my three identified minor changes over time (there may be more) are:
- at some point, the front sight/barrel end interface changed;
- at some point, the stock-action bolt, or at least it’s head, grew from (unknown) to 11mm;
- from 2017, the scope rail got longer.
Last two, thanks to Chambers diagrams and listings.
Here's my 52, bought a year or two back from a dealer- described as an "Original" [and yes, it is in inverted commas] CLASSIC Mod 52 in .22 and dated (I think - it's tiny) 05 91.
I haven't found references to one quite like it online. There's no provision for open sights, a barrel sleeve, and a muzzle weight, evidently some sort of UK special - but with a conventional (and rather nice) Walnut stock.
The butt pad isn't contemporary with the piece - it originally had a ventilated "Wiking" pad which was falling to bits. I never thought that finding a replacement could be such a task, or I'd have tried to knock something off the price.... in the end I got a gunsmith to size something down to fit.
https://imgur.com/cpY36PA
https://imgur.com/oneZ4t6
https://imgur.com/gvdvn4M
https://imgur.com/YhWjMO3
Last edited by Mr Pusk; 13-09-2021 at 03:56 PM.
Thank you both. I'm a sucker for a nice piece of wood.
You're quite right, and I wasn't! The receiver is drilled for a rearsight, but the blacking doesn't show any sign of a rearsight having been there, and I don't think the holes have ever had any bolts in them. Plus with the thing on the front, muzzle weight or moderator or whatever it is, there's no foresight. I suppose it could have been added later but it looks all of a piece.
That is a very nice looking 52. The forend looks very much like the thumbhole version. The angle of the pistol grip looks properly functional.
1991 is late for an Original, i have seen a few early 90s 52's but not the rest of the range. There are reputedly a few even later Original 54 Airkings in circulation, thoigh.
Have several of the t.h classic 52s .can't properly see the mod but looks right
I think - not sure - what was going on was that the U.K. importer (Frank Dyke Ltd) were importing the guns and then substituting a SC stock (when appropriate) and a U.K.-made silencer thingy. I guess the “Original” and “CLASSIC” stampings were either applied for them by the factory, or done in the U.K. for them.