S&W Model 52s

First topic message reminder :

How many shooters are still competing with an S&W model 52?  I've been looking at a couple listed online but don't know if their time has come and gone.  I'm also interested in anything I should look out for when considering a purchase.  I've found several that only have one magazine and that seems to be a problem that could be hard to fix.

Multiracer wrote:Go to Sears ......

Unfortunately that's the hard part, they're all closed around here.  

- Dave

Yes, they're still seen on the firing line these days.  I have a 52-2 with a Clark 1:10 barrel and weight.  I actually shoot my K38 revolver better.  The 52 while a fine, accurate gun with a great trigger, is not forgiving.  Grip and follow through are all important.  Tiny mistakes in technique can mean huge flyers on target.

I shoot mine indoors only.

Nine holes ?

I see all 10 holes. 97 slow fire is great indoors or out. They work ok outdoors also. We don't have any indoor ranges around here that let us use more then a .22. I still use a 52 when shooting for fun. Wait, all I do is shoot for fun. It is true they are un-forgiving. They will also really help you with your fundamentals.

PhotoEscape wrote:

SW-52 wrote:52's are great pistol. I have a 52-2 with two mags and i wait for KKM 1-10 barrel for rebarrel my 52.

Please educate me on the difference between 1-10 barrels for M52 from KKM and the ones from Clark.  Thanks, AP

Quality

A direct comparison of Clark vs. KKM's 1911 barrels is pretty drastic (yes I own both) dimensionally. Anything KKM makes might as well be a space station part, the machining is so good. The Clark stuff might have been good compared to USGI back in the day but it can't hold a candle to KKM. Also, I have bought many, many KKM barrels direct with lots of unusual custom options and their customer service is beyond impeccable.

LenV

What grips are you using?

Those are Nills. The other side has most of the wood. Here is a picture of the left side with the rest of the 52 family  

Which do you prefer?  The Nills website only has size XL, might not work for me.  Right now I use stock grip panels with a home made thumb rest.

They have the regular size grips. They are out of stock right now but can be ordered just like the Xlg would have to be. Herretts also makes grips for the 52 that are available with some searching.

https://www.mactecsales.com/SW123_p/sw123.htm

Thanks for the info Len. 

Looking at your 52's  the one with the Nill grips looks like you've made some kind of extension to the baseplate of the magazine.  Is that something you need with those grips?

Also the gun in the bottom of the picture without optic, does it have Model 41 stamped under the serial number or my eyes deceiving me? The barrel is shorter than the other two as well.

Brian, that is a model 439, which I think was a remake of the model 39 which pre dated the model 52.

The picture of the stainless frame one I posted has Herrett National Match grips.  I have a 52-1 that has Ken Fung grips.  He will custom make those to the dimensions of your hand.  

David

Thanks David I'll look into the Fung grips as well.

Brian, A normal person would not need to add an extension to a 52 magazine. I modified a couple of my mags prior to getting the custom grips and they work nice with the Nills because I have the Xlg grips fully extended. I modified the magazine for stock grips originally so I would have a place to rest my pinky. This is a 52 no dash. I have Fungs on a 41 and a 1911 and like them also.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

3000 words - more than my vocabulary!

52-1 with Ken Fung grip.  This grip was not made for me, but was on the gun when I purchased it.  I did like it enough to have one made for my hand for a Hammerli x-esse.  I think that these grips might tend to be on the large size.  I would think Mr. Fung would take that into consideration if you asked him.  I have found for myself, that with a smaller grip, I shoot better.  This certainly "fills the hand" and if that is a feeling you like, this grips creates that impression.  Beautiful quality finish on the wood.  

Do any of you 52 guys know if there have ever been made a set of full checker grips for the 52- no pattern, no smooth portion just all checkered like standard 1911 slabs?

Is the 52-1 more desirable than the 52-2 ?  I don’t know why I like these so much..just a good looking pistol

Yes I believe these are Herretts, not sure where I bought them.

All the model 39 and 439 fit a 52 also. That leaves a whole world of other places to look. You can even find really pretty, totally impractical if you desire.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/S-W-GRIPS-SMITH-WESSON-WOOD-GRIPS-MODEL-39-52-439-539-639-ROSE-WOOD-THAILAND/264096530669?hash=item3d7d6140ed:g:2kEAAOSw~OhbcGlS



These also fit the 52..

lablover wrote:Is the 52-1 more desirable than the 52-2 ?  I don’t know why I like these so much..just a good looking pistol

No.  The 52-2 is generally more desirable for a shooter.  The extractor is better and there were some other minor improvements.  It was never a big seller so it dint iterate unless it had to.

weber1b wrote:I know one of the concerns is repair and parts. I know another shooter who does not shoot his for that reason, but I feel like if you don't shoot it because it might break, then it might as well be broken.

Hi there Mr Weber1b.   Although some parts can be problematic the real reason I didn't shoot my 52 was because it would double on me sometimes although the parts can be worrisome.  I had KC do some magic with the trigger and now it's working fine again.  Just got it back last February and this last year has been tough on my shooting so I never did get a chance to use it much. Did shoot it at some ERC matches and some practice but that's about it.  Fine shooters and still many at matches.

Virgil

Wow those herrett's full checkers are cool, not willing to pay $90 for them though (larrysguns).

Multiracer wrote:

OldShooter43 wrote:That stainless 52 looks great!  I just "pulled the trigger" on buying a 52-1 on GunsInternational.com.  It's in really good shape and comes with three mags and a barrel weight.  The only thing missing was the bushing wrench that I'm getting from Numrich Arms.  It went back to S&W in '72 for a rear sight change.  Other than that it's stock in the box with all paperwork.  Really looking forward to shooting a classic.

Go to Sears and purchase a twelve point deepwell socket. Grind the end flat ( remove any taper ) and place some skate tape around the outside. You can thank me later..... forget about the expensive little spanner.

I used the wrench the first time I disassembled my 52-2 to clean it.  Since then (for two years) I have been making the nut finger tight.  I never use the wrench.  Should I be making it tighter?
DJW1CAV