Make: Winchester

Model: 52-B Sporting

Serial Number: 63245B

Year of Manufacture: 1941

Caliber: .22 Long Rifle

Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Detachable Magazine

Barrel Length: 24"

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a hooded, textured, ramped base forged to the barrel. The left-rear of the receiver is drilled and tapped with a Lyman receiver sight is installed, adjustable for windage and elevation.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The stock is one-piece checkered walnut with ebony nosecap, capped pistol grip, straight comb with cheekpiece, and checkered steel buttplate. It features Sporting pattern hand-cut checkering and inlaid sling mounts with Super-Grade QD swivels installed. The stock has only a few scattered minor marks. There is pooled finish at the bottom edge of the magazine release button. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 5/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has minor wear, mostly at the heel, with infrequent minor oxidation in its well defined checkering. Overall, the stock is in Fine condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original, the bolt is serial-matching.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is erosion in the bore, just a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. The balance is mostly in light operational wear and a little handling wear on the bolt knob. Otherwise, there are only a few minor marks. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine-Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: Included is a single 5-round magazine and the installed sling swivels.

Our Assessment: The tradition of target shooting has a long history in this world, whether it was for training purposes or just trying to dispel boredom. Among firearms used for this sport, a handful truly stand out from the rest and one of those is the Winchester Model 52. Winchester has a long history of creating excellent sporting guns. World War I inspired an extensive change and evolution in technology, but it also saw the continued use of bolt action rifles, a reliable design that Winchester continued for the Model 52. Early Model 52 samples were immediately slotted for exhibition at the National Match in Caldwell, NJ in 1919 where they earned phenomenal accolades. The iconic rifle received its official numeric designation of "52" on September 11, 1919 and the design would undergo subsequent changes.

This particular Model 52 is a Type B Sporting rifle. The Type B introduced a more modern switch-style safety on the right of the receiver and beefed up the left receiver wall, as well as introducing a new trigger mechanism. The "Sporting" model features upgraded wood and a factory Lyman receiver sight. Polishing room records indicate this receiver's serial number was applied between February and June, 1941, though we do not have a record of exactly when it was assembled and shipped. Sporting models are significantly less common than most target models and were assembled in batches when a previous batch began to run low. Considered one of the greatest American .22 rifles of all time, Winchester continued to market and produce the Model 52 for decades. This scarce variant from the last year of pre-war production will make a fine addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!