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Scarce "U.S. Property" Winchester 52C Target Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Scarce  U.S. Property  Winchester 52C Target Rifle
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Estimate: $1600 - 2500
U.S. Army Winchester 52C Target Rifle manufactured in 1960. The left side of the receiver is electro-penciled "U.S. PROPERTY". The bottom of the pistol grip is stamped with a 1/4 inch National Defense inspection mark that consists of an eagle beneath three stars in a rectangle. The barrel, receiver, trigger guard and bolt handle have the Winchester commercial blue finish. The bolt body is bright. The barrel is factory drilled and tapped for a target telescopic sight and fitted with factory scope blocks. The rifle is mounted with the original Redfield Olympic globe front sight and Redfield Olympic micrometer rear sight. The rifle has a detachable five-shot clip. The trigger guard has separate external adjustments for pull and over-travel (O.T.). The nicely figured walnut, high comb, target stock has an oil finish and is fitted with a checkered steel buttplate. The stock has standard 1 1/2 inch sling swivels and factory adjustable, six-position hand stop with sling swivel. The left side of the barrel is roll stamped with the legend: "-WINCHESTER-MODEL 52-22 L. RIFLE-/-TRADE MARK- -WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL-/- MADE IN USA" in three lines. Oval "W/P" proofmarks are stamped on the left side of the barrel and the receiver. The serial number "102047C" is stamped on the left side of the receiver and "102047" is electro-penciled on bottom of the bolt. The right side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER/TRADE MARK". The Army purchased limited numbers of Winchester Model 52C Target Rifles in the late 1950s and early 1960s as replacements for the pre-war Springfield MII and M2 target rifles. "U.S. Property" marked Winchester Model 52C Target Rifles are the most difficult of all post-WWII military target rifles to obtain.
BBL: 28 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 22 LR
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 102047C
Condition: Excellent. The rifle retains 98% plus of the original blue finish. Finish wear is limited to several very minor scratches on the trigger guard. The bore is in perfect condition. The stock is also in excellent condition with nearly all of the original oil finish and shows almost no handling wear. The National Defense stamp on the pistol grip is crisp. The sights, scope blocks, magazine and hand stop are all original to the rifle and are in excellent condition. This is an exceptional example of a very hard to find "U.S. PROPERTY" marked Winchester 52C Target Rifle.