Want to pick up a 52

[Drm50]

I decided I am going to buy a 52. I've only owned one 52 in my
life, bought new in 1968. Since early 70s I have been a revolver
shooter. I don't know a lot about them and need advice on what
to look for. This is probably one I won't buy on line unless NIB.
I do know enough to look for cracked frames and that's about
it. What I don't want to do is buy a heavily used gun that has
1000s rds. through it, reguardless of exterior condition.

 

[smithfan4152]

52-2

PM Sent regarding model 52.

 

[Leon Narozny]

WOW you have some tough conditions! I dont think you will find a gun that was discontinued in 1993 NIB. I bought one on Gun Broker....its
mint...not new, but in great condition. Pretty hard to find a beat up
one as these are treated as ICONS! Look on GB, there are some nice ones there. Once you get it you will never want to sell it! I had one , STUPIDLY sold it...have one now...wont sell it! Love shooting it.
Good luck on your search. let us know how you m,ake out! THANKS!

 

[smithfan4152]

NIB

He has no problem finding them NIB, and LNIB, just as you can still find the early model 41's from 1958 with very little having been shot through them.
I am surprised by the numbers of LNIB and NIB model 52-2's I see online.
Same with the model 53 and 53-2 22 Remington jet, they discontinued that in 1979. You can even still find new model 46's and they only made 2500 of them. You just have to look.

 

[BUFF]

I have a NIB Model 52-2 unfired since the factory that I bought December, 1993 when I heard they were going to quit making them. Took it home and put it the safe. Already had a shooter. S/N TZV56xx. So, they are out there.

It's important to remember that these were expensive even back then. My notes show I paid $742.69. I'm thinking of selling mine but don't know what to ask. Probably go with the consumer price index for an indication of how much less my dollars will buy 23 years later.

 

[whitestang]

A few months ago LGS had a unfired 52-2 that they had taken in as a trade in. They sold it for $1100.00 after only having it for about 10 days. It had the box and all the tools with it.

 

[Sevens]

Final MSRP on the 52-2 in 1993 was $909 according to the SCSW 2nd Edition. A NOS example in 100% condition and original box with all accessories bearing a three alpha leading serial number is arguably the least "valuable" of the range of Model 52 pistols, but would likely sell for a very nice sum. The one posted above for $1100, if indeed unfired/mint was a very good find for the buyer.

Please note that I would never suggest the last of the 52's to be the "least desirable", I simply want to note that money-wise, they don't seem to hold the same panache as an earlier model.

I'm not in agreement that it makes good sense to compare what the U.S. Dollar was worth in 1993... the gun market is it's own animal and while the value of the dollar and the daily economy always have their say, you'd be maybe the only guy in the market using the CPI to price an out of production handgun.

If you are looking for a suggestion as to what it could bring, we can do that. But it will always be a "range" and it takes interested and motivated BUYERS to fill out the top end of that range.

Gunbroker is an active market for Model 52 pistols. If the one you have is indeed NOS, 100% mint with every single bit in the box and the box is mint also, I would suggest that Gunbroker has the possibility of bringing somewhere north of $1,400 if you have the right bidders on the right day and they like what they see. A long time pro seller on GB with a high feedback rating, an FFL, many high quality pictures and such is certainly likely to get MORE for it than some guy who has a +3 rating and has never sold a firearm on Gunbroker.

If you absolutely want to sell it, I don't think you will do poorly if you list it at $1,200 open with no reserve. But that is simply my opinion and STRANGE things happen on Gunbroker all the time. All the time! If we could compile a list of things that have happened on Gunbroker that can't be explained calmly and rationally, we'd drag down the server.

 

[NE450No2]

I saw a Mod 52 at Jackson Armory a couple of weeks ago.
Their phone number is 214 363 2767.

 

[ozarkmac]

Gotta love those perfectly round wadcutter holes in the paper! Get the target grips and barrel weight if offered.

 

[Aussie Collector]

The model 52-2 in my opinion is very well made and able to put up with some harsh punishment.
In the early days of Service Match in Australia shooters were trying to get the 52 to reach power factor, well above what the pistol was designed. The gun was not legal for the competition, not playing for sheep stations so anything goes. The 52 handled it, the problem was using hollowed base wad cutters, the skirts occasionally separated. This resulted in 2 holes on the target, with the potential for a skirt in the barrel.

A few years ago I picked up another 2 52s, from an estate, one of these LNIB, they are out there. The other was well used and one of the guns used with overloaded loads, many many times. This gun still shoots very well, groups like my other 52s and is 100% reliable. I have to admit not as good looking as the other 2, but when punching paper the score is what counts.