Got a heads up from someone that this was going to be available for sale. What’s with the long front sight and what looks like some sort of weight on the frame?
Haven’t seen it in person yet, only this teaser pic.

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That looks like a Bo-Mar sight, used to take advantage of max sight radius allowable under a set of competition rules.

Gorgeous 52-1

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As you all said, the BoMar Rib is to provide a longer sight radius

I have been shooting one like that for more than thirty years now

The weights dampen recoil further and reduce muzzle climb.

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"Acta non verba"

A friend of mine when I was stationed in Ca. Shot Bullseye matches with one like that. Yes, it is a Bo-Mar rib with the extended front sight.

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Its value is as a shooter, not as a collectable. As an aside the weight must be approaching the maximum that can be held at arms length.

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I have the counterweight on my 52-1. They are worth some money alone.

How does the counterweight attach to the frame?

One of the added features to the 52-1 is a fine rail on the frame for attachment of the factory counterweight. The counter weight is a two piece unit that secures with three bolts. One bolt secures the bulk of the unit to the frame and sets in the divot on the underside of the frame, forward of the trigger guard. The other two attach the rounded cap to the larger portion of the weight.

The pistol you show should be an excellent shooter, but collectibility of this is limited as the Bomar rib on top has altered the originality of the pistol. The weight itself, if it is S&W marked, has a collectible/tradeable value all it's own, but perhaps not even to make up for the lower value of the altered pistol.

I could suggest a number where that might be a solid purchase, but I don't know how many would agree with me and the seller is probably priced at 150% of my number.

Forgive me for asking, since I'm not the least familiar with a Bomar sight.
Is it attached in such a fashion that removing it would leave the slide disfigured? Or, is removing it not an option?
I'd be interested in your thoughts as to realistic pricing on this 52-1.
Granted, not having seen it in person or shot it, someone familiar with them should have a good idea of value.
This one is out of my wheelhouse, not a competition target shooter, don't hand load, but still interesting to me.

I believe the slide is drilled and tapped and the rib secured with hex bolts. I would further imagine the original front sight has been ground or chopped off. I think colt_saa would know better as he’s got one.

If it is altered and an I cannot imagine it is not, I couldn’t see MOST people spending more than $800 on a 52-1 that has been altered, but I’ve been surprised enough times to know that there is a buyer for most any and at prices that would astound me.

Other items in the conversation. Across the market, the 52-1 trades slightly under in price to the 52-2, almost surely because some are leery of the old style extractor which they deem to be fragile. The extractor is a whole other conversation, let me just say that I’m personally not scared of it and my 52-1 is an amazing and fully functioning pistol.

The weight, again -IF- marked Smith & Wesson could probably sell very quickly at $100, and these days perhaps higher.

Two mags is solid, the magazine market for 52’s is absurd and royally out of control, so they are extremely expensive.

For my first ever 52, I would pass on this if you cannot get out the door for a grand or under. However, if it runs right AND you can source or make HBWC ammo for it, you may shoot it and not care whatsoever you paid, as 52’s are phenomenal!

I was fortunate to buy a couple of spare extractors for my 52-1, before they became unobtanium.

I agree with what has been said, the -1’s don’t bring as much as the -2’s but in my opinion, their triggers are better. Any of the 52’s are pretty much single purpose pistols, Bullseye competition. Ammo is a problem if you don’t reload, they only feed flush seated wadcutter bullets which are not on every gun shop shelf.
I would not give more than $1000 with the idea of selling the weight to recoup some of the investment.
I don’t mean to be discouraging, they are some of the most fun pistols I have ever shot.

Have you ever broken one or needed your back-up stash?

The issue of removing the rib is not so much that the mounting holes would be visible, the big issue is that you probably do not have an original rear sight to replace it. I have not seen a complete original rear sight for sale in more then a decade now. Many of the parts to build a rear sight are easily found but not all of them

The front sight would need to be reconstructed or the slide could be dovetailed, but then it would not be original again

If you truly want an original looking Model 52, then either walk away from this one and keep looking, or buy this one to shoot and enjoy until a better example comes along. Then you can sell this one off

I have a Model 52 that is a -1 engineering revision, however I do not shoot this one any longer

The one I shoot most is the no dash that wears the BoMar Rib which is pictured in my previous post. The engineering revision plays no part in that choice, the BoMar Rib is what makes to older gun more attractive as a shooter

Based on the single picture we have seen and taking into account the gun market here in Florida, I would be looking to acquire this one between $1,000 and $1,100. A $100 or so more if that is an original Smith & Wesson weight

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"Acta non verba"

Somewhere I also have a few spare extractors.

However outside of all the scare stories around not being able to find one, I can not recall any of my shooting buddies ever breaking one

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I had my 52-2 out on Monday at the indoor range. Amazing pistol. I too over the years shooting never ran into anyone having trouble with their 52-1.
The weight I have on my 52 is not marked S&W, and was bought by me as an aftermarket weight. I think mine was branded Cal Custom. Still a nice weight.
Back in the early 90's, my Bullseye 45 had the Bo-Mar extended front sight rib on it and I would have loved to have had an identical rib on my 52.

Just a follow up to this thread. The counterweight is stamped S&W. It is still available and a private sale, I'm not interested in it, but if someone wants contact info and a bottom line price, shoot me a PM.

Heymatt: Are you going to pass up on this pistol? Do you know what the seller wants for it? My first concern isn't the Bomar rib, it is the overall condition of the pistol itself. Normally speaking, if it has that rib it was most likely shot a lot, so due care in an inspection of the pistol is critical, especially relating to barrel condition. Pictures don't tell the entire story of condition, only a trained eye can do that.

If I were going to look at that pistol I would take my trusty trigger pull gauge, borescope and small flash light along. Field strip the pistol and examine closely paying attention to any potential cracks in the frame or bulges in the barrel. I don't own any 52-1's and while the extractor wouldn't scare me off, I would most certainly have a spare on hand for that "just in case" scenario.

By all rights the pistol should be clean if the seller is on his game. Being clean gives you a better chance of a good inspection. The rib wouldn't matter one way or another to me as long as it is in very good condition and has been installed correctly and works properly. Look at the position of the rear sight. Is it pretty much centered, or off to one side. If all things are good from your examination try to get right of return if the pistol doesn't work properly. These days that is all important to me. Nothing is worse than buying a firearm and not having it function properly.

In my area that pistol would easily bring $1,200.00 or more with two mags and a S&W weight. By the way look closely at how the weight is attached. I have seen some that were way over tightened and marred the frame and weight. Having said all the above, the Bomar rib is an interesting addition to a Model 52 and somewhat of a curiosity today. While it is true a collector may turn his nose up at a Model 52 so equipped, I wouldn't if the pistol itself was in very good condition.

Rick H.

Rick, PM sent.