Can anyone tell me when Winchester began to drill and tap the reciever rings on the Model 52?

brent steffen,

Which Winchester M-52 are you inquiring about sporter or target model? Today the orginal sporter versions bring a premium over the target models.

There were 4 sporter models made
1. M-52 pre-a
2. M-52a
3. M-52b
4. M-52c

I believe the c-model was the first of the sporter models to be tapped for scope mounts. My May 2008 Blue Book discusses this and I will look it up tonight. And if I recall correctly (I need to check this in the Blue Book) it was still not that common to drill and tap the C-model. However, you could tell if it was done by the factory by the placement of the lettering.

There was a complete set of the the M-52 sporters (pre-a, a, b, and c) auctioned off at the May 2008 Rock Island Auction and I ended up buying the M-52a. It has a Lyman receiver sight......sweet gun.


Cabelas currently has a custom Griffin & Howe Winchester M-52 Sporter listed on their web page

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/community/gun...sp?hierarchyId=11931

Here are some photo's of the orginal M-52's


Winchester M-52preA



Winchester M-52a


Winchester M-52b


Winchester M-52c Sporter


Winchester M-52c Target

According to the May 2008 Blue Book......"There is some controversy as to whether any of Model 52 Sporters were drilled and tapped per factory workmanship. Be cautious of "factory" drilled and tapped receivers on all model 52s, as there are many "gunsmith" Sporters that have been made with turned down, shortened target barrels."

There was also the Miroku reproductions of the the M52 about 20 years back. These were drilled and tapped for scope mounts and were lacking any open sights or receiver sight. Important to know just which M52 is being referred to- original Winchester or repro?

I have 3 52c sporters,all are D&T.one was restocked by Biesen&may have been D&T by him.others appear factory.all are 1955 vintage.one has the extra grade wood option($16.95)so was a special order.

quote:

Originally posted by stocker:
There was also the Miroku reproductions of the the M52 about 20 years back. These were drilled and tapped for scope mounts and were lacking any open sights or receiver sight. Important to know just which M52 is being referred to- original Winchester or repro?

I have one of the Winchester versions by Miroku, it's D&T'd for scope mounts and a receiver sight, left rear ring by the stock line. Too bad they didn't put a front sight on the gun.

RRob: yes, mine is tapped for receiver sight too and it p's me off greatly that they omitted the front ramp and sight.

Well... if you want a front sight, you could always use a Lyman 17A.

flaco

quote:

Originally posted by stocker:
There was also the Miroku reproductions of the the M52 about 20 years back. These were drilled and tapped for scope mounts and were lacking any open sights or receiver sight. Important to know just which M52 is being referred to- original Winchester or repro?

I think all of the reproduction M-52s were drilled and tapped.

flaco: Cut a dovetail in the barrel? Not likely. Will eventually find a banded ramp although at the rate my eyes are deteriorating it is likely to continue to be used with a scope. It's the deviation from the original that irks me. If you are building a repro, build a repro properly.