The NRA was kind enough to research for me and find the Elmer Keith article on Elmer's 52. I can't thank Maureen A. Denfeld enough for finding and sending this article to me,Miss Denfield bless you. Bravo NRA!!
The article written by Keith does confirm that this is indeed a very special rifle. I would think that this large of a Winchester barrel is indeed rare,maybe only a handful exist.
I downloaded the article on ScribD. It is a great article,and documents all about this Winchester 52,how great is that!
I hope you all enjoy reading about this fine rifle. - Roger
https://www.scribd.com/doc/26217919...eith-Some-Turkey-Rifles-Past-and-PresentA excerpt from this January 1935 American Rifleman below:
Some time ago I sent Paul Dodge, of Yreka, California an old Winchester 52 action, and had him fit it with a very heavy 29-inch Winchester barrel. Dodge finished the outside of the barrel, chambered it very closely for the 22 l.-r., and fitted it to the action without any excess of headspace. He fitted blocks for my scope, and after getting the blocks in place he fitted a new beavertail Winchester stock, carefully hand-checking the stock and fore-end. He greatly speededup the action, and fitted a trigger-stop screw, which latter is a great help as it leaves the trigger finger well supported after the striker has been released, without any back jerk. Altogether Dodge did a wonderful job on this rifle.
After getting the big rifle home and testing it with the scope, I decided that it was well worthy of the best sights possible to procure. Worthy to be sure, for with its own choice of ammunition it would put five shots on a tack at 60 yards, if I could hold it. I have owned and used many fine small-bore rifles, but never one that would shoot with this Winchester-Dodge - combination. I ordered a Lyman 4S-J rear and 17-A front sight, and had H . W. Bradley, of Salmon, Idaho, install them. He did a beautiful job, making a long, low ramp for the front sight, which put on the final finish.
Dodge had found that this rifle performed perfectly with plain Remington Kleanbore ammunition. 1 was unable to get this in Salmon, but found that the cheaper grade of Remington Kleanbore greased Hi-Speed did all that I could ask of any small-bore ammunition, and even more. It was purely a matter of holding, and the size of the group was all up to me, for the gun would put ten straight into a space so small that most riflemen would swear that, I was crazy were I to give the size. Dodge sent me several targets shot by himself with straight Remington low-velocity Kleanbore, and these confirm my opinion of the rifle. I have proved to my own satisfaction that this rifle with the above-mentioned amrnunition will consistently group inside of the X-ring of our standard N . R. A . smallbore target on a still day, I include one of my targets shot at 60 yards with 5-A scope. I f I had not made several others like this I would consider i t just one of the exceptional groups that occasionally crop up. However, this rifle has done the same thing too many times to leave any doubt in my mind. I wish I could hold this well at all times.
This rifle has a much heavier barrel than the regular Winchester heavy-barrel 52, the barrel also being one inch longer. Dodge made up for his own use another rifle with the same kind of barrel, and used the same chambering reamers, but fitted it to a Ballard action, and he has been getting the same results with it as I have with mine which speaks very well for these heavy barrels. He made a high comb scope stock for his rifle, and fitted a high Lyman 48 and high front base for Lyman 17-A that can be removed when scope is used, thus having both the scope and the iron sights at the same height.
I killed all the ground squirrels and chucks on my little ranch with this outfit last summer, and then cleaned up some neighboring ranches. I used the scope and held for the head. When the scope is used it is surprising how far the little rodents can be killed with the rifle sighted to shoot center at 60 yards.
Of course much of the success is due to the fine ammunition now being turned out, and to the fact that this ammunition apparently fits this particular barrel perfectly. I took particular pains to sight-in this rifle at 60 yards at a turkey match this fall, in a strong wind, and then took the first two birds with absolutely center shots, rest shooting. I then handed the rifle to a friend—a fine rifleman—and he took the next two birds with center shots. Such a performance is not accident, but is rather a combination of fine holding and perfect ammunition, plus the most accurate small-bore rifle I have ever known. On still days or in a steady and unvaryng wind I will take my chances on this small-bore, but in a puffy or variable wind any of the other turkey rifles I have mentioned would be more reliable. From years of experience I have found that a sudden gust of wind will kick the little bullets out of the ten-ring when a larger, heavier bullet, even at lower velocity, will stay in.