Model 52 mags

[jag22]

Usually when I go to gun shows I don't even bother to look for them but this time I looked over every table that had magazines, just hoping. Sadly the story does not have a happy ending. My question is, did any one other than S&W ever make them? (did S&W actually make them or were they subbed out) Should I be looking thru the racks of other companies offerings?

[smithfan4152]

S&W was the only MFG of the model 52 magazines, I prefer the steel follower version over the plastic ones.
Recently prices have hit new highs, including the plastic follower variety that you used to pick up anywhere from $40.-$50.00.
Now I have seen them sell just over $150., which is nut's, but the steel followers can be had for $100-$150.00 ea. Lower price if your lucky to catch them with a buy it now. I paid $235.00 free shipping on a pair, Like new.
The prices on them will only go up, as the Colt 38 super magazines, and others. Just be glad your not looking for the 41-1 22 short magazines. $200-$300 ea.

[Aussie Collector]

Smith & Wesson were the only ones that made them and I believe they are still available new, well they are available new here in Australia.
They come up on ebay and other sites, I have purchased a few from the net.
Good luck.

Edit....called the Aussie distributor they have just sold out. Appears a few may have seen this post.
Always happy to help.

[Tom S.]

Owners of the first Browning Challengers, Medalists, and Nomads were/are in a similar situation with magazines going for $100. Why Browning changed the magazine design on the Challenger II was and remains a mystery. Fairly recently, a third market supplier started making them, albeit with mixed results. Some work like originals while others have feeding issues.

Perhaps some one will eventually get around to producing mags for the 52. I hope so, anyway. Although I have two, I would like a couple more, but not at today's prices. It would really be great if someone came out with a higher capacity version, say 7 or 8 rounds.

[TTSH]

Originally Posted by Tom S.

Perhaps some one will eventually get around to producing mags for the 52. I hope so, anyway. Although I have two, I would like a couple more, but not at today's prices. It would really be great if someone came out with a higher capacity version, say 7 or 8 rounds.

The insanely high cost of magazines was one key reason why I passed recently on a Model 52-2 that was otherwise a pretty good deal. I could have almost afforded the gun... but I could have never afforded the magazines for it.

But I don't see a third party manufacturer suddenly coming up with a replacement 52 magazine... especially one that works. I can't imagine that it would be profitable for them or reliable to the extent that owners would be real interested in buying a bunch.

Despite a decent gun collection, I have yet to buy my first third party aftermarket magazine. I have no interest in them if they are not going to be 100% as reliable in every respect as the originals.

[Tom S.]

Originally Posted by TTSH

Despite a decent gun collection, I have yet to buy my first third party aftermarket magazine. I have no interest in them if they are not going to be 100% as reliable in every respect as the originals.

You may already own some without knowing it, since Mec-gar produces magazines for several manufacturers:

Mec-Gar is proud to be the Original Equipment Manufacturer of magazines to most of the prominent firearm manufacturers for the last 40 years including: AMT Armscor Astra Beretta Bernadelli FN Browning Bul Charles Daly Colt CZ Girsan IMI Kel-Tec Kimber Llama North Armerican Arms Remington Ruger Sarilmaz Sig Sauer Smith & Wesson Springfield Armory STI Standard Arms Star Steyr Tanfoglio Taurus Tisas and Walther.

[TTSH]

Originally Posted by Tom S.

You may already own some without knowing it, since Mec-gar produces magazines for several manufacturers:

Oh, I'm certain that I own magazines that were manufactured for one or more of my pistols by Mec-Gar. But they are all OEM, not aftermarket. None say "Mec-Gar" on them.

Mec-Gar is unique (or at least fairly unique) in the sense that they do both OEM and aftermarket offerings. I would never rule out buying a Mec-Gar magazine but two things stand in the way: 1) I like bright stainless steel magazines and Mec-Gar is not really into stainless... and, 2) Because of the "pre-ban" thing and the fact that a lot of suppliers are crazy "over-the-top" paranoid about shipping anything to Massachusetts regardless of our laws, regs or lack thereof... I probably couldn't buy any Mec-Gars anyway.

[Leon Narozny]

When I got my 52-2 years ago, I started looking for magazines, found enough, not cheap, but they will never go down in price, so you have to
pay what the market is. It is around $100.00 per. I have had to work on a few of them that didnt feed well, but after some tweaking, they all work pretty well. I am constantly amazed at peoples attitude that they wont payf or this or that, OK, dont get involved in the hobby. I am not
trying to be a wise guy, but every hobby has its expense. I have a 50
year old Mustang, and it has been quite a money pit. Fortunately I
am not upside down on it, and I spend the money on it because i enjoy it. By saying dont get involved in the hobby doesnt mean you shouldnt
be in it, but know what things are going to cost, and prepare accordingly.
I am now 71, and I do pistol shooting, sporting clays and my Mustang.
I certainly couldnt do any of these 30 years ago. And the sad fact today is that for the average working Joe and Jane, most of this type of discretionary spending is out of the question with all the other expenses
of living today. I apologize for somewhat re-directing this thread but my
original premise remains that the market dictates price, and as items
(like Model 52 magazines) become more scarce, the price goes up on whatever is out there....Econ 101.

[44wheelman]

The inflation calculator says $100 in 1988 is worth $202 today.

In the mid 90's, I used to buy them for about $40, so they should be at least $75... and, I remember they were not that easy to find back then.

[Leon Narozny]

44 Wheelman....good analogy! Yeah..unless its an estate or someone
quits shooting, they hold on to them because they are so scarce. Interesting sidebar....Somewhere on this forum a long time ago some
guy went to a metal stamper that makes magazines and said he would pay the tooling and would place an original order for 12 gross....thats
1728 magazines! He was turned down. The guy figured he could sell
them for about $60.00. I think he would have sold all of them.
I know I would have bought a bunch!

[Model52guy]

Bought a Browning Pre-81 BLR in 358 Winchester back in the 90's for $200. Just saw one of the magazines for that rifle go for over $200 on Ebay the other day. Happens to all the collectibles.

[g27racing]

I knew these mags were not cheap, but the prices seem crazy. I just went and checked my "stash". A few weeks back I was wanting to raise some money and put up my boxed 52-2 for sale. Glad nobody bought it as it has 3 metal follower mags in that box. I have two 52-2's and a total of 11 magazines. 7 with steel followers and 4 with plastic. Made me feel a little bit better than I did about 10 mins before I read this thread.

[smithfan4152]

52 No dash sold last week, 5 steel follower mags, Box, not bad condition, $852.00, So what did he pay for the pistol 2 mags and the box?
$400.00. I sold plastic follower mags on e-bay, $75 opening bid, they went up as high as $150.00, I purchased steel follower mags for less on e-bay, and when 2 together ended up being $115.00 ea.
I believe there were far more 52 magazines made than the Model 41-1 22 short mags. But yet i have never seen the supply dry up on them yet.
Near $300.00 ea. Wonder if the model 41 mags will do likewise.
Seems there are far too many of the original staked mags running around, nobody wants to pay much for them.

[Tom S.]

Originally Posted by smithfan4152

52 No dash sold last week, 5 steel follower mags, Box, not bad condition, $852.00, So what did he pay for the pistol 2 mags and the box?
$400.00. I sold plastic follower mags on e-bay, $75 opening bid, they went up as high as $150.00, I purchased steel follower mags for less on e-bay, and when 2 together ended up being $115.00 ea.
I believe there were far more 52 magazines made than the Model 41-1 22 short mags. But yet i have never seen the supply dry up on them yet.
Near $300.00 ea. Wonder if the model 41 mags will do likewise.
Seems there are far too many of the original staked mags running around, nobody wants to pay much for them.

The Model 41 .22 short mags are going for around $250 while the Model 41 12 shot mags are around $120. Fortunately, S&W uses the standard 10 shot 41 mag for other products and they are available for around $30, unless of course you are looking for an original mag from the introduction year.

[Aussie Collector]

I estimate that there is about twice the amount of model 41 staked magazines that that of the 41-1.
I didnt know the 12 shots mags were so sought after, although I had to buy a 2206 to get mine. With the 12 shot being give (for a short period) to the model 41, 422, 622 and 2206 there should be many more than both the staked or short mags together. If the prices of these are on the rise then I would think its the capacity driving up the demand and not the scarcity.