Model 52’s have been getting hard to find lately. Found a Model 52-2 at the gun show today. It was in a zip-lock bag. Looked like all the major parts are there so I bought it. Paid $300 OTD. Since I own 5 model 52’s I figured the parts were probably worth that much. The slide and frame had bluing loss and some pitting but usable. The guy said his Dad had taken it apart years before he passed away. Had always planned to reassemble it. Looks like a good project for a cold rainy day this winter.

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That's a smoking deal bub. Well done!

For a clean barrel and bushing, parts and no magazine, any day, all day.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I'd verify all the parts were there, and if so, sent it to Fords for a refinish. Maybe a blued frame and chromed slide.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I see them quite frequently , just not at a price I'm willing to pay .

What a steal. Here’s your opportunity to reassemble it. Check out my notable thread on reassembling the 52. Good luck.

I had planned to print out Kidcom’s thread to guide the reassembly. Matched up all the parts with the parts list and everything was there minus the right hand grips panel which I already knew. I did order a couple of the springs and a new ejector from numrich. I plan to reassemble, make sure everything works, then probably disassemble and have the frame and slide reblued.

That's an amazing deal!
I shot a Model 52 in bullseye matches 20+ years ago, and love them! Considering how expensive they are today I'd simply assemble it and leave it alone. But if you do want to have it refinished I'd make sure it's done to original specs so it retains the value these fine guns have.

I do plan to put it together and shoot it for a while before I make a decision to re-blue or not. I think it’s is a pretty early 52-2 as the SN is A10647X. Finally got the rear sight off and the slide SN matches the frame.

52 guy:
Quite a few m-52's where hand fitted and you just couldn't slap some parts together, especially the frame and slide. A little hand fitting may be in order.
Best Regards
ammoman

He has every part except the right stock. It will go together.

Me, I absolutely vote "no" to any refinish, not that I actually get a vote. 52's are phenomenal but regardless of typical gun forum emotion, these are not rare. A refinished 52 can NEVER be an original 52, if you want a gorgeous one... chase one down and buy it.

This one would make a fantastic shooter while a pretty one sits. A refinish...? Worst of all worlds.

I agree with Sevens on this. A 52 is that kind of rare breed that you really shouldn't mess with. Even in a tarnished state, it's something you don't refinish as doing so is somewhat sacrilegious. I have a 52 that I bought for the sole purpose of being a shooter as it was refinished. I would never use any of my 52s that are part of my collection.

I shot bullseye in prep school and college and used a 52-1 back then. Out of nostalgia or something I bought a 52-2 over a year ago in the used area of a LGS and it was about a $1K ouch although it did have the original box and two mags. Then I found out how hard the parts are to find for these. I started with Numrich and searched other areas on the intergoogle. They were/are nice pistols however.

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NRA Life Member

All the model 52’s I’ve seen in the last year with a box, papers, tools, etc, have been priced North of $1400. So, $1K is a great deal.

Update. ‘Bag-O-Gun is now a functional model 52. Got it together and adjusted the trigger. Cycled some empty’s through it it seems to be working fine. I’ll take it to the range next week to make sure everything is good. Although all the parts except grips were there, I did buy a couple of springs and an ejector.

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Not too shabby for a mere $300. I would have bought that bag of parts in a heartbeat. Good job!

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

I love those Signature grips. I have a set on my 439 9mm. I need to order a new set while I can still find them.

Looks nice, but maybe somewhere down the line you can scare up some wood panels for the stocks. Yes, the rubber provides a firm grip, but S&W hit a home run in terms of looks with wood stocks on the 39/52 receivers.

Looks pretty darn good to me!

My 52-2 is a 2-tone, with a noticeably plum-colored slide. Can't decide if I love it or hate it!

Wondering what would happen if I had it re-blued?

kas

I am green with envy. A 52 is on my wish list when the funds allow.

Took the M52 to the range on Friday before the Tulsa gun show. It had numerous failure to eject and load the next round although it did shoot accurately. Brought it home and installed a new 8# recoil spring I had in my parts bin. Took it out to the range today and it preformed flawlessly. So. I now have a working M52-2 for around $400. I’m happy with it. It has some cosmetic issues but I think I will leave it as is and shoot it. I did find a pair of wood grips that were stained black. After soaking in acetone and 5 coats of Tung oil look pretty good.

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Well done Sir!

Hello 52, what do you want for it?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I will keep it for a while for a shooter. It’s #6 of my model 52’s. If I sell it i will put it up on this site.

Some 52s came from the factory with the two tone look. Actually it's a wee bit of a rarity.

Now it looks like a proper Model 52. Glad that it works and is accurate. Enjoy that bag gun!

Guy I shoot with had a 52-2 that he pulled out once a year to shoot national match, he said that maybe it was time to home it to someone who would shoot it more. I said what ya want for it.. he said as is 800 so I snapped it up, got the original box, barrel tool, competition adjustable grips 2000 cases of once fired fed match brass, 500 rds of match ammo and six mags.. maybe I should buy a lotto ticket.

Don’t need a lotto ticket, you already won!! Great deal.

Dang! Yes, you have already won.

have six mags, wish they were more available and not so expensive