Anyone have some pics of nice customer Win 52 sporters? I traded into a bit of a basket case 1920 model barreled action that I would like to build into a full-ish size sporter but am having trouble finding inspirational pics of anything but the Browning remakes. It's currently wearing a 28" bull barrel but I'd pull that and fit a sporter contour. I've got a nice blank or two to carve the stock from but the sporter stock that came with it has to go. It has a unique trigger that I've not been able to identify yet and came with sporter and target stocks. I already have enough target rifles to play with for now.

See if you can borrow a copy of Steven D. Hughes book entitled "Custom Rifles in Black and White". In that books he has photos of a couple of custom 52s that are stunning. One by Gene Simillion and Steve Billeb, and the other by Steve Heilmann and Jim Tucker.

Your trigger appears to be a "J.B. Smith" custom trigger. Mr Smith was from Oakland, CA, and worked very closely with another Oakland gunsmith by the name of George Titherington.
Steve

Thanks for the info on the trigger, I'll check it out. I think a friend has a copy of Mr. Hughes book so I guess I'll start there.

J B Smith trigger:

https://www.google.com/patents/US2249231

I can't remember where this came from. It's a 52 stock.

I'll second checking out the M52s in Custom Rifles in Black and White.

This one is nice too: http://www.hallowellco.com/darwin_hensley%20win52.htm

NICE??This passed up nice way back!

quote:

Originally posted by KimR:
NICE??This passed up nice way back!

Amen!
Zeke

I meant that tongue-in-cheek, it is a very, very fine rifle.

I've never tried to stock a 52. The angle of the tang is way off and needs modification or the angle of the wrist from tang to comb looks wrong. I wonder if Fisher or Echols ever made one.

My friend Dave Norin is currently building a full custom on an original Winchester 52. You can see the pictures on his Facebook page if you are interested. Can't copy and repost them here for some reason.

Best wishes!

i'm building one now but it its a slow process, baby sitting 18 month old grandson during day to tired at night, may have a custom floor plate for sale a little later promised first dibs to a guy i'll let you know if you would like to see it.

quote:

Originally posted by Evan K.:
I'll second checking out the M52s in Custom Rifles in Black and White.

This one is nice too: http://www.hallowellco.com/darwin_hensley%20win52.htm

What a beauty,thanks for posting this Evan and all the info from others. I just love AR..
Inspirational pics by the yard.jc

Any idea of build or replacement cost for this beauty?

KimR,

If you have to ask...

Clarence

Been out of the custom rifle game for30 yrs.Into Fabbris now.This would been maybe 6- 10k gun then.But HuWs used are only20-30k now.Doubt this one much more specially in this market.

Kim,

Metal work by Heilmann then--$10,000. Heilmann now--$20,000.

Engraving by Terry Wallace then maybe $10,000.
Terry is dead. Equivalent engraving today by Eric Gold $20,000 up.

Stock by Darwin Hensley then $7,000--$9,000.
Darwin is dead. Equivalent stock today $9,000--$12,000.

I think your numbers are wishful thinking.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by ClaMar:
KimR,

If you have to ask...

Clarence

Let me give you a clue. If he is "into" Fabbris, that gun would seem cheap, even at the highly inflated prices quoted above.

Did a search on Fabbris as I was unfamiliar with it. Are you speaking of the guy that draws pictures or the sausage maker.
I don't do pictures, but like good sausage.

Gator,

Yep, obviously deeper pockets than me...

Clarence

Ivo and Tulio Fabbri build what are arguably the finest shotguns in the world in Consecio Italy. Consecio is a suburb of Bresica, where a lot of other fine Italian guns are made.

I am not certain of the exact price, but I think that a best quality shotgun from them today would be over $200,000.00, and a plain base model would be in the neighborhood of at least $75,000.00.

Yep,about what I thought.Comissioned custom rifles are outrageous to build then you get 50% maybe!
But a few years ago,a pigeon shooter friend ordered a pair of Fabbri U/O for a client & was pushing 500k delivered.Will be a long time gettingthat back!

Remember guys in the 60s Biesen got $275 for the #4(BEST) stock including wood.Could do a tricked out M70 for ~$600 TYD.Paid $225 used at Anoka Gun show!!

I wish I could be into Fabbris!

quote:

Originally posted by Jmbrown:
I wish I could be into Fabbris!

Around $50,000 would get you started with a used one.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:

quote:

Originally posted by Jmbrown:
I wish I could be into Fabbris!

Around $50,000 would get you started with a used one.

And that is why I "wish" I could be into Fabbris. A couple of years ago at the Tulsa Arms Show, Gulf Breeze Firearms had a new Fabbri 3 barrel set in 20, 28, and 410 that was INCREDIBLE! I think the price on it was somewhere in the $130,000 range.

Bet that was on a 20b frame.A 410 gets pretty clubby.50k will get close on a plain Jane 12b but the screamers are small bores done by Torcolli et al.50K won't get the bbls.
A friend had Rizzini do a 28b close to dimensions of my prewar 28b Boss engraved by Torcolli.Makes you weak!