A Model 52-1, 9mm ...

[PeteC]

... a gun that sold on GB, with German proof marks (Ulm proof house, 1969, and re-imported to the US)

Just a moment...
(link to closed auction!)

I was not the buyer, or even a bidder, just curious if anyone knows the story behind this model in 9mm. was it made just for export to Germany?

I know there was another thread here earlier this year, with no pics. This listing has plenty, including details of the sights, the magazine, etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BC38]

That is a really weird one. My guess - for what it's worth - is that it is mismarked.
We all know the M52 is chambered for 38 wadcutters and has a rather unusual threaded-barrel-and-bushing arrangement. Those are the two features I am aware of that make it unique.
The one in this auction doesn't have either of those, so it seems unlikely that it is legitimately a M52.
But with S&W the one rule to always remember is never say never...

 

[Krogen]

No expert, but the trigger looks wrong to me. Looks like a typical DA/SA trigger.

 

[Sevens]

I see lots of things and none of them seem too mysterious except why someone would pay that kind of money for this.

Specifically...
Definitely a 52-1 frame. The stamping is obvious and the SN is correct for a 52-1. It also has the telltale trigger overtravel stop which is easily seen and it has the rail machined in to accept the factory counterweight and the set screw divot for that weight is apparent on the underside of the frame dust cover. So no question that the frame itself is correct.

The trigger looks like any/every other 39-2 trigger. Absolutely not any 52 trigger. Same with the hammer. Looks like a 39-2 hammer and not even close to a 52 hammer.

The slide is purely a 39-2 including the updated newer style extractor. The rear sight looks like the S&W factory accessory two-way adjustable rear sight that was offered for the 39-2 in the 1970's and perhaps early 1980's and the "lollipop" style of the entire sight base is present and typical.

The barrel is likely original to the high production/easy to source 39-2 slide, as it the bushing.

The net result seems to be a 39-2 with a steel frame and a curious mystery of what happened to all of the BEST parts that are now gone. The magazine is a typical 39-2 magazine which fit in a 52-1 frame, but a sloppy rattle-fit. If the Dr. Frankenstein that made this had skill, it's possible that he added material inside the magazine well to tighten the fit of a 39 magazine in here.

I don't like it -- I would never expect this to shoot any better than any of the 300,000+ other 39 pistols ever made (which is fine and nice, but miles away from what every Model 52 is capable of doing.) If the magazine sits in there properly, I see no reason to expect that it doesn't function well.

It's almost like taking a Ferrari and removing the engine and transmission... AND removing the body and all the body work but keeping the chassis, and then dropping a small block Chevy in there and welding on all the exterior pieces of a random Camaro.

I can believe that it works, but I cannot understand what would ever make anyone create this. And the only real annoyance that I'm having trouble digesting is the idea that this is being billed as a "Model 52 chambered in 9mm" because it really isn't that. It's a Model 52-1 frame that's been stuffed in absolutely every direction with 39-2 parts.

I think legitimate $USD value of this is something around $500. It's not a high grade 39-2, but I suppose there must be some value in a non-alloy frame...?

I have a 52-1 and a pair of 52-2 pistols and they are phenomenal and the dash-1 is the best of the three. I wouldn't swap any of my 52's for three of these silly concoctions.

Sorry if (when...) someone finds this too blunt.

 

[Sevens]

Let's say you are at the range with your awesome 52-1 and you decide to field strip, wipe the rails and the top of the frame as you plan to re-lube and reassemble.

However after the field strip, the oysters you ate for lunch have turned against you and things are churning and your drawers are moments away from being violently assaulted from within. You make a full-throttle sprint to the bathroom to avoid total pollution.

Problem resolved, you return to the range only to find that some dirty scoundrel has stolen the top half of your 52-1 and your magazine and only the lower half remains. You gather what you have left, crestfallen, and return home with only half a 52-1 pistol, clean underwear and much regret.

What to do?!?! A-HA! Sourcing the top half of a 39-2 isn't that difficult and you manage to mate this high production factory 39-2 top half with your elite lower 52-1 pistol and now you have a functional handgun once again.

Plausible? Maybe. Possible? Seems likely.

However! Nobody did that! Instead, they ripped all of the finest guts out of that elite 52-1 lower and replaced the guts with 39-2 parts. So of course, the gilt-edged accurate .38 Wadcutter 5-inch barrel is gone, that amazing Dwayne Charron bushing is forever gone, but now with your own freewill and time and (admittedly low) expense, you've gotten rid of one of the Mt. Rushmore of elite single action trigger pulls in handgun history and replaced it with a high production DA/SA getup... and you actually did this on purpose?!

I need a drink. Insert facepalm emoji.

 

[cougar015]

There was a limited number of Model 52-1's Manufactured in 9mm with a 4 inch barrel and slide but these guns were in the 55,000-58,000 s/n range. They would not have the model 39-2 extractor/slide as seen in this example that just sold on GB so I would support Sevens theory on this particular gun. The rear sight is different than a standard model 39-2 sight. A second possibility is there was speculation that a model 52 kit to convert a gun to 9mm was available in Europe back in the 90's. S/N 102265 does fall in the range for later Model 52-1 but they ones I have seen have a 5" barrel and are 38 MR caliber. Having collected S&W for 30 years the one thing I have come to realize is anything is possible.

 

[Jim Watson]

The rear sight is different than a standard model 39-2 sight.

Don't get excited, guys. The sight is an MMC, so marked. They did a lively business in those days selling dinky little adjustable sights to fit factory dovetails and low enough to zero with factory front sights.
Did S&W ever offer guns with them already installed?
I don't know, but they were meant as DIY.
I never have understood that M39 sight base.

 

[Kp321]

Sounds like someone wanted a steel frame 39. Wish I had all the leftover parts.

 

[PeteC]

Not sure if I am just helping to perpetuate a prank here, if so, (@Sevens and others) my sincere apologies.

Model 52-1 9 mm luger

This is the link to a previous thread in this forum. It refers to an auction in Europe last March. I remember coming across the thread a few months ago. One of the last posts said the auction ended on "April 1st", so I made the obvious conclusion, chuckled and forgot about it.

8 months later, the same gun, with the SAME s/n, sold on GB.



edit:

Maybe I am the one who should have had that drink last night, instead of surfing GB again,

 

[handejector]

I did not read this whole thread, but I'll just state what I see:
It is a parts gun. The buyer got hosed.
The rear sight is clearly marked MMC. That was an aftermarket adjustable sight offered way back (1970s?, 1980s?).

The slide is not fitted to the frame. On a Mod 52??? C'mon.....

The frame is PROOFED. The slide and barrel have NONE. They should be proof marked:

 

[stansdds]

Parts gun, no doubt. Anyone else notice the stamping at the bottom of the magazine well? Looks like TAI Minot, ND. I'm guessing that is an arms importer? Is it worth $2125? No way.

 

[Sevens]

The Attic, Inc. They scour Europe and import mostly awesome stuff. I bought a 1986 born Walther GSP-c from them. Lots and lots of WISCHO Performance Center Limited guns.

 

[PeteC]

The Attic, Inc. They scour Europe and import mostly awesome stuff. I bought a 1986 born Walther GSP-c from them. Lots and lots of WISCHO Performance Center Limited guns.

TAI was the importer and the seller that offered the gun in the auction. I was not sure if I could name the company here, but they have an over 99% positive rating. They have sold other Model 52's and other target models recently, which looked as expected.

My only interest was curiosity about the gun, and the proof stamps, or their absence. I own a couple other guns that made the round from to Europe, by way of the WISCHO distributor. I did not know what to make of this one, which is why I asked, and only when the auction ended.

A pic of the same gun (with the same s/n) was posted in this forum earlier this year. The current buyer has also posted about it on another forum.

 

[mauser9]

Thread makes me wish I bought a 952.

 

[hoytx10]

It’s a shame the 52-1 9mm is so rare that we really don’t know what one looks like.

 

[diyj98]

Notice they have "no returns" listed as well as "know what you're buying".

 

[stansdds]

Thread makes me wish I bought a 952.

I thought that too, but then again, I have never found the 9x19mm caliber to be a particularly good target caliber. It's good at what it was designed to be, a military sidearm round, but not necessarily a precision pistol round.

 

[rolandj]

Some rough workmanship around those pin holes and on the pin faces.

 

[Sevens]

I thought that too, but then again, I have never found the 9x19mm caliber to be a particularly good target caliber. It's good at what it was designed to be, a military sidearm round, but not necessarily a precision pistol round.

I agree with you and hardcore Bullseye competitors absolutely agree with you.

That said however... I still -LOVE- my 952's and other PC Limited 9mm guns. In a showdown for pink slips, I'm grabbing a 945 or better yet, my 845. But the 952 is a sweetheart and absolutely worth chasing down and owning.

But wringing the gilt-edge accuracy from 9mm is not nearly as easy as with .45 Auto.