Identify Winchester Model 52 variant

[eldon519]

Hello all,

Is there a way to tell apart Winchester Model 52 variants? I know they have the A, B, C, and D versions. I think the one I have might be one of the original versions. The number on the receiver which I assume to be the serial number is 108XX. It also has a ladder-style rear sight with knobs for windage and elevation.

 

[JohnBT]

108xx puts it around June 2 to June 4, 1927 according to the list in Mr. Houze's Model 52 book. It should have a barrel band, finger grooves, ladder sight and sling swivels.

"Annual Orders for or Sales of Model 52 Rifles" - 1927 = 3053 rifles ordered.

The Speed Lock trigger and semi-beavertail forend weren't put into production until late 1930.

 

[JohnBT]

Fwiw, here's a fun chart from the book.

"Model 52 Accuracy Table"

Ten shot group diameter:

1920 - 3.0"
1924 - 2.5"
1927 - 2.25"
1929 - 2.0"
1932 - 1.75"
1934 - 1.5"
1937 - 1.25"




At 200 yards.

 

[tuj]

I don't believe that. Maybe with match ammo...maybe. I did a lot of playing at 200 yards with a Kimber 82G and a Winne 52C and first off, I think at 200, the Kimber was more accurate. With the 82G and a 36X scope off the bench, we could hold about 5" groups.

This was at 220:

 

[eldon519]

Thanks JohnBT! I inherited it a few years back but had never figured out exactly which it was. It's a great rifle as far as I can tell. Maybe I'll have to give it a try to see if I can live up to those 200yd groups!

 

[JohnBT]

You're welcome.

The 200-yard group table in the book is from 1947 and credited to Merton A. Robinson, a Winchester engineer. Edwin Pugsley, the company president, had asked Merton to make a list of company firsts and the table was one of the things he included in his report.

Whether the groups he listed are an average or an absolute best group for that year's testing is unknown to me, but the steady improvement is fascinating. Robinson was an experienced firearms engineer, not an ad man.



If Merton Robinson's name is familiar, it could be because he was involved in the development of the .357 Magnum. The two names usually mentioned are Robinson and S&W's Philip Sharpe. There were others, too.

"In all, some thirteen different experimental case/bullet combinations were tested. Major contributors to the trials were W.E. Witsel, engineer at Remington; Merton Robinson, engineer at Winchester; L.C. Weldin, engineer from Hercules Powder Co., and Wallace Cox from DuPont. At that time Doug Wesson was president of S&W. The .357 Magnum was a long time birthing. -
Bob Wright "