
I have serial #39500 a rifle in perfect condition and the number shows up in Houzes’s book as the last rifle made on 1/10/36.
Would that be a M52-A? I have # 41452-A PR date, 5-4-1936. It is a 99%er. Big Larry
39500 should be an "unstamped" "A" model, i.e. "A" revision but no "A" suffix. The earliest stamped "A" model I have record of is 39735A, and it is a bit of an anomaly, most stamped "A’s" are 40XXX or higher.
Steve
Hi, back again concerning my 52 speedlock. Used Larry’s instruction–pulled the trigger and held it back, lifted the bolt and pulled to the rear and….it stopped. Would not come out. What am I doing wrong? Thanks, Bill
You have to pull trigger back far enough to drop sear, not just enough to fire rifle. This should do the trick.
Steve
I think I am going to have to remove the stock as holding the trigger back as far as it goes still does not let me remove the bolt. What else might it be? Thanks for your continued advice and help. I have had this gun in its’ case for 15 years and never used it . Do not wish to damage anything.
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