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Make: Winchester
Model: 52B Standard Target
Serial Number: 63440 B
Year of Manufacture: 1941
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action Type: Single Shot, Bolt Action, Rimfire Target Rifle
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER / PROOF STEEL”, “-MODEL 52-“, “WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK”, “-22 LONG R.-“. The left-rear of the barrel and left-front of the receiver each have an ovalled “WP” proof. The left of the receiver is marked with the serial number, “63440 B”, found again hand-scribed on the bottom of the bolt. The right of the barrel is marked “MADE IN U.S.A. WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO / NEW HAVEN CONN” found again on the rear of the receiver but including the word “-PATENTED-”. The right side of the chamber ring is marked “WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK”.
Barrel Length: 28” Round
Sights/Optics: The top of the barrel is installed with three sight blocks—attached to the forward most base is a blank dovetail. Attached to the center and rearward bases is a J. Unertl 14x target scope with crosshair reticle. The left rear of the receiver is drilled, tapped, and filled for a receiver sight (none present). The scope body is free of major wear but there are scattered spots of light surface oxidation and a bit of thinning on some controls.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stock is one-piece smooth walnut with a beavertail forend, pistol grip, straight comb, banded barrel, and a checkered sheet steel buttplate. The forend has an inlet 4” factory accessory rail. There are some scattered light nicks, compressions, dings, scuffs, and a couple faint hairline scratches. There are no chips or cracks. The accessory rail has light wear from installing and removing accessories. The LOP measures 13 1/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has light thinning and minor nicks along the edge. Overall, the stock is in Fine Condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 93% of its metal finish. There are a couple little nicks on the barrel and a few spots of minor surface oxidation, mostly in the forward portions of the barrel. There is standard operational wear and light handling wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. There is some finish wear on the bottom metal around the mag well. Overall, this rifle is in Fine to Excellent Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: There is no magazine with this rifle.
Our Assessment: The Model 52 bolt action .22 target rifle was introduced by Winchester in 1920, and 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 had a “pretty good run” as they say, with about 125,000 made from 1920-1980 in both “Sporting” and “Target” variations. The Model 52 underwent several changes over its production run, and although the barrel markings remained the same, letter suffixes were added to the serial number to designate significant design changes. “B” Model 52s were made from about 1937-1953.
This Wartime Winchester Model 52B Bolt Action Rifle was made in 1941 and is in Fine to Excellent Condition. It features a 28” barrel, 93% of its original blued finish, a wonderful J. Unertl 14x target scope with a crosshair reticle, a one-piece smooth walnut stock, clear markings, strong mechanics, a crisp trigger, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion. This beauty represents the golden age of precision rimfire target rifles, and would make a great benchrest rifle for the lucky winner, or a fine addition to a Winchester collection.