S&W 52-2 value?

[jjohnl]

Gents


A guy is selling a -2 in about 80-85% condition, some handling marks but unfortunately the slide was drilled and tapped for a two base scope mount. To add insult to injury the front sight was filed down. How hard is to to repair/replace the front sight? I suppose the holes in the slide could filled and reblued. What would be a fair price for the pistol? Comes with three mags.

Thanks

 

[Bullseye 2620]

How does it shoot? Will it put 10 rounds into 2-1/2 inches at 50 yards out of a Ransom Rest? If it can shoot, who cares what it looks like?

If the cosmetics are what is important to you, there are a lot of barely shot 52-2s out there for less money than you're going to spend trying to return this one to what will end up as something in less than pristine condition.

Don Kostanski, donk52 on this Forum, built 52-2s for 10 years at the mothership. PM him and get his opinion.

 

[Barrie]

Where I live here in Canada they usually sell for around $400.00 in Very good condition. They use the same mag as the M41 and M46 as well so they are fairly easy to find. They are a really nice target pistol especially if they are wearing the wood grips.

 

[kidcom]

From my point of view, the three magazines are probably worth more then the 52 itself.

 

[kidcom]

Where I live here in Canada they usually sell for around $400.00 in Very good condition. They use the same mag as the M41 and M46 as well so they are fairly easy to find. They are a really nice target pistol especially if they are wearing the wood grips.

Hold on there Barrie, the model 52 doesn't use the same magazine as the 41/46 and usually sells in Canada well in excess of $1000CDN.

 

[loeman]

Where I live here in Canada they usually sell for around $400.00 in Very good condition. They use the same mag as the M41 and M46 as well so they are fairly easy to find. They are a really nice target pistol especially if they are wearing the wood grips.

$400? Did you mean to say $1400?

 

[824tsv]

I'm pretty sure he's thinking of the 422 and mixing up the model number with the 52-2 (522)

 

[Barrie]

Yes thats exactly what I did. Yes its those mags that interchange with the M41 and M46.

 

[TTSH]

Gents

A guy is selling a -2 in about 80-85% condition, some handling marks but unfortunately the slide was drilled and tapped for a two base scope mount. To add insult to injury the front sight was filed down. How hard is to to repair/replace the front sight? I suppose the holes in the slide could filled and reblued. What would be a fair price for the pistol? Comes with three mags.

Thanks

Sounds like a project gun to me if you want it back to near factory condition in all its glory. For perspective, I found a near perfect used one without box, papers or tools but with 3 magazines for $1,000 plus tax (It sold almost immediately). I also recently saw one that was 100% new-in-box with everything (not even the paper crinkled) for $1,800 plus tax.

 

[Wee Hooker]

For perspective, I found a near perfect used one without box, papers or tools but with 3 magazines for $1,000 plus tax (It sold almost immediately).

Yea, I'll bet it looked allot like this one neighbor
Not to worry, it found a good home. ;-)

 

[Sevens]

There's many reasons to own and love a Model 52, but the market price comes about from many likely factors. The biggest factor is condition as the 52 is a high grade, precision hand-fitted collectible pistol.

As described, this one has holes drilled in it and the front sight cut off.

At the moment, 52 magazines are surging in price, it's difficult to nail down a firm number but right now, a quick & dirty number is $100 each.

As a fun shooter, this package likely can deliver. As a "collectible", what you have described is 3 magazines and a parts gun. Apologies if that sounds harsh.

A cut and drilled 52 with 3 magazines is probably a $500 item as a group or possibly more if it were separated and sold in pieces to very motivated buyers.

As for "fixing" or restoring the pistol, it's not financially feasible to do so if the motivation is trying to restore value or originality. The good news is that S&W certainly made a lot of these and for $1200-$1500, you can find one.

 

[Tom S.]

Filling the holes and rebluing will most likely leave you with a gun that has different colored bluing where the holes were. Welded material tends to blue differently as it's not identical to the surrounding material. Other types of coatings may work OK, but if it were mine, I'd try to find out what kind of mount was used and put one back on with either a dot or scope. I've got a dot on my 52, but it uses a mount made by a member here and doesn't add any holes or cause any other damage to the gun.

 

[jjohnl]

There's many reasons to own and love a Model 52, but the market price comes about from many likely factors. The biggest factor is condition as the 52 is a high grade, precision hand-fitted collectible pistol.

As described, this one has holes drilled in it and the front sight cut off.

At the moment, 52 magazines are surging in price, it's difficult to nail down a firm number but right now, a quick & dirty number is $100 each.

As a fun shooter, this package likely can deliver. As a "collectible", what you have described is 3 magazines and a parts gun. Apologies if that sounds harsh.

A cut and drilled 52 with 3 magazines is probably a $500 item as a group or possibly more if it were separated and sold in pieces to very motivated buyers.

As for "fixing" or restoring the pistol, it's not financially feasible to do so if the motivation is trying to restore value or originality. The good news is that S&W certainly made a lot of these and for $1200-$1500, you can find one.

I know of a mint 52-1 but am leery of the long extractor breaking and being stuck with a paperweight. At least with a -2 the extractor can be found or made, not sure of the earlier model?

 

[schuebob]

52-2

I understand 52s are going up in price. This masterpiece was "Performance Center" ahead of it's time. My 952 is nothing like a 52-2. But still a good shooter. My last 52-2was new in box with all accessories to include counterweight. I absolutely need the weight or a red dot to increase the heft. The member with a drilled and shaved front sight could get Jim Clark to do a fix. I've got 4 52-2s and 25 mags; they are thrilling to shoot. Reloads require measuring and magazine lips may need adjusting for a good feed. Stove pipes will get you a alibi. Don't over crimp! Factory grips offer insufficient contact with my palm. Karl Nill to the rescue. But I like Randall Fung's work and of course Rinks from Deutschland. A poor man's choice is a rubber Pachmayer grip. This is the one pistol that will get attention when shooting steel. Bang.............."ding"

 

[Sevens]

I know of a mint 52-1 but am leery of the long extractor breaking and being stuck with a paperweight. At least with a -2 the extractor can be found or made, not sure of the earlier model?

In my opinion...
It's all about price when you are looking at the potential purchase of a 52-1. Why I say this...? The market (generally, not specifically!) has basically the SAME feeling that you do. This is "oh, the long extractor was weak, will break, then the gun is unfixable" and because of this notorious legend, the 52-1 pistols that would almost assuredly otherwise be MORE valuable in the market tend to carry similar and quite often LOWER prices.

Folks that have actual long history of owning, shooting, competing with and loving the 52-1 will often tell you a couple things. First thing they often say is that the bluing is deeper, more lustrous and more beautiful. Next they will often say that their dash-1 pistols have slightly better trigger feel than their dash-2 pistols. Thirdly... many will say that they were well aware of the fear of extractor fail, so often they ordered a replacement (when they were still available) and they kept it at the ready.

And many of these guys will tell you that they never did end up using their replacement.

We have had discussions around these pages as to the validity of the legend of 52/52-1 extractor failure. My own personal opinion based on years of reading tales from owners boils down to:

--extractors can and do fail in any pistol
--52/52-1 extractor is a HARD to source part
--S&W makes changes on occasion and it isn't necessarily because an earlier design was weak, bad or prone to failure.

We could successfully argue that the 52-2 extractor is a better and more resilient design than the 52/52-1, however -- I don't believe it is necessarily fair to thusly label the 52/52-1 design as weak or prone to failure.

Bottom line on purchasing a 52-1, in my opinion:
The market typically says the 52-1 goes for same as 52-2 at most and often LESS money. If the price of the 52-1 in your opportunity to buy is right for you, I think you'll be buying a solid (and amazing) pistol. However, I can't ignore reality-- the replacement part is very difficult and expensive to source.

The market reflects that.

 

[JohnHL]

This very recent thread seems to indicate that Jack First has long extractors available.

Jack First's 39 long extractors

It doesn't mention a price.

Anybody know what Jack First charges for an old, long 39 or 52 extractor?

And are the 39 and 52 long extractors different?

John

 

[Sevens]

One added thought on the Model 52 extractor change:

The original no-dash 39 and the 52/52-1 have a similar long extractor and they were changed at the same time or awfully close. At the time, the 39 was a hard-use issued Police sidearm, while the 52 was an elite, high-priced hand built precision competition target handgun.

If you research the 39's history and evolution, I'm sure that you'll find plenty of evidence that the original long extractor was a genuine weak point. Considering the typical lifestyle of a 39 compared to a 52, I would argue (successfully so!) a radically different use and handling environment.

I think most know (or should know) that NO semiautomatic in existence should routinely be put in the position of slamming a slide/extractor over an already chambered round. In looking at the difference between the old style long extractor and the modern style spring-loaded pivoting extractor, it's easy to see that the modern style can better deal with this issue, though it isn't good for either design.

It seems to me that a typical 52 and it's old style long extractor would be handle in a MUCH different manner than a truckload of issued police pistols might have been. I believe this is why long time 52/52-1 owners typically report -NO- extractor problems and typically report that they bought a back-up part and never needed it.

It's my position that S&W never envisioned any problem with the long extractor on the 52-1 pistol -- however, they changed it to the new style simply as it was an improved design and it would also be very typical and expected simply for the ease of manufacture and the streamlining of manufacture to have the pistols using extractors of very similar design.

Let's also not forget why S&W has made MOST of their small changes over time... it's simply due to cost savings. The updated extractor is a less expensive part, and you can easily tell this if you have ever seen each of them outside of a pistol. Just as S&W quit doing "pinned and recessed" in Magnum revolvers, it wasn't because either was a weak point -- it was simply a less expensive evolution of the model.

52 and 52-1 "legend" is that the extractor is weak and prome to failure, but I don't believe the "legend." What I definitely do believe is that if you need to replace a 52/52-1 extractor, it won't be a pleasant experience.

 

[Sevens]

And are the 39 and 52 long extractors different?

John

I can confirm that indeed, they are different, right where it matters -- at the hook where the part engages the rim of the cartridge case.

I can only confirm visually and I can't get a quality picture of it.

What I have on hand is a 52/52-1 long extractor (single part) and I also have a 31xxx Model 39 no-dash. Looking at the pistol from above, it isn't difficult to see that they are different.

It seems possible that someone skilled in small metalwork could alter one to work in the other, but it seems like that same person (with those skills?) would be better off fabbing an entire part rather than altering one.

 

[JohnHL]

Now that they are available new again, no need to modify one for the other.

People can once again buy a spare if they are concerned and the whole "will it break?" discussion becomes academic.

John

 

[Jeff423]

Gents


A guy is selling a -2 in about 80-85% condition, some handling marks but unfortunately the slide was drilled and tapped for a two base scope mount. To add insult to injury the front sight was filed down. How hard is to to repair/replace the front sight? I suppose the holes in the slide could filled and reblued. What would be a fair price for the pistol? Comes with three mags.

Thanks

$600 - $800. It's only value is as a shooter. If it were me I would get a no drill mount from BME or use the existing holes and shoot it with a red dot. It's doubtful the repairs would add to it's value.
Years ago I bought one for $500 that didn't have any extra holes and the sight was the proper height, but had severe finish/appearance issues. A couple of years later I got a beautiful one for $800 but it didn't shoot any better.