Winchester 52 ?
Just received a Winchester model 52 that I purchased here on Gunbroker. The serial No. is 57857 B.
Have a copy of The Winchester Handbook by George Madis that indicates 52,916 were made before production ceased in 1943 due to the war. He also states when production resumed in 1947 the "C" series began. He also indicates production passed 125,000 in 1975, but does not say that production ceased in 1975.
The rifle I have would have been made after WW11 according to the serial numbers he indicates, but the serial number definately ends with a "B" not a "C".
1) When would it have been made?
2) When did they change from the "B" to "C"?
3) When did producion cease?
4) An embarassing question. How does one remove the bolt? Most all bolt action .22's it's a manipulation of the safety and trigger. I can't find a combination that will let me remove the bolt.
Thanks much for the help!
Jim
Have a copy of The Winchester Handbook by George Madis that indicates 52,916 were made before production ceased in 1943 due to the war. He also states when production resumed in 1947 the "C" series began. He also indicates production passed 125,000 in 1975, but does not say that production ceased in 1975.
The rifle I have would have been made after WW11 according to the serial numbers he indicates, but the serial number definately ends with a "B" not a "C".
1) When would it have been made?
2) When did they change from the "B" to "C"?
3) When did producion cease?
4) An embarassing question. How does one remove the bolt? Most all bolt action .22's it's a manipulation of the safety and trigger. I can't find a combination that will let me remove the bolt.
Thanks much for the help!
Jim
0
-
This should help on the bolt removal...
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=117727
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob0 -
According to THE WINCHESTER MODEL 52 by Herbert Houze, production of model 52B components ceased in January 1942. I haven't found the exact date that production of model 52 B rifles resumed after
WWII but the target models were in production at least until late 1949 and the 52B Sporter was produced into 1953. The book shows photos of B models with serial numbers higher than 84000. Either Madis or Houze is wrong but the photos, documentation, etc. in Houze's book lead me to think he is more likely correct. Houze says the 52C went into production in 1951.0 -
Hello Jim,
You have high lighted something that I have been trying to get across to a great number of people (both here on this forum, and on several other Winchester specific forums that I actively participate on).
Very simply put, George Madis' published serial number to Date Of Manufacture (DOM) list is ALL WET[V] as it applies to nearly ALL of the various models that he provided that information for! Old George was a heck of a nice man, but he really did very little investigative research for most of his written works. Instead, he relied on his own personal observations and those of his closest friends. He then published those observations, along with his personal views and opinions, and then represented it as "factual" information[:(][V][:(].
I have personally researched over 3,000 individual (and various model) Winchester firearms through the Cody Firearms Museum (http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/index.cfm), and the VAST percentage of them did NOT conform to Madis' published DOM information.
In my personal (but somewhat informed) opinion, Madis' books are only good for one thing... a "general" source of information concerning any given Model of Winchester. If you want specific, detailed, and accurate information on a Winchester, you must either research it through the Cody Firearms Museum (if the records still exist for the gun in question), or you must rely on the written works of a different author (and there are several who have written some very well researched books). My personal favorite Winchester author is Herbert Houze. He was authored many superb tomes on various Winchester Models;
1. TITLE: The WINCHESTER Model 1876 "Centennial" Rifle
ISBN: 0917218973
2. TITLE: To the Dreams of Youth WINCHESTER .22 Caliber Single Shot Rifle
ISBN: 0873412370
3. TITLE: THE WINCHESTER MODEL 52 Perfection in Design
ISBN: 087341487X
4. TITLE: WINCHESTER BOLT ACTION MILITARY & SPORTING RIFLES 1877 to 1937
ISBN: 0917218841
5. TITLE: WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY Its History & Development from 1865 to 1981
ISBN: 0873412850
Herebert Houze was an employee of Winchester for many years, and actually had access to a LOT of information that George Madis was never aware of. As a result, Herb's books are far superior to those written by George. The only Winchester author that was worse than Madis, was Bill West (I would not recommend his books to anyone).
I personally own fifty-seven different books that were written about Winchester firearms, including those listed above. Unfortunately, I do not have ready access to most of them at this time (they are at my permanent home in Washington state, and I am currently located in Anaheim, CA for work, and I did not bring very many of my references with me).
I highly recommend obtaining a copy of Herb's book on the Model 52... it has been a few years since I read his book, but from what I remember, it will answer most (if not all) of your questions.
OK, I shall now vacate my soapbox[:D]
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
p.s. Hangfire... if you say ONE word about me being long-winded again, I will put THREE lumps on your head[}:)][:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Herschel
Either Madis or Houze is wrong but the photos, documentation, etc. in Houze's book lead me to think he is more likely correct. Houze says the 52C went into production in 1951.
Hello Herschel... Madis is indeed incorrect[:(], and you made the correct assumption about Herb's fine book[^]
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Thanks for the rapid responses
Hangfire; Just finished trying it, closed bolt, pulled trigger, pushed trigger forward (toward muzzle) open bolt and pull rearward all the way out of the receiver. It didn't work, the trigger will not move forward, and I did push very hard. The gun must have a problem within the trigger mechanism. Wii have to remove it from the stock and look it over. A qualified gunsmith may be in order.
Herschel & Bert H.; Thanks for helping me understand what seemed to be a quandry on the basis of the book by George Madis.
I guess I bought the wrong book again. Actually I know that's not true, it's only true that I do not have enough books.0 -
quote:Originally posted by playthings
Herschel & Bert H.; Thanks for helping me understand what seemed to be a quandry on the basis of the book by George Madis.
I guess I bought the wrong book again. Actually I know that's not true, it's only true that I do not have enough books.
[:D] Very good answer[^]
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
p.s. it figures that Hangfire would give you bum information[}:)][:D] (just kidding, I am just needling Bob for the fun of it)0 -
Jim- God forbid, but some times I am as dimwitted as Bert is all the time!!!!Try holding the trigger back to remove the bolt. Just tried mine and it worked just fine. Sorry about that.Hope the other fellow figured it out as well.
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob
Bert- you aren't longwinded...just perpetually gaseous!!!
[I sure agree about Bill West]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Hangfire
Jim- God forbid, but some times I am as dimwitted as Bert is all the time!!!!
There you go again with the delusional thinking... it is far more accurate to say that you are at least twice as dimwitted as I am... and that is still an insult to me. I think you need to go take your meds again?
quote: Bert- you aren't longwinded...just perpetually gaseous!!!
[I sure agree about Bill West]
I prefer the term "Flatulent", and one of my heros was a fellow by the name of "Le Petomane" (go to this website and educate yourself - http://www.heptune.com/farts.html)
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
That site should be the preface for your book!![8D]
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob0 -
Hangfire; tried holding the trigger back instead of forward and that didn't work either. Was busy last night so didn't try removing the stock, and am going to be out of town all weekend.
Other than the bolt removal problem the gun seems to be ok. Think I'll enjoy the gun.
This will be response ten, so the topic will probably be locked. It has been interesting, educational and fun. Thanks to a link provided I have certainly learned more than expected from this post.
Thanks to all!
Jim0 -
Jim-Pulling back on the trigger should do it. It doesn't by chance have a trigger shoe installed that prevents full rear travel?
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob0 -
Hangfire - No on the trigger shoe.
Haven't tried to remove stock yet and even that might not reveal the problem. I've never had a model 52 before so don't know much about them.
I'm at a point in my life now that I can afford to buy those great guns I wanted in my youth but could not afford, ie. german lugers, Colt Woodsman Match Target Pistol, Browning A-5 shotguns, Winchester 24 shotguns, a Winchester 52, etc.
Thanks for the repeat responses to my problem. I think it must be an internal problem that may have to be resolved by a gunsmith. It's a little irritating to buy a gun and that condition was not indicated, but it happened and I still like the gun. It looks so much better than the pictures indicated.
Jim0 -
It could also be that the safety is hanging something up.Try working it a few times.Don't know what else to suggest. Good luck.
Be sure and add a Win 61 22 pump to your list...thats my favorite 22!
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
13 comments