Modern Mystery: no-dash 52

[Sevens]

I think many of us realize that there were two key differences between the original S&W Model 52 pistol and the 52-1 pistol. (If there are more than two, please share them!)

The 52-1 had the frame adorned with a rail specifically to wear the accessory counter weight that S&W offered.

But the other difference is more significant — the shape and contour of the trigger of the no-dash 52 is different than the 52-1 (and the 52-2 for that matter) but it is more than just the physical shape.

The original Model 52 is actually a double action capable pistol.

And here is the subject of this thread… the modern mystery of the double action Model 52!

I have read where there is an internal lock-out device to prevent the pistol from actually being capable of a double action first shot. And indeed, nearly every picture that's ever been shared or captured of a no-dash 52 shows the trigger far back in the guard, ready for single action work but only for that.



Doesn't that look simply odd? Any long time admirers of the 52 want to admit they have never seen this strange oddity?

I saved that picture from a Gunbroker auction that ran nearly a decade ago! If you have never seen a 52 look quite like that… well, welcome to the party.

I've never seen one out in the world with the double action activated. And being that I have never owned a no-dash 52, I have also never seen the inner workings that show where this mysterious "lock out" device is located or how it works.

Now who amongst us -HAS- seen this? Who has a no-dash 52 and uses the double action setting?

Is it particularly difficult to lock out the double action? I have heard it mention that this task can be fussy… but on that, I have zero experience.

This subject seems to be nearly untouched. I don't think I have ever seen it discussed here.

 

[knightkrawler00]

My 52 is at home and I don't have pictures, but there is a screw in the frame above the trigger that simply blocks the trigger from swinging forward enough to engage the DA portions of the trigger. Just think of it as a pre travel screw with a whole lot of adjustment. I have never messed with mine, though I've been tempted just to see if the DA pull is as nice as I wish it was.

 

[cougar015]

My M52 has the trigger set for SA shooting only and I have never tried to adjust it to a DA pull. As far as I can recall, all the 52's I have seen are set up this way. in the SCSW 5th edition on page 409 there are pictures of two model 52's with on showing the trigger set up for SA and the other set up or DA/SA.


Wikipedia tells us that "the first version, known simply as the Model 52, retained the basic trigger mechanism of the Model 39, with the Double-Action function selectable via a simple frame-mounted setscrew, allowing the pistol to be fired in either single-action or double-action mode depending on the setscrew's adjustment.
In 1963, the Model 52-1 was introduced with a separately developed single-action trigger system and was manufactured until 1970, when it was succeeded by the Model 52-2. Changes to the 52-2 included an improved extractor and this version was manufactured for 23 years.

 

[Rick H.]

Just as a matter of interest, does anyone with a M52 that has this set screw have a picture of it? I don't think I have ever seen this set screw.

Rick H.

 

[cougar015]

Just as a matter of interest, does anyone with a M52 that has this set screw have a picture of it? I don't think I have ever seen this set screw.

Rick H.

I don't have a picture of the actual screw but it's shown in both pictures above, it's inside the trigger guard behind the trigger. in the picture I posted the trigger is almost touching it.

 

[IraIII]

Numrich (gunpartscorp) shows the screw in thier schematic for the model 52-2 I believe. They show two trigger stop screws an upper and a lower I think the upper one is the one in question, but I have been wrong before.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I was out looking at parts on the Jack First website . They actually have a screw they call the double action lock out screw , along with a picture if anyone's looking .

 

[Rick H.]

I don't have a picture of the actual screw but it's shown in both pictures above, it's inside the trigger guard behind the trigger. in the picture I posted the trigger is almost touching it.

Not to question your pics Cougar015, but isn't the screw immediately behind the trigger a trigger overtravel adjustment screw? I thought I read the double action lockout screw was an internal screw that could only be adjusted with the slide off the frame. I could be wrong on this as I have never really taken a good look at this feature on a M52 dash nothing pistol.

Rick H.

 

[cougar015]

Not to question your pics Cougar015, but isn't the screw immediately behind the trigger a trigger overtravel adjustment screw? I thought I read the double action lockout screw was an internal screw that could only be adjusted with the slide off the frame. I could be wrong on this as I have never really taken a good look at this feature on a M52 dash nothing pistol.

Rick H.

Good question. I will have to check out a schematic which I should have done before I posted. So here it is and you are correct. The screw I mentioned is called the trigger stop screw and 6216 in the attached schematic. The double action Lockout Screw is 6215 in the schematic and can only adjusted with the slide removed. Thanks for pointing this out and I'm going to remove the slide on my M52 and check this out.

 

[Sevens]

If that 6215 is the actual double action lock out screw… it seems to be in the same location (maybe the same part…?) as the pre-travel adjustment screw in the 52-1 and 52-2 pistols.

I have had four different 52's (a single dash-1 and three dash-2's) and I have never once adjusted the pre-travel screw.

 

[Rick H.]

Never having looked at a 52 no dash I am just guessing but I agree with Sevens. I think 6215 is one in the same for the lock out of the double action feature on no dash models. 6216 is only responsible for overtravel of the trigger. I have never needed to adjust 6215, only 6216 a very few times usually on well used pistols where the hammer wouldn't fall at times when the trigger was pulled. As I understand things there was a difference in the trigger shoes on early no dash 52's so this difference may be attributed to that 6215 screw and its adjustment. None the less it is an interesting feature.

Rick H.

 

[cougar015]

Here's the parts list to show both screws and their location. I have never adjusted either of them on my M52.

 

[Sevens]

I will admit that I have not even handled the no-dash 52. The trigger appears to have a noticeably different physical shape but I have not put one in my hands.

At the risk of a thread drift… trigger shape and contour is certainly a personal preference kind of thing.

If we look at the 952 we can see the physical shape and contour of the trigger is quite different than the 52-1/52-2. The 952 (and all the PC single action only Limited guns) uses a smooth-faced rounded trigger that I find to be PERFECT for me. The 52-1/52-2 trigger is serrated with that old school cheese-grater style just like the Model 41 trigger and I do not care for the serrations and the shape is less than optimal for my tastes.

I do wonder if the no-dash 52 trigger feels more like the 952.

 

[Jim Watson]

It used to be commonly said that if you back out the DA lockout screw it will be very tedious to get it adjusted back for SAO. As one old timer says, that is a Lever Action part. As in leave 'er alone.

 

[Rick H.]

It used to be commonly said that if you back out the DA lockout screw it will be very tedious to get it adjusted back for SAO. As one old timer says, that is a Lever Action part. As in leave 'er alone.

That's the same thing I heard from a long time S&W factory rep years ago. We were both at a S&W Armorers school and the Model 52 came up in conversation. I always thought that was good advice.

Rick H.

 

[DCW]

My first Model 52 was, well, a 52. Then I got the -1 and -2. Have yet to acquire the 952, even though having drooled over that model for years, now.

My Lord God has been exceedingly kind to me, allowing me more firearms than a man should have, I suppose.

This being the first time I've chimed for awhiile, I thought I'd have something worthwhile to write, like: The No. 18 Double-Action Lockout Screw is used as did Cougar describe, above, whereas the No. 58 Trigger Stop Screw was used to prevent the trigger's time-consuming over-travel.

That Trigger Stop Screw (No. 58) has been incorrectly identified by a whole bunch of book authors and magazine writers as the means by which to control DAO or single action. It leaves one to wonder the number of incorrectly identified parts about which these "experts" wrote and we poor devils, who poured over every written word as though written by the g3un gods, themselves, were on the veritable edge when we couldn't get that %&@#* part to work as described.

Truly, it is great to see the whole of a subject worked over by the participants, absent of rancor until gotten correct.

Later.

 

[cougar015]

DCW it truly was a group effort with those that knew allowing the rest of us to learn and provide proof. It's good to hear from you.