Winchester Model 52C Target + 24X Redfield Scope, Blue 28” Bolt Action, Removable Mag Fed Rifle, MFD 1956 C&R
Sold for: $1,130.00
LSB#: 170218JD05
Make: Winchester
Model: 52C Target Rifle (This rifle has the sliding safety mounted on the right side of the receiver in front of the bolt. )
Serial Number: 84459C
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle (.22 Short and Long Rifle will chamber and shoot but not feed through the magazine.)
Action Type: Bolt Action with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U. S. OF AMERICA / WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL”, “WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK”, and “MODEL 52 – 22 L RIFLE”. The left rear of the barrel and left front of the receiver are marked with ovalled “WP” proofs. The left side of the receiver is marked “84459C” and the right side with “WINCHESTER”.
Barrel Length: The round barrel is 28” in length and 0.680” in diameter at the muzzle.
Sights / Optics: There is a raised boss at the front of the barrel that has a dovetail with a fore-aft male dovetail installed. The dovetail is about 0.472” wide across the top surface. Please see our pictures for a better description of this sight. There are two fore-aft male dovetails screwed to the barrel with a 23 ½” long scope mounted using Weaver style rings. The scope is marked “24X / V00847 / Redfield”. The scope has about a 40mm objective that is adjustable for focus from 50 feet to infinity. Both the eyepiece and objective lenses are protected by screw-in metal caps. The reticle is a fine crosshairs. The objective lens is clear, but the eyepiece has several tiny dark spots scattered around its periphery that do not come off with lens cleaner and a soft cloth. There are several tiny light marks in the eyepiece, two scratches through the finish in the left side of the tube just behind the front mount and light marks in the elevation adjustment cap. The scope is in about Good to Very Good condition. There is also a block screwed to the left side of the receiver that we assume is a mount for a receiver sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a one piece smooth walnut with a lacquered finish, pistol grip and flat shotgun style blued checkered steel buttplate. The forend is a wide beavertail. There is a 4 ¾” long accessory rail inlet into the underside of the forearm with a sling swivel and a palm rest mounted. There is a second sling swivel inletted into the belly near the butt. There are a few spots of finish loss on the left side of the buttstock with multiple scratches and scrapes in the finish scattered over the stock. There is a clump of dings in the right center of the buttstock, a few dings along the right side of the comb, a ding in the forend at the left front of the receiver, a long drag ling at the left front of the receiver and a few shorter drag lines on the right side. There are no cracks or chips. The LOP measures 13 5/16” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate, which shows sharp checkering with moderate to heavy wear in the edge around the heel. The buttplate is in about Fine condition. The stock is in about Good to Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish. There are several tiny dings on the underside front edge of the barrel. The rest of the barrel shows a few light marks with a scratch in the right side between the two scope mounts. The bolt handle shows thinning and there is a spot of finish loss on the trigger guard. The rear trigger guard screw and the two scope mount screws are distressed. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This model was made with Winchester’s Speed Lock trigger. We have not fired this rifle.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a total of one 5 round blued magazine marked “MADE IN U.S.A. / WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK” on the floorplate. It shows thinning on its edges and is in about Fine condition.
Our Assessment: From Wikipedia: “The Winchester Model 52 was a bolt-action .22-caliber target rifle introduced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1920. For many years, it was the premier small-bore match rifle in the United States, if not the world. Known as the “King of the .22’s,” the Model 52 has been called by Winchester historian Herbert Houze “a perfection in design”. The Model 52 was finally discontinued in the 1980 because it was costly to manufacture and its popularity had lost way to expensive European rifles.”. The Model 52 underwent several changes over its life, and although different model names were not advertised, and the barrel markings remained the same, letter suffixes were added to the serial number to designate significant design changes. The Model 52C was introduced in 1947 with a “Micro Motion” trigger. This Model 52 C rifle was made in 1956 and has a 24X Redfield scope mounted on the barrel. The rifle is in about Very Good plus condition with 95% of its metal finish remaining. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. This rifle will be of great interest to Winchester collectors, especially with its rare Redfield scope. It is also will make a nice shooter with its bore, and will be perfect for benchrest rimfire competition.
