You're gonna love it, tlawler! They are spectacular guns. They almost shoot by themselves. Not like a P320 
but they just seem to know how to drill the X.
but they just seem to know how to drill the X.
Model 52 that my heart desires!
- Thread starter tlawler
- Start date
OP
Now that I have the full s/n, I checked the completed s/n lookup database. The two closest are 55569 shipped in June '64 and 55985 shipped in Oct '64. The Oct pistol is only 49 ahead of mine, so my guess would be Sept or Oct '64…earlier than I thought…Cool! I requested a ship date, so we'll get to see how close I am.
I know S&W s/n's are notoriously non-sequential, but from the 20 or so I checked, I think there were three that were out of sequence.
I know S&W s/n's are notoriously non-sequential, but from the 20 or so I checked, I think there were three that were out of sequence.
The 52 bushing wrench is a horrible device that does not deserve the title of "tool." It's sharp, sheet metal garbage. It also simply does not fit with any sublime Model 52.
Much like an oil filter and oil filter wrench, you SHOULD need a tool only once, if that. Only if the ham-fisted previous owner over tightened the bushing or it is glued with rotten lacquered up RemOil.
Use the socket to carefully remove it and re-install finger tight.
Every single bit of a Model 52 is elite but that OEM wrench is befitting some chineeze "assemble yourself" furniture.
Great deal on a gorgeous pistol!
Much like an oil filter and oil filter wrench, you SHOULD need a tool only once, if that. Only if the ham-fisted previous owner over tightened the bushing or it is glued with rotten lacquered up RemOil.
Use the socket to carefully remove it and re-install finger tight.
Every single bit of a Model 52 is elite but that OEM wrench is befitting some chineeze "assemble yourself" furniture.
Great deal on a gorgeous pistol!
Nothing I can add to that, Sevens! You are so right. There should be absolutely no need for the "tool." All the tools one should need for the bushing are sticking out from one's palms!
tlawler: It looks like you got a really nice M-52 for yourself. No bushing wrench is needed for that pistol. I tighten mine up finger tight and leave it there. That was how I was told to do it years ago by a factory armorer at a department school. I have used that method with great success. I use a 12 pt. socket only when needed, but make sure it is square to the bushing, but I don't use the socket for final tightening. The bushing wrench can actually distort the teeth on the bushing.
Cleanliness is important with these pistols. Kept clean and well lubed with good oil it will reward you with faultless operation. If it were my pistol I would most certainly replace the recoil spring ASAP. Save the old one, but replace it. I would also scope the barrel and make sure all is well inside it.
A good cleaning is the first order of business. No limp wristing this pistol either. A M-52 has a unique way of telling you that you are doing things right. If not, it will tell you that too.
I think you made an outstanding buy if all is well mechanically with your pistol and I am a bit jealous. The more I think about it, in this marketplace, that pistol for $1K was a deal. Do not lose the box as so many do.
I hope it brings you much enjoyment....
Rick H.
Cleanliness is important with these pistols. Kept clean and well lubed with good oil it will reward you with faultless operation. If it were my pistol I would most certainly replace the recoil spring ASAP. Save the old one, but replace it. I would also scope the barrel and make sure all is well inside it.
A good cleaning is the first order of business. No limp wristing this pistol either. A M-52 has a unique way of telling you that you are doing things right. If not, it will tell you that too.
I think you made an outstanding buy if all is well mechanically with your pistol and I am a bit jealous. The more I think about it, in this marketplace, that pistol for $1K was a deal. Do not lose the box as so many do.
I hope it brings you much enjoyment....
Rick H.
gnappi
Member
My first one was I think $550 new in the box.
I found that cutting .38 special brass down to 9mm length it fed round nose 125-135 grain home cast bullets beautifully and a lot cheaper than buying greasy wad cutter bullets
I found that cutting .38 special brass down to 9mm length it fed round nose 125-135 grain home cast bullets beautifully and a lot cheaper than buying greasy wad cutter bullets
I had one in the late 1980's and it was the most accurate pistol I've ever owned. Simply a joy to shoot. It always made me look like I knew what I was doing at the range.
Then one day it went full auto on me. The first two rounds hit the target, the third made a hole in the ceiling tile in the range and the fourth round jammed just slightly out of battery.
I sent it back to S&W explaining what had happened, they repaired it and returned it without any explanation. I sold it as soon as I got it back.
In all fairness I bought it used. While it was in beautiful condition cosmetically who knows what happened to it mechanically before I got it.
Whenever I think about shooting that pistol, I initially feel like I would love another. Then I remember what happened and I just forget about it.
I am sure you will have better luck….
Exchipy
Member
I shot a Model 52 pretty well when I was on my Army post pistol team as a draftee in the early '70s. So, I got one for myself after I discharged. Never one to leave a gun "as is," I later obtained from S&W (possible in those days) a 3rd Generation 3904 trigger, drawbar and hammer, and installed them in my 52. Worked great, and it was most entertaining to have a SA/DA .38SPL pistol capable of shooting with match level precision. Unfortunately, I eventually grew bored with it, reinstalled the original parts, then sold or traded it (which I now regret, of course).
halfmoonclip
Member
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- Sep 23, 2003
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It's been my experience that mine will only run on skirted wadcutters. My Full Charge Wadcutters, loaded with Berry's DEWCs, won't cycle the gun. Go figure.
But standard WC loads should be fine; 3.0/W231 works for me.
Great pistol, amazingly mellow to shoot.
Moon
BTW, this one doesn't show the usual spot for wear; most spent their lives in old-time pistol boxes, where they experienced wear at the front of the slide.
M
halfmoonclip
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- Sep 23, 2003
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- 264
- Reaction score
- 241
Oddly, had a M39 that doubled, as did a friends. But I'm guessing they had been bubba-smithed; perhaps your gun suffered a similar fate. The 59 was meant for a bunch of shooting.
Moon
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