I have not posted about this pistol as I didn't want to sound as if I was bragging. However, when I recently saw a post about a .357 Registered, and the pride and joy the owner posted, I replied to him and got to thinking about this pistol. I am delighted to find that the good folks who post here are like me: We love these guns!
In that light, I'd like to post a couple of pics of a gun I bought several years ago. I work part-time in a big outdoors store (in the hunting/guns dept) and one of my customers told me he was selling a private collection that was willed to his step mother by her recently deceased husband. The gentleman was an Army Colonel who did not believe in banks. The collection numbered over 100 and, though there were many guns I really wanted, I could only afford one.
But first, years ago I was the captain of the "Browning Bullseye Pistol Team" where we competed in NRA bullseye target. Though it did not please the team, I used my S&W Model 41 exclusively. Much to their chagrin, I matter of factly asked them, "Do you want me to use Browning pistols or do you want me to win?" 'Nuff said. Anyway, I have a really good Colt's Gold Cup .45 auto but needed a mid-range caliber for the 3-gun shoots. S&W had long since discontinued their Model 52 and the Colt's Delta Elite Gold Cup I owned did not perform well with cast bullets. I contacted a guy by the name of Herb Belin - you might have heard of him - who said they might have some in storage, but with his new promotion I sort of lost track of him.
Now back to the estate sale. When this guy said he had a model 52 in the collection for sale, I told him to bring it in - I'd buy it. Then I asked how much (I have never been very good at dickering). $700 was his response. When he showed up, the gun was as you see in the pics: Unfired; all the documentation included such as original box, instructions, receipt from the store in Texas where he bought the gun in 1973, etc. I'll not forget the first time I worked the slide - it was stuck (I guess from years of storage) but soon worked loose. The gun shoots very well. I am no longer in bullseye competition but consider this gun as one of my most treasured and valued. She still does not have a mark or scratch on her. I could go on but this post is already too long.
Just one of what I'm sure are many stories out there...

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	Mdl 52-2.jpg (6.8 KB, 314 views)
	Mdl 52-2 Acc.jpg (7.7 KB, 289 views)

Congratulations on a fine acquisition

My first model 52 was payment to me for a computer repair back in 1991, yes they had
computers in the olden days. It had a bomar rib installed with the extended front sight.
What a shooter



Several years later I added a second model 52 to the stable. Just a little
prettier than my first one.



Still shoot them. That old fellow went to the range with me just three weeks ago

My 52-1 is still one of my favorites. I only use it at the range as the trigger is scary light. It is a beautifully made semi.

Here is mine... One of my favorite Pistols. I still shoot it in bullseye league from time to time... My is like new in the box with all the paper work from '73(i think) as well
Steve

Thanks for the pics and story bohonkie. Great find, best of luck.

Here's mine, it was one of the last 52's out of Springfield before they shut the line down. The slide finish has gotten quite plum colored over the years but it is a sweet shooting piece!

I was lucky enough to come across one recently and I'm working up loads and confidence in it, Now for Bullseye league I can go from my 41 to 52-2 to 5 inch 25-2

I'm not a S&W fan I'm a best dog for the fight fan, can't help it that it happened like that

Got mine about 8 years back to shoot in a local annual grudge match with some peculiar rules. Because of the odd rules, I've modified two magazines, still available if you look hard, to hold six rounds instead of the usual five. The mag won't latch in place with six loaded, but that's not a handicap under the odd rules.

A fellow competitor has even found a way to overcome that, although I can't vouch for it as I haven't tried it myself. He found some .38 Short Colt brass (available from Midway, at least sometimes) and loaded them with round-nose 125 gr. FMJ bullets, making something that looks like a 9mm rimmed cartridge. He said he couldn't find reloading data for the .38 SC, so he used a mild 9mm Para load which seems to work perfectly. He says he hasn't had a misfeed yet. I've stuck with the standard .38 148 gr. HBWC over 3.2 grains of Win 231. It's a bit lighter than the standard Winchester or Remington target loads, but still functions the action reliably, at least in mine.

The friend who found it for me had a lot of experience with it and said oddly enough, that it would be the most accurate pistol I'd ever own and the most difficult to shoot accurately. He was right on both counts; eight years later I still haven't learned to shoot the gun to its limits of accuracy. That's not to say I can't shoot it reasonably well, just that I've never been able to hold it as close as it will shoot.

BTW, he claimed to have the only Mod. 52 he'd ever seen with holster wear. Living here in Las Vegas in the 60s and 70s, there was nothing odd about driving to the edge of town and going out to shoot rabbits, and he said the 52, with HBWC bullets loaded upside down, was the perfect small-game handgun.

Man, those are some beautiful 52s! I didn't mention that I had the chance to buy a 52-1 just before I found the 52-2. That one belonged to a friend I used to shoot with. Extremely accurate. By the time I talked him into a trade (took about 2 years), the gun had developed pitting in the bore. Still shot well, but he didn't feel good about trading. I often wonder what ever became of that gun...
Has anyone had experience with the 952? Does that one shoot as well as the 52?
Post Script: I did manage a trade with him. I gave him that Colt's 10mm Gold Cup in exchange for a 1905 SAA. But that's another story.
Thanks, all!

I purchased a 952 many years ago. I foolishly thought I would be buying a model 52 in 9MM.
It is not close and as a model 52 shooter, I do not think it deserves to have it's heritage
linked to the model 52.

Do not get me wrong, the 952 is superior to S&Ws production 9MMs, it is just not a 52. It shoots
good, just not great. My production Walther P88 makes tighter groups.



Though I still own the 952 mostly for it's classic looks. I prefer the SIG X5 and X6 pistols for 9MM.



I have found the SIG X-family to produce tighter groups than the 3 model 952s I have shot over
the years. The SIGs also offer a few cosmetic options as well as a tactical variation
All superbly accurate

Had a neighbor that sold all his guns about 7 years ago. He had a M52 with the box and weights. and I didn't buy it. Dumb on my part. That gun shot good. I could get a good group at 25 yds off hand with it.

Thanks for the posts. Though I've sold a lot of 952s, I have never shot one. I knew that their trigger could not compare with a 52.

someone make my day -- I would like to purchase a nice 52---1or2 something that I would use as shooter but no junk--in the box but used-would be nice. If you have something you would part with let me know THANKS

__________________
charles hawkins

My 52-2 & 952-1.
Will agree the 952 is quite a pistol, the 52 is tops.
Kevin G

Mine is a 52-1 I bought used. Just happened to stumble on it in a gun shop near home and went in to ask about the price. The dealer said it was on consignment and to make an offer. Not wanting to insult him too much I offered $400 and he immediately said sold. Gun was like new, trigger is sweet and it shoots far better than I can hold it. Finicky on the load you use though. Had to perfect a decent load so the gun would function. Not for sale ever!

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Smith & Wesson Model 52-1.jpg (57.3 KB, 51 views)

I'd buy them all day long at that price.

I love the 52 one of my favourite guns to shoot. Mine is a 52-2 which I’ve had maybe 20 years.

JGR LV you mention 6 shots not latching.
The trick when modifying the mag for 6 shots is the cutting of the slot. In the pictures attached on the 3 mag picture it show on the left a standard 5 shot mag, then in the middle a (incorrectly) modified 6 shot mag, this mag will load 6 rounds and only lock in the gun if the slide is back. This is the standard way people modify the 52 mag however it is not 100% functional and will not allow the mag to lock if the slide is closed.

The issue is as you load the mag the follower is pushed forward, when you get to 5 rounds the follower is nearly up against the mag case. If it is modified like the middle one pictured, following the slot lines, when 6 rounds are loaded the follower is up against the mag body. Then when you load the mag into the gun with the slide forward the round at the top hits the slide and must push the rounds further into the mag. Now the follower is stuck at against the body and it will not allow the rounds to go down further, so, that’s it, the mag cannot get into the gun to lock.
The quick fix is to allow the follower pin to ride back then relieving the follower from the wall allowing it to travel down the few mm needed. In the picture the 3rd mag on the right is modified the same as the second one except I have opened up the back of the slot maybe 0.2mm. This mag load with 6 and the slide closed. I have included a second picture of this mag and have inserted a piece of paper into the mag so it shows up a little better.
A word of caution as you can see from the picture you do not need much to relieve the follower. If you take off way too much you can have problems with the pin riding out and jamming.

On an unmodified 5 shot mag the slot needs to be cut straight parallel with the mag body and not following the line of the existing cut. I have a few 5 shot mags I plan modifying correctly but have not got around to it otherwise I would have posted a picture.

Cheers.

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	m52 mag 6shot.jpg (80.4 KB, 167 views)
	m52 mags.jpg (88.7 KB, 202 views)

The 52 is basically a bullseye gun and all the strings are 5 shot strings, I don't see the point of messing up a working 5 round mag for a iffy 6 round mag when if you need 6 rounds then its time to use another gun,

I havne't even tried it but can you "baryney" a bullet

Great looking 52s. A 52 is one gun I have always wanted and never owned. I have given up on owning one now since I am nearing the end of my shooting days and buying guns. I have only seen one in person and it was not for sale several years ago.

That’s a good call x10x10 on modifying the mags, and that’s why I intend on keeping 2 original mags unaltered in my 52 box.
As a S&W collector/shooter however I cannot recommend another S&W semi-auto over the 52 for competitions like WA1500 pistol where you need 6 rounds. Keep in mind this gun fires wad cutters at low power factor both the friend of the competitive shooter. You cannot beat the accuracy and feel and in my opinion there is no better alternative for the model 52.
So many others agree that’s why so many are sold with modified mags.
S&W got it right with both the 41 and 52 as competition guns out of the box. With the 41 still in productions there is a hole in the centre fire range. A hole that the 952 failed to fill.
Cheers.

I know Colt sold a similar gun (38 wadcutter), has anyone owned one and how did it compare to the 52?

The Colt Mid-Range is much more sensative and less reliable - and too valuable as a collector to shoot. Have not shot my in the box Colt NM Gold Cup or Mid Range in years.
I do shoot my 98% NM and love it.

__________________
TOMBECK

The peculiar rules for this particular match call for six rounds, a mandatory reload and six more rounds in each 35-second stage. I could have loaded a magazine, stripped out the first round, dropped that mag and inserted a fresh one to start, but it would have called for some quick work to do that for the second reload. In all other respects, the gun was perfect for the job. I'd been using a 6" Model 14 and was convinced I'd hit my limit for shooting the course with a wheelgun. I did manage possibles with the Model 52 in practice sessions, something I'd never quite done with the 14.
If Model 52 magazines were scarce, I'd have hesitated to make the modification, but they're still pretty widely available and at that time were selling for about what a new M&P magazine goes for now. If I'd had one of the guns made for the Army Marksmanship Team with the magazines serially numbered to match the gun, I wouldn't even have entertained the thought.