Hi! New to forum, Need some advice on a 52-1

[Jerry944T]

Hello everyone. My first post here. Hopefully it will give me good luck.

I have been around handguns all my life. When younger I did a fair amount of Bullseye shooting. I always admired Model 52's so when one came available locally at what I thought was a fair price I jumped on it, for nostalgia and shooting fun.

It has a great trigger and is remarkably accurate when I feed it properly even with open sights which gives my old eyes a struggle.

I thought it was in excellent condition until I compared it to another gun of the same era. Someone had filed the checkering off the backstrap and replaced it with stippling. It was well done since I never realized it wasn't stock.

Now for the question. Where can I get a new mainspring housing for this gun? One that has checkering on it. An email to Smith & Wesson has gone unanswered for a week and I expect nothing from them.

Anyone have any good ideas? I could leave it like it is but I'm a bit obsessive compulsive about things and the lack of originality is bothering me.

Thanks,

Jerry

[jrm53]

In my Gil Hebard catalog of 1984 the insert for the 52 is priced at 25.00 and the insert for a 6904 is priced at 13.40, the funny thing is the pictures of both of them are identical some one more familiar with the 6904 will have to answer as I only have a 52-2. Jeff

[snw19_357]

Welcome to the forum!! Model 52s are such a pleasure to shoot!!

The Model 52 was made into the 90s (and it's the same one as the Model 39/439/539) so S&W may still have some backstraps on the shelf. Try giving them a call. They will answer the phone and be able to help you.

[civil1977]

I would try Numrich. They have a good website.

[Jerry944T]

Checked Numrich. They have a schematic and I believe I need part #99. Not positive but they don't list it as being in stock anyway.

They do have it listed for a 539. Is anyone sure this is the same part?

I emailed Smith a week ago. I guess a phone call is in order.

[snw19_357]

Call S&W.

In 1973, the part number for a Model 39 Insert was 6145 but the one for a Model 52 was 6211. The current part number for a M39/439/559 insert is 100550001 where the one for a 52-2 is 10059000. It is probably because a M39 had a lanyard loop and the M52 didn't but to make sure, call S&W.

Or, you could post a thread in the WTB forum of the Classifieds and maybe a member has a spare one.

[Jerry944T]

Wow, Smith & Wesson is impossible to communicate with. Emails not answered. The phone system gives you the message of unusually heavy traffic and doesn't give you the option of hanging on.

I left a voice mail but since my email is over a week old, still unanswered, I have little hope on the voice mail.