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07-15-2012, 07:45 AM
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Smith and Wesson Model 52
Can anyone tell me what happened to the Smith and Wesson Model 52 - was in .38 S&W, semi-auto and I believe a 5 round mag, took 6 with one in the chamber. Real nice piece of engineering. Any links where I can find out more about it, it's history, pictures etc. Thanks. Dave
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07-15-2012, 08:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcjack
Can anyone tell me what happened to the Smith and Wesson Model 52 - was in .38 S&W, semi-auto and I believe a 5 round mag, took 6 with one in the chamber. Real nice piece of engineering. Any links where I can find out more about it, it's history, pictures etc. Thanks. Dave
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Can you be a bit more specific about - 'what happened to it'?
The model with three variations was made from roughly 1961[as a double action] followed by the -1 in 1963 and the -2 in approx. 1971. The later two versions did not have the double action feature.
They were all very time consuming highly hand worked pistols having a superb trigger and capable of outstanding accuracy.
The last -2 was made in 1993.
There were never a lot of this model available but the total actually produced is not noted in the SCSW book.
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07-15-2012, 08:18 AM
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Pick up a copy of the Standard Catalog Smith & Wesson 3rd Edition (aka SCSW) and it has a some great details on the development of the Model 52 and its earlier versions of the Mod 39-1 and Mod 52A. I believe that Roy Jinks has a book called the History of Smith & Wesson that also covers it. Both books are fairly easy to find and affordable. Otherwise I would just do a standard web search to find out more information as I'm sure its out there, I just don't know where right now.
Your search for the info on the 52 will be fun and probably result in you spending a lot of money. Enjoy it.
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07-15-2012, 10:14 AM
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It is truly a great pistol. They are super accurate and fun to shoot. The model 52 and model 41 in my opinion are the top two autos that smith has made.
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J. Mark McCarver
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07-15-2012, 10:43 AM
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Here's a couple photos of a Model 52:
... and here's a link to some threads:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/searchr...y%26t%3D258937
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07-15-2012, 11:15 AM
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Thanks fellas, fantastic and swift response from the forum, being new here have ordered a SCSW on your recommendation. In asking what happened to the Model 52, I guess you have answered my question, didn't realise the last ones were built in 1993. An old friend of mine had one with an anatomical grip, used it at 25 yards for precision single handed shooting to excellent effect with Winchester.38sp but until he got it perfected had difficuilties with home loads, getting the right components for good cycling and the bullet correct fitment in the case. Thanks for the pictures and the thread links, I'll enjoy reading those - I appreciate it. Makes you wonder what filled it's gap? - or is there a gap for a precision .38 centre fire semi auto pistol anymore?
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07-15-2012, 11:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcjack
Thanks fellas, fantastic and swift response from the forum, being new here have ordered a SCSW on your recommendation. In asking what happened to the Model 52, I guess you have answered my question, didn't realise the last ones were built in 1993. An old friend of mine had one with an anatomical grip, used it at 25 yards for precision single handed shooting to excellent effect with Winchester.38sp but until he got it perfected had difficuilties with home loads, getting the right components for good cycling and the bullet correct fitment in the case. Thanks for the pictures and the thread links, I'll enjoy reading those - I appreciate it. Makes you wonder what filled it's gap? - or is there a gap for a precision .38 centre fire semi auto pistol anymore?
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Depending upon what discipline you're shooting the use of highly accurate pistols in 32 long using wadcutters may have helped displace the 52 with the 38 wadcutter.
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07-15-2012, 11:52 AM
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"Model 52 - was in .38 S&W"
That's .38 S&W SPECIAL Midrange.
Its niche in formal target shooting was filled by the .45 ACP.
US NRA National Match calls for Smallbore (.22), Centerfire (.32+), and Bigbore (.45).
A lot of competitors found it was simpler and less expensive to just shoot their .45 in the centerfire phase instead of buying and maintaining a traditional .38.
As I understand it, the .32 S&W Long wadcutter guns are mostly seen in ISU matches at 25 metres. The .38 and .45 are preferred for US NRA out to 50 yards. But people will try anything they think will get them ahead. Look up the story of the .22 Askins Centerfire to see why the minimum caliber is .32.
Last edited by Jim Watson; 07-15-2012 at 11:54 AM.
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07-15-2012, 02:35 PM
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A lot of the bullseye shooters that I knew 25 or 30 years ago would not used the Model 52 because the grip shape was so different from the 1911 style pistol. Some went so far as to use 22 conversion units (like the old Kart or newer Marvel units) on their 45 frames to be consistent with grip shape through the three gun National Match course.
Colt also made a .38 Special mid range pistol in their National Match/Gold Cup line. It was never very successful because of functioning difficulties.
Several custom gunsmiths built .38 Special semi-autos on Colt frames (generally using 38 Super pistols). Clark and Giles were two. I had a Giles .38 Special pistol years ago that was just wonderful.
- - - - Buckspen
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07-15-2012, 03:20 PM
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Every single part to a M52 except the frame and grips:
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07-15-2012, 03:20 PM
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The 52 is a fantastic gun. If you are planning to get one to shoot, the 52-2 is the best version to have since it has the improved extractor design. As for more info on this gun, try clicking on the Tag at the bottom of the page which will bring up all of the posts that mention the 52.
Here's my mid 1970s 52-2 in the original box along with the ammo it's designed for.
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07-15-2012, 08:23 PM
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45 Wheelgun - think you are showing 52-2 parts based on shown extractor.
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07-15-2012, 08:25 PM
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Thanks Tom, you are correct of course, I should have been more specific.
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Dave
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07-15-2012, 08:45 PM
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Here is my 52-1 that is well used. I shot the group below rested at 10 yards. My reloads 148 HBWC over 3.0 grains of W231. They are great guns.
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07-15-2012, 09:57 PM
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I had the pleasure of working across the bench from Joe Foster, the primary inventor of the Model 39, 52 and 59 S&W pistols, for two days back in about 1978 or 79, when I was rangemaster for our department. Our department had about 300 Model 59's at the time, which was about half the department, and they had feeding and extraction problems, as did most of the early 59's. S&W brought Joe Foster back out of retirement to come up with a fix for the problem, and he came up with a new extractor (marked with a punch mark on the front), extractor spring, barrel bushing and magazine followers with four legs. I believe there was another part, but it was a long time ago and I can't remember what it was.
Anyway, we worked on guns for two days together, along with Henry Perez, of Cheshire & Perez, the Calif. distributor for S&W at the time. We talked while working and Joe Foster was a wealth of knowledge about S&W handguns. They figured that after two days, I could handle the rest of the 59's by myself, and they moved on to another department to fix their pistols.
Joe Foster said one of the hardest things to overcome with the Model 52 was reliable feeding of the full wadcutter .38 Special. He also said the Model 39 was developed in response to an Air Force request, but they didn't buy the guns, so S&W decided to sell them to the public, and the rest is history.
Hope this helps.
Fred
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08-23-2012, 01:35 PM
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Model 52-2 Ser # QUESTION
New to forum. Before I ask, yes I have obtained an electronic version of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. Well worth the money to know more about my 52-2 and an old snubby model 37 Chief's special airweight passed down to me from my Dad. I'm pleased to say BOTH are 99% with original boxes and all the goodies. The 52-2 I recently aquired is ser # TYPxxxx. Hadn't seen any #'s like that on this forum, but it appears this is a very late production model. If I'm looking this up correctly, it seems it falls into the 1991 range THA - TVC. Is that correct? Mine came with everything (all the tools, warranty card, safety stiff, extra mag . . . but no manual. S&W sending me one, but tells me 20-30 days. Naturally I've already torn it down and didn't have a problem but . . . be nice to have.
Last, I've seen several mentions of a 1963 article in Gun Digest (?) that is said to be the best info on a model 52. Can anybody link me to where that is?
Thanks all - aplogize in advance if posting question in wrong forum.
JayHutch
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08-25-2012, 02:48 PM
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Yes, that's a late production gun. They stopped making the Model 52-2 in 1993. I've got the article so I'll send you a PM.
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08-26-2012, 07:57 AM
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TX - You know I've read here and elsewhere that the late production 52-2's weren't built as well as the earlier one's. Mine looks and shoots absolutely perfectly. Has that feel in the hand, and appearance that a custom hand fitted 1911 has. If the early one's are even more impressive, it looks like I'll be needing to have a couple more of these!!
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08-26-2012, 09:29 AM
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A couple years ago, I got into shooting NRA BE at my club. I showed up with an iron sight buckmark and a Kimber thinking I would easily take a match against a bunch of vey nice but very shaky gentlemen, the youngest of whom was 30 years my senior.
They had big ole heavy 41's and 52's with red dots. They beat me so bad that I actually laughed out loud. Then I told them why (thought I could win) and they laughed even louder.
One of them handed me a 52-2 to feel the trigger. My jaw dropped. Then he handed me a mag full of these odd looking rounds and said "She cycles slow and she don't give em away for nuthin. You gotta be steady, but squeeze her till she bleeds oil".
Then I handed him $1200 for that gun with the box and everything that it came with new, including 4 extra magazines, the barrel weight, and the grip adapter with his red dot.
I told him with a grin, "We'll see you next Thursday." That old man reached into his range bag, pulled out ANOTHER 52 and said, "We'll be here."
That was two years ago...I hope to win a match someday.
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08-26-2012, 10:10 AM
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Great story Avery. I thought my old-ish eyes were the problem. You know, having to choose between seeing the front sight, or the target . . . 'cause you weren't gonna see both at the same time!!
Well that M52-2 has renewed my faith. That sweet shooting hunk of beautiful old blue metal sure makes me look like a better shot. That is, until you run into really good shooters like your old buds. That 52-2 would have outshot me when I was 35.
OLD GUYS RULE.
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08-26-2012, 10:18 AM
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Hey - by the way. I saw some "older" guys at the range with some strange shooting glasses. Shoulda asked them, but I bet it was something to help with the exact problem I'm having, having to choose between seeing the front sight of my 52-2, or the target. I'm sure someone out there has similar depth-of-field problems. See like an eagle everywhere . . . except an arms length away. Any ideas anyone? Wrong forum maybe, but I only really care about it with my S&W 52-2. (Still able to put 8 rounds center mass hand size @ 30 ft with my EDC - not sure how)
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08-26-2012, 10:36 AM
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Jay,
Though I cannot help with the glasses (still have eagle eyes) I do know they exist.
Seems I saw a guy wearing a pair made specifically for shooting.
A quick Google search turned up this excellent article posted on Gunblast.
High Quality Prescription Shooting Glasses from SafeVision, LLC
Old guys DO rule! Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.
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08-26-2012, 10:49 AM
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I have been shooting S&W Model 52s, 52-1s and 52-2s for over twenty years. I even have a Model 39 converted to use a Model 52 slide and barrel. Based on this, you can imagine my surprise when the guy that does my reloading (Dale at Ammo-Ammo , Miami) told me that I had to have the above gun. It is a Model 52-2 that has numerous factory upgrades. I bought the gun from Dale and these are the FIRST targets that I shot with the new (to me) gun. All groups were shot off hand with iron sights. Prior to shooting this gun, I did not think that it was possible to improve a standard Model 52.
Mark
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08-26-2012, 11:14 AM
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Here's a 52 I used quite a bit for NRA bullseye and some international stuff...it wears a BoMar rear and a slightly built-up front.
Bob
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08-27-2012, 08:13 AM
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Sweet machines guys. I've bought a lot of guns, but very few have made me as pleased (or impressed) as this S&W Model 52-2
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07-15-2015, 04:12 AM
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I have a s&w model 52-1 without the dash? It just says 52 1? Is ther any significance in that?
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07-15-2015, 08:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JayHutch
Hey - by the way. I saw some "older" guys at the range with some strange shooting glasses. Shoulda asked them, but I bet it was something to help with the exact problem I'm having, having to choose between seeing the front sight of my 52-2, or the target. I'm sure someone out there has similar depth-of-field problems. See like an eagle everywhere . . . except an arms length away. Any ideas anyone? Wrong forum maybe, but I only really care about it with my S&W 52-2. (Still able to put 8 rounds center mass hand size @ 30 ft with my EDC - not sure how)
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Have the same problem. The old bullseye shooters trick was to use a pin hole optical disc on the shooting glasses. There are several commercial models available (Merit possibly being one of the better)- but are on the pricey side. I bought a jewelers loupe on E-bay for $6 and took the lens out and replaced it with a cut down plastic bottom from a 35 mm film can. Put a 1/16th hole in the middle - works fine for me. In the perfect world, especially for outdoor shooting, the appature size will need to change slightly for changes in lighting (sunlight vs overcast) but my cheap-o works fine for me.
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07-15-2015, 04:22 PM
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model 52
Drop me an e-mail, to any and all interested in the Article Gil Hebbard wrote when he tested 3-4 model 52s. Great reading, and a great explanation on what this pistol was created to do.
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07-16-2015, 11:10 PM
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email sent.
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