Win 52 bolt handle mods

B

bushytail man

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If anyone has a Win 52 with the bolt handle modified to allow a lower scope mounting, please post a picture of the handle. I need to see the handle to show a 'smith what I want done.

Does anyone know of a 'smith that will do this? Thanks
 
Only the "E"

The 52 "E" had the Bolt handle that had these mods done from the factory because it was the only 52 drilled and tapped from the factory, There is a "E" bolt handle on Gunbroker now , Numrich did have some not Identified as "E`s" but were "E`s"@ $75 each.
 
Heres a Photo of a 52-D with a Bolt cut like a 52-E for scope clearence.
52-Shooter
52-D Flat Bolt.jpg
 
Thanks, guys. Will that 52E handle fit a Repro 52 sporter? Does anyone know a gunsmith that still does these handles?
I would love to put that 52 E handle on the Repro 52, mount scope low. Perfect fall squirrel rifle!
How hard is it to align new handle? Some say you may never get it right. I don't know, never did it. Anyone ever done this?
 
I don't think the "E" handle will fit a Repro 52. The repro that I checked was much different than an original 52, the Bolt, Trigger, and some other internal parts that I checked were different than a 52-C, D, or E, and I even think the barrel treads are different so it may look like a 52 Sporter on the outside but it's not the same on the inside.

If you need a scope mounted that low it may be best to just grind the repro handle.
52-Shooter
 
I talked tp Karl Kenyon, before he passed. He had my rifle to give me his opinion. He stated the trigger was a 52 C trigger and he had taken them down low and crisp. He also said the action was stout, strong and the rifles needed a quality barrel.

He sent my rifle back, wish I had let him re-barrel.
 
You may have mis-understood Mr. Kenyon, I knew Mr. Kenyon and it would have been very unusual for him to make a statement like "it's a C trigger".

Yes the trigger resembles or "looks" like a 52-C at first glance, but it's really quite different. I have attached some Photos of a 52-C trigger and a 52 Repro trigger, as you can see one of the critical things that's missing on the Repro trigger is the sear engagement adjustment screw, there just isn't any, and no easy way for a user to adjust for sear engagement, that's one of the critical things a trigger should have if the user wants a really good trigger. There are other internal parts that are not the same as a C trigger but you cant see them unless you take the trigger apart.

Same for the bolt, and bolt parts, they look like a 52 bolt but the parts are not interchangeable. Please don't forget, theses Repros were not made by Winchester, they were made by Miroku in Japan, they are Reproductions, not direct copies, so they are what they are. There are some parts that are the same such as the magazine that will work in both originals and repros but there's a lot of other things that are not even close.

BTW,
An original 52-C trigger will work just fine and bolt right on to the 52 Repro receiver but you cant use the Repro trigger attaching screw as the treads are not US, so if you are thinking of doing something like that and you don't already have a US trigger attaching screw you will need to get one.

Now I'm not saying that they cant be worked over into a very nice shooter, but if you expect them to perform like a sporter made by Winchester without some tinkering I don't think that's going to happen. I agree with you, you should have let Mr. Kenyon do a barrel job, and of course do the trigger work also.
52-Shooter

52-C Trigger .jpg

52-Repro Trigger 1.jpg

52-Repro Trigger 2.jpg
 
You may be technically correct, but I know what he said. He stated he had done a few of the Repro triggers. He also told me they were "C" triggers not "B" triggers. He did not go into the technical differences. A couple of guys over at Rimfire Central have Repro Triggers done by Kenyon. I am not trying to make an original win 52 sporter out of the Repro. It is fine as is. Just want to lower the scope. I had Butch Hongisto do the trigger, glass and pillar bed it. It shoots fine. This is a squirrel rifle not a benchrest gun.
A genuine 52 sporter is probably north of 6 or $7000. Good guns for sure but are they worth that much? To a collector, maybe.
Mr. Hongisto did a beautiful job on my trigger, it is superb! A lot of Anschutz sporters I have shot are not any better.
If I find a 52C that is affordable, I may make a sporter out of it. Put an E handle on it too.

Does anyone know how they bent the handles or scalloped them on the 52s? Do you think the Repros can be bent or scalloped without breaking? Don't know if they are cast or forged, do you?
 
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Grind & reblue

Should not be that difficult ! Copy the E and then reblue it - Mel Doyle gunsmithing in Plummer ,Idaho could do it all and have it back to you in Ten Days!
 
bushytail,
Not a problem, if that's what he said, then that's what he said. You can see from the Photos the visible difference in a real C trigger and a repro trigger.

I know that a repro trigger can be worked on to make it a decent trigger, I have done it myself but being that it does not have an adjustable sear engagement it's a bit more difficult. I never said that they were like a "B" trigger, there not even close to being like a B trigger.

As to the "original" flat E bolt handle, they were cast not forged. I'm not sure if the repros are cast or forged, I don't have one right now to look at or check, but just to be safe I would be very careful trying to bend one, in fact I wouldn't even try to bend one. I have already up loaded a Photo of an original D handle that was scalloped and cut to look like a flat E handle for you to check out, I have given you my opinion on how to "scallop" one so wont repeat it.

Slick Willy has got it right, like he said, it's not a big deal for a good smith to do something like that.

BTW,
You seem to have been concerned about getting the handle alignment right. You said, "Some say you may never get it right", there is nothing to get right if the smith does the job right.

It sounds like I may have up set you with my comments, did not mean to, was just trying to let you know the facts. It wont happen again.
52-Shooter
 
"It sounds like I may have up set you with my comments, did not mean to, was just trying to let you know the facts".

NOT AT ALL, NO OFFENSE TAKEN! I appreciate your response. You obviously have a tremendous amount of experience with 52s, I do not. Thanks for your picture and the observation about not trying to bend it. I will take your advice and look for someone to scallope it. Thanks, again.
PS. How can I tell if the handle is cast or forged?
 
Ok bushytail,
Just wanted to be sure that I didn't upset you with my reply.
Wish you luck in getting your 52 set up the way you want it.
52-Shooter
 
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