Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Model 52 Target - Help with value

Guys:

A good friend has inherited a few rifles and wanted to help with a valuation of some.

One is an early 52 Target model, looks to made in 1928 and as such is the slow-lock version. The gun is completely original and all original parts are there and complete including the sights. I would estimate it to be somewhere between NRA Good to Very Good condition. Does not show a ton of use, stock in probably better than 70% condition and the bluing shows some wear and scant freckling. The Trigger guard has a bunch of small scratches. Bore appears to be strong.

This item is not for sale, just wanted to get a realistic value on this. My guess was about $500 but I do not know this market well and only a guesstimate.

Thanks!

BB

I would want to know if it has the M52 "crack of doom" before going ahead with a prediction of value. (LH locking lug seats cracked with disturbing regularity after ham-handed manipulation of safety. Not a major issue - the gun will still be safe to fire, but accuracy may or may not suffer. It will affect value though.)

LGS had two early ones on the rack, both with cracked lug seats but otherwise in 90-95% condition, priced at $900 apiece. I "educated" the clerk, politely, but he shrugged off the knowledge. They remained on the rack for months with no price change until they finally sold. $900 would've been a healthy stretch even without the cracks IMO.

Thanks, gnoahh. I was not aware of this issue. I won't be able check this example in person for a while but I did cycle and casually shoot it. It seemed to operate smoothly and it seemed to be pretty accurate but as mentioned it was very casual few shots and there was no attempt to really assess accuracy, just function really.