Model 52 that my heart desires!

[Krogen]

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.

 

[tlawler]

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.

 

[Sevens]

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!

 

[Krogen]

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!

 

[Rick H.]

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.

 

[gnappi]

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

 

[1000island]

I've always been intrigued by Model 52's. I've handled them longingly at gun shows and drooled over them, but they always seemed just a bit out of reach, usually well north of $1K, sometimes approaching $1500.

Well, anyway, I spotted one locally that I think I can afford. Includes the original box, two mags, the original instructions and half a box of vintage Klean Bore wadcutters thrown in for good measure. It looks to be in good condition from the one picture in the ad. Asking price is $1100.

What do you Model 52 aficionados think?View attachment 787952

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….

 

[Troystat]

Sweet, I have one that is not as pretty as yours but it sure is fun to shoot, If I point mine in the right direction the shots all land in the x ring. I do have a problem with the jerk pulling the trigger.

 

[Exchipy]

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]

Yes, I do reload, so that's a plus. I've loaded a lot of .38 Special Wadcutter, but only for revolvers. Is it exactly the same .38 Special rimmed case? Luckily, I'll have half a box of factory ammo to get some good measurements from.

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]

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.

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

 

[tlawler]

I just got confirmation from the SWCA:

"Model 52 serial 55936 shipped in September 1964."

 

[Rick H.]

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).

Well I'll be Exchippy....I didn't know you could do that with a M-52. Did it matter which version model 52 you had? I thought I had heard most everything regarding a M-52, but never heard of one being converted to D/A-S/A with 3rd Gen parts. Did this conversion change much with trigger pull weight and "feel"? I guess I'll have to get out more....

Rick H.

 

[Exchipy]

Well I'll be Exchippy....I didn't know you could do that with a M-52. Did it matter which version model 52 you had? I thought I had heard most everything regarding a M-52, but never heard of one being converted to D/A-S/A with 3rd Gen parts. Did this conversion change much with trigger pull weight and "feel"? I guess I'll have to get out more....

Rick H.

It's been long enough that I don't recall precisely which version it was. I do recall some sorta internal screw which kept the original trigger back for single action only, necessitating its removal to accommodate the 3rd Gen. DA guts. It went back in when I converted the pistol back to original. My habit is to replace the trigger return spring with a Wolff 3 pounder in every S&W auto (not the polymer receiver types, though) which comes to me. Because it was converted to all 3rd generation guts, the trigger had the feel of a 3rd generation pistol.

 

[cougar015]

Only Model 52's have an internal screw that could be adjusted to make the gun either SA or DA. It's part number 6215 in this schematic. Part #6227 is the bushing wrench you are missing.

 

[Krogen]

I read that screw #6215 was only on the no-dash Model 52. It was based on the 39 and 59 pistols. The -1 and -2 used an improved trigger.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I read that screw #6215 was only on the no-dash Model 52. It was based on the 39 and 59 pistols. The -1 and -2 used an improved trigger.

Krogen, I believe you are correct; only the no-dash could revert to double action.
Moon

 

[Rick H.]

There seems to be some confusion on part # 6215. I seem to recall that both my -2 models have this screw, but I am not at home right now to verify this. I thought that screw limited how far forward the trigger could move. What this screw is used for on the later models is where the confusion comes in and I'm pretty sure there is a difference in trigger designs from the no dash models to the dash models. Early no dash triggers could be converted to double action use but later dash 1 and dash 2 triggers could not be converted. Am I wrong in this assumption? Later schematics call the screw in question an upper trigger stop screw.

Rick H.

 

[astroturf]

I don't know if 52-1's had a better trigger or not, but the 52-1 being discussed by the OP certainly looks like it is worth the price of admission. Even a casual look at firearms auctions sites reveals the prices of Model 52's and related parts such as magazines is definitely going upwards. Not too long ago it was rare to find one going for more than $2K. Not anymore, $2K and above is becoming common. Same for magazines and I found several that were over $300 if in the original packaging. It would seem fame and fortune has found the Model 52, so $1100 with extras is a good deal. Just make sure the desired pistol has an inspection period with it.

I wouldn't worry too much about the extractor of the pistol. Load properly and you shouldn't have any problems. Seems the old style extractor was perceived to be a problem and owners thought ahead and bought extras, but few actually broke. Owners of late model 52's even bought extra extractors to be safe but rarely needed them. The change over to the short extractor wasn't done to just the Model 52, it was done across several models as a so-called improvement. Of the several friends that own 52-1's none have encountered extractor replacement that I know of. If it makes you feel better you can always keep your eyes peeled for an extra extractor and put it in the box until and if needed.

Just remember there are some cautions about owning a Model 52 especially regarding the barrel bushing, ammunition used and maintenance. At one time I owned 6 Model 52's and they were all solid pistols and never gave me any problems if taken care of. Good luck on your purchase decision and I think you are deciding this purchase at the right time.

Rick H.

Hi hoping to get the barrel bushing and maintenance tips you mention please thanks