Considering buying this 52-1

[CKPOMEH]

Hi folks -

I put on hold the below 52-1 at the LGS the other day and have until Friday to make up my mind on it. Wanted to get some feedback on it here:

1) Does anyone see signs of alterations? I could not but this is the first 52 I have seen in person, so not as trained eye on those
2) Any signs of a refinish? I do not see any but would like to confirm with the group
3) The safety - I engaged it but it still lets the hammer drop - I think I read this is how it is supposed to be and there is an internal transfer bar that is engaged, so there will be no 'bang' in spite of the hammer coming down but again wanted to confirm
4) I did some research on the SN - should be mid 60s, and I see what I think are German import marks on it - I know some people are put off by those, they do not bother me much - anything else on those?
5) It is for sale at $999, I think I can get it for $899. My plans is to shoot it a couple of times and then put in the safe as a 'shootable collectible' - not pristine but decent gun I can shoot occasionally - would you consider this to be a fair price and my approach to it reasonable (how I am justifying the purchase)

Thank you in advance for any feedback, observations and guidance - when in doubt, I always come here... Cheers!

 

[CKPOMEH]

Adding 3 more pictures

 

[AJ]

If you can get it for $899, then I would buy it. Not so much as a collectible, but as a shooter. How many magazines?

 

[CKPOMEH]

If you can get it for $899, then I would buy it. Not so much as a collectible, but as a shooter. How many magazines?

Just one. I know those mags are very expensive. I was leaning towards the same for now...The trigger is great, no doubt this was a competition gun.

Any thoughts on the safety note above, and it is working as it should, or an indication of some malfunction?

Thanks again!

 

[AJ]

Just one. I know those mags are very expensive. I was leaning towards the same for now...The trigger is great, no doubt this was a competition gun.

Any thoughts on the safety note above, and it is working as it should, or an indication of some malfunction?

Thanks again!

Safety on mine and my other friends that have 52's work the same. Once you shoot it you will like it a lot!!

 

[CKPOMEH]

Safety on mine and my other friends that have 52's work the same. Once you shoot it you will like it a lot!!

Nice shooting out there - definitely hits the target!

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

Looks good to me, I don't see any evidence of refinish. I have a 52-2, puts a grin on my face every time it goes to the range. I would buy at that price and not look back.

 

[Sevens]

1) I see nothing out of the ordinary although the stocks look “gooey” to me, maybe it’s the lighting, they don’t look quite like I would expect, almost as if someone added some kind of a glossy coat…?

2) I would guess not, but not easy to tell with these pictures. In my travels, the MOST finish wear and obvious finish wear on any 52 will be on the back strap/MSH and on the underside of the trigger guard where it meets the grip.

3) Safety is correct, no transfer bar here but a hammer block. And personally, I think it is a horrible idea to dry fire this pistol with the safety on, constantly smacking the hammer against the hammer block is not something I want to do. For dry firing, ensure it is unloaded and safety off, dry fire away.

4&5) I agree the SN is going to be mid-1960’s. I also would much rather have a 52-1 rather than a 52 no-dash. I don’t think the proof marks “enhance the collectible value” here, but if you buy in at $900 and you don’t have original box and with the look of those stocks, I think you have a fantastic shooter for the price.

I would imagine as enjoyable as any 52 is for shooting… having one magazine is going to limit the pure enjoyment and the magazine market for 52’s is a train wreck these days, so that hurts a bit.

I would say it’s also a lot easier to enjoy a 52 if you are a handloader, but there are sources for .38 Wadcutter ammo.

6) What? You did not have a number 6?! Here it is — you started the first ever “Hey I found a 52-1 I want to buy but I am scared of the extractor, help!” thread.

I kid of course, but it’s unpossible to have a 52-1 discussion without the old-style long extractor being discussed.

I have a personal sample size of ONE old-style 52 extractor pistol, my own 52-1 and my 52-1 runs 100% of the time. I personally believe that the 52 extractor evolved because of the 39 extractor and I also believe the 39 extractor needed to evolve mostly due to poor/rough/grossly inexperienced handling and training with the pistol.

I definitely believe you should never thumb a round in to the chamber and then drop the slide on it — however, I believe this is absolutely the WRONG way to treat nearly any/every semiautomatic firearm on the market, save for probably shotguns.

This old style extractor on the 52-1 limits the 52-1’s success in the resale market compared to the 52-2. I think that’s a shame, but the market is a wild, rampaging beast much of the time… as evidenced by the 52 magazine market.

 

[huthike]

At that price, I’d buy it - and I have a 52-1.

 

[gmborkovic]

"gooey"!? Sevens, that is a new gun grip term I have to add to my terminology list.

 

[Sevens]

That’s fine, however I trademarked it. So you owe me $0.02 each time you use it.

 

[CKPOMEH]

1) I see nothing out of the ordinary although the stocks look “gooey” to me, maybe it’s the lighting, they don’t look quite like I would expect, almost as if someone added some kind of a glossy coat…?

2) I would guess not, but not easy to tell with these pictures. In my travels, the MOST finish wear and obvious finish wear on any 52 will be on the back strap/MSH and on the underside of the trigger guard where it meets the grip.

3) Safety is correct, no transfer bar here but a hammer block. And personally, I think it is a horrible idea to dry fire this pistol with the safety on, constantly smacking the hammer against the hammer block is not something I want to do. For dry firing, ensure it is unloaded and safety off, dry fire away.

4&5) I agree the SN is going to be mid-1960’s. I also would much rather have a 52-1 rather than a 52 no-dash. I don’t think the proof marks “enhance the collectible value” here, but if you buy in at $900 and you don’t have original box and with the look of those stocks, I think you have a fantastic shooter for the price.

I would imagine as enjoyable as any 52 is for shooting… having one magazine is going to limit the pure enjoyment and the magazine market for 52’s is a train wreck these days, so that hurts a bit.

I would say it’s also a lot easier to enjoy a 52 if you are a handloader, but there are sources for .38 Wadcutter ammo.

6) What? You did not have a number 6?! Here it is — you started the first ever “Hey I found a 52-1 I want to buy but I am scared of the extractor, help!” thread.

I kid of course, but it’s unpossible to have a 52-1 discussion without the old-style long extractor being discussed.

I have a personal sample size of ONE old-style 52 extractor pistol, my own 52-1 and my 52-1 runs 100% of the time. I personally believe that the 52 extractor evolved because of the 39 extractor and I also believe the 39 extractor needed to evolve mostly due to poor/rough/grossly inexperienced handling and training with the pistol.

I definitely believe you should never thumb a round in to the chamber and then drop the slide on it — however, I believe this is absolutely the WRONG way to treat nearly any/every semiautomatic firearm on the market, save for probably shotguns.

This old style extractor on the 52-1 limits the 52-1’s success in the resale market compared to the 52-2. I think that’s a shame, but the market is a wild, rampaging beast much of the time… as evidenced by the 52 magazine market.

Thank you, Sevens - much appreciate your response. And yes...#6) I had done some reading on the long extractor and most active shooters / collectors also said the same thing as you did - no issues notices.

I will look over it closely for any signs of damage around it, etc...

As to the stocks, they looked a little dinged but were not sticky or oily. Perhaps a good clean up with Balistol will help them present better. I will look them over more closely as well...

Thank you again - your post was super informative!

 

[Model52guy]

As usual, Sevens said everything I would have. AS the M39 and M52 stocks are the same you might find a better set on eBay. I’ve noticed M52 magazines are getting a little cheaper lately. Saw a factory mag go for $80 the other day on eBay. Probably a result of triple K coming out with aftermarket.

 

[AJ]

As usual, Sevens said everything I would have. AS the M39 and M52 stocks are the same you might find a better set on eBay. I’ve noticed M52 magazines are getting a little cheaper lately. Saw a factory mag go for $80 the other day on eBay. Probably a result of triple K coming out with aftermarket.

Unless Triple K has worked out the bugs, their product is junk. I sent two different sets of magazines back to them about six months apart as they would not work in a couple of different 52's here.

 

[CKPOMEH]

As usual, Sevens said everything I would have. AS the M39 and M52 stocks are the same you might find a better set on eBay. I’ve noticed M52 magazines are getting a little cheaper lately. Saw a factory mag go for $80 the other day on eBay. Probably a result of triple K coming out with aftermarket.

Oh, come on Model52guy - with that name you must add something that we did not know about it and Sevens did not cover...

In all seriousness, I had looked at that gun about 3 weeks ago, and noted to the store that the slide would not stay open after racking it. I was not sure if it could be the magazine or something else. It is now fixed but wonder if I should check something related to that?

And yes, I already looked up some M39 stocks on eBay - seems like that could be had for $50-60, not too bad...

 

[Drm50]

At $899 I would buy. Looks in honest shape to me. Grips can be had $30-$40. Be careful buying magazines on EBay. The buyers of the aftermarket 3k magazines are experiencing buyers remorse
and listing them only as S&W m52 magazines. Accidentally on purpose. Getting hard to find nice ones for under $1K.

 

[Sevens]

A quick nugget regarding the 52/39 stocks…

The 39 stocks were also used for the 439/539/639 and as those 2nd Gen pistols evolved, they began to make use of an ambi right side decock lever and the right side stock had to evolve also.

So a lot of “39 stocks” you find out in the world have an ambi cut on them.

The difference is small, but it exists if that sort of thing matters to you.

What is interesting, at least to me is that while no 52-1 was ever shipped with an original right side stock cut for the ambi decock lever — plenty of late model 52-2 pistols absolutely did, simply because the supply of stocks had to evolve with the 2nd Gen pistols.

 

[Kp321]

Buy it and shoot it, don’t stick it in the safe! It has enough “character” to not be considered a true collector’s pistol. The metal looks better than the grips but I don’t think it’s been refinished.
The safety is strictly a firing pin block so it’s working correctly. I would advise against using the safety as a dry fire tool, repeated hammer falls will peen the safety and hinder its operation.
The only thing I see in the pictures that is a small concern is the damage around the trigger pin. Someone removed it with less finesse than he should have. Make sure the trigger function is correct, the pin was removed for some reason.
As to shooting it, unless you reload ammo can be a problem. Only flush seated wad cutters will function and they are not too common these days.

 

[CKPOMEH]

At $899 I would buy. Looks in honest shape to me. Grips can be had $30-$40. Be careful buying magazines on EBay. The buyers of the aftermarket 3k magazines are experiencing buyers remorse
and listing them only as S&W m52 magazines. Accidentally on purpose. Getting hard to find nice ones for under $1K.

Thanks for the tip! Nice collection you have! Are those Herrett grips comfortable on the 52? I have a pair on a model 46 that look alike, shape and width wise and they seem a little too wide for my hands. If I could only find the pastic grips for the M46...

 

[CKPOMEH]

A quick nugget regarding the 52/39 stocks…

The 39 stocks were also used for the 439/539/639 and as those 2nd Gen pistols evolved, they began to make use of an ambi right side decock lever and the right side stock had to evolve also.

So a lot of “39 stocks” you find out in the world have an ambi cut on them.

The difference is small, but it exists if that sort of thing matters to you.

What is interesting, at least to me is that while no 52-1 was ever shipped with an original right side stock cut for the ambi decock lever — plenty of late model 52-2 pistols absolutely did, simply because the supply of stocks had to evolve with the 2nd Gen pistols.

Great tip - thank you for the note on the grips. And yes, with my OCD this would bother me. I just checked on my 39-2 and it does not have the right side cut out but the 59 and 459 are cut out (original plastic, of course)...I am not sure if the double stack grips fit on the single stack pistols and vice versa, though...