Until tonight, I thought this might be something I might want, to shoot. Apparently it's NOT a model 52, it's modified model 39, and while I bet collectors will want to own one, I'm not sure what I'd do with it. In reality, it is a model 39, not 52, with a changed name, and the other changes S&W made. Oh well, I thought this might be something to search for......
52A factory box
- Thread starter gmborkovic
- Start date
Ahhhhh, this makes sense!
It most definitely was the 1964 date that had me confused. And their deciding on a whim to name it the 52-A and then later develop the Model 52 pistol...?!?!
I can't be the first victim of this nonsense!
It most definitely was the 1964 date that had me confused. And their deciding on a whim to name it the 52-A and then later develop the Model 52 pistol...?!?!
I can't be the first victim of this nonsense!
Of my first edits to the Blue Book of Gun Values, over 20 year ago, was the Model 39s (only listed as 39-2) and correct the 52-A which was mistakenly described as the some configuration of a 52 with a 5 inch barrel, etc.
I also wrote re-wrote the Schofield section, a few of the Model 3 variations, the Pre-29 and the Chief Special Target variations among others.
Prior to 1995 I thought my first few old Chief Specials were wrong because the BBGV described them a bright blue finish instead of the standard post-war (matte) finish.
If you have and blue book around 1995 or so, go take a look.
I also wrote re-wrote the Schofield section, a few of the Model 3 variations, the Pre-29 and the Chief Special Target variations among others.
Prior to 1995 I thought my first few old Chief Specials were wrong because the BBGV described them a bright blue finish instead of the standard post-war (matte) finish.
If you have and blue book around 1995 or so, go take a look.
Ahhhhh, this makes sense!
It most definitely was the 1964 date that had me confused. And their deciding on a whim to name it the 52-A and then later develop the Model 52 pistol...?!?!
I can't be the first victim of this nonsense!
The in-house designation for what later became the 52-A was the Model 39-1. Somewhere I posted an ad from one of the big suppliers of the day offering the 39-1 / 52A guns.
IIRC ... The Model 52s, as we know them (starting somewhere near SN: 50000), were already in production when the factory decided (for ... I don't know what reason) to stamp the 38 AMU as 52-A (in the 358xx SN range) that were previously stamped Model 52, with a hand stamped "A" added.
No wonder there is so much confusion.
The 52-A had been shelved for quite awhile after production until they were released to the public after the Model 52s had been out awhile.
Just a matter of bottom line why S&W released the 52-A instead of scrapping them.
Last edited:
Thanks Sal. So the bottom line is there should be confusion becase S&W made it that way. The 2 things they could have done they did not.
1. Keep the 52A as a 39-1
2. Name the new model 52 series with their own specific model designation since the 52 was already taken by the 39-1 (.38 AMU Army Match Pistol).
I had always been told by S&W people that if I wanted to complete my model 39 series collection, I needed the 52 series pistols as well, since they were actually 39-1s. Well the fact is that only the 52A was a 39-1. Like I said teh 52As are ghosts, so I had no intention of trying to fill that hole unless I got extremely lucky. I am sure if a 52A aka 39-1 comes up for sale here or on the Big Auction Board it will be out of my prce range!
1. Keep the 52A as a 39-1
2. Name the new model 52 series with their own specific model designation since the 52 was already taken by the 39-1 (.38 AMU Army Match Pistol).
I had always been told by S&W people that if I wanted to complete my model 39 series collection, I needed the 52 series pistols as well, since they were actually 39-1s. Well the fact is that only the 52A was a 39-1. Like I said teh 52As are ghosts, so I had no intention of trying to fill that hole unless I got extremely lucky. I am sure if a 52A aka 39-1 comes up for sale here or on the Big Auction Board it will be out of my prce range!
Last edited:
Have a 52A (ANIB), M-52 and M52-1 (ANIB) the latter 2 from member Norman Hall appx 1995, from his Dad's collection. I never shot either of them. I also have about a dozen boxes of factory pack .38 AMU ammo.
ordnanceguy
Member
Hi Mike:
I don't own a M52-A but I saw that a nice one just sold at auction. I remembered this thread. As per your request below is an image of the box.
Regards,
Charlie
OP
Thanks Charlie, Do my eyes deceive me? Or does the pic show the lid pushed down into the bottom of the box? And the bottom
is wearing the label? best, Mike
is wearing the label? best, Mike
I don't know if this will shed a little light or confuse the issue worse. It is my understanding that the balance of the unused AMU pistols were finally sold off from the factory to Gil Hebard, who owned a fair sized gun shop in Knoxville IL. and was a mainstay in the Bullseye community. An elderly acquaintance of mine, Frank Lewton, (now deceased), a long time gun show dealer purchased a large number of them from Gil and sold them off. He also had a very large quantity of the 38 AMU ammo. After his death about 3-4 years ago I was at an auction which included the remains of Frank Lewton's estate, and there was still about 40 to 50 boxes of the 38 AMU ammo which sold out at the auction for about $5 a box.
Frank had been a real character and sold guns from his home in Quincy, IL for many years as well as attending many Gun Shows. Some time in the 70's, when he tired of the GCA68 requirements on FFL's he changed to buying and selling diamonds and jewelry as he would say "There's no S/N's on diamonds". Quite a nice character, he was in his upper 90's when he passed.
I still have a book written by Gil Hebard, "The Pistol Shooters Treasury". 2nd edition published in 1973. It has articles written by such notables as:
Bill Joyner, Bill Blakenship, Bill Taney, Paul Weston, Harry Reeves, Joe White, Lew Weinstein, Dick Shockey, Jim Clark, CCI Tech Staff, and the US Army Advamced Marksmanship Unit. It contains a lot of marksmanship information you seldom see today. Tips on how and why for accurate competition shooting. If you ever see one in a used book store pick it up you won't be disappointed.
Frank had been a real character and sold guns from his home in Quincy, IL for many years as well as attending many Gun Shows. Some time in the 70's, when he tired of the GCA68 requirements on FFL's he changed to buying and selling diamonds and jewelry as he would say "There's no S/N's on diamonds". Quite a nice character, he was in his upper 90's when he passed.
I still have a book written by Gil Hebard, "The Pistol Shooters Treasury". 2nd edition published in 1973. It has articles written by such notables as:
Bill Joyner, Bill Blakenship, Bill Taney, Paul Weston, Harry Reeves, Joe White, Lew Weinstein, Dick Shockey, Jim Clark, CCI Tech Staff, and the US Army Advamced Marksmanship Unit. It contains a lot of marksmanship information you seldom see today. Tips on how and why for accurate competition shooting. If you ever see one in a used book store pick it up you won't be disappointed.
Last edited:
AJ
US Veteran
Just read through this thread. Saw post by Model3SW. Sure do miss talking and PM'ing him. God Bless you Sal!
ordnanceguy
Member
Hi Mike:
The pic is a little bit deceptive but if one looks at the finger cut outs for the top on the right side of the box your eyes will adjust and you will realize that the label is on the box top in the proper upside-down orientation used by the factory.
Charlie
ordnanceguy
Member
After looking through this old thread once again I realized that it contains no images for the Model 52-A. Most collectors have never seen one as they are so scarce. I thought I would post a few of the auction images here to preserve them for future collectors wondering just what the 52-A was all about.
Charlie
And a close up to show the Model markings and the serial number. I have lightened the auction image just a bit to make the numbers easier to read.
Charlie
And a close up to show the Model markings and the serial number. I have lightened the auction image just a bit to make the numbers easier to read.
Does anyone have a photo of the magazines. Just curious about the difference between it and 52-1 mag. Thanks
OP
Hello Cal, mag follower has a vertical extension on the back of the follower.
OP
Sir, saw the cut out about 2 mins after I posted. Thanks, Mike
rck281
Member
Back in the 1980's, I owned a consecutive pair 35882 and ??. 35882 was NIB and the other one was also NIB but the rats had chewed on the box (according to Roy). My understand 10 were shipped to the military and 77 were release to the public after the military rejected the new pistol. The story I heard was that the military requested a pistol to shoot by the Army Marksman Team thus the name of the cartridge 38AMU. Colt also made some pistols chambered for the 38AMU. The army rejected S&W first effort (the 52A) and S&W then developed the M52. Notice that the trigger mechanism on the M52 is the DA/SA from the M39 with a screw to lock out the DA part.
OP
Im the OP. So the conclusion is the 52A was shipped in a pre-Bangor box that was the same size as the 39 box. It had the
applied white, up side down white label on the lid and the other
end was blank. Rod and brush but no parts list. Thanks, Mike
applied white, up side down white label on the lid and the other
end was blank. Rod and brush but no parts list. Thanks, Mike
Similar threads
Sold/Withdrawn
Factory S&W boxes for model 41(SOLD) & 638 - REDUCED
