ITEM # 142
serial #26669, .22 LR, 24" barrel with a bright excellent bore. This superb model 52 sporter is likely the ninth such rifle produced by Winchester. It is thought that the production of the sporter model began with serial #26660 (the earliest model 52 sporter having been made for Major John Hession as a sample prototype bearing serial number 26474). Colonel Whelen had first suggested the idea of a model 52 sporting rifle in the late 20s, and by the early 30s the project was finally in full swing with John M. Olin finally giving authorization in late 1933 for production to begin. Originally scheduled for debut in May of 1934 the gun's introduction actually took place in July of that year, this subject rifle was likely pre-delivered to Whelen and was the subject of a glowing article printed in the January 1935 issue of Outdoor Life; in fact, a copy of the article is included and the rifle exactly as it appears today is pictured in the article, being shot by Whelen. The condition of the rifle remains lovely as one would expect from a gun owned by so famed a shooter who knew the value of the gun as a tool, but also as a functional thing of beauty. The metal surfaces retain about 97%-98% original blue. The perfectly checkered American walnut stock rates excellent with only a few minor dings and dents from use by Whelen. Whelen had the rear receiver ring milled flat, and had the gun drilled and tapped for steel scope bases. To this he added J.W. Fecker scope rings and a J.W. Fecker 4X rifle telescope, serial #3022. The scope features a post and crosshair reticle with near excellent optics. In his article Whelen mentions that he dislikes the factory front bead sight, so he replaced the front sight with a gold faced Patridge style from Redfield. To accommodate the scope he uses a lace-on leather Rowley cheek pad. These modifications are described and pictured in the article as they appear on the rifle today. Whelen's life, prowess with shooting arms of all types, skill as an outdoorsman, hunter, and marksman and innumerable contributions to the shooting sciences and hunting fraternity are legend. This gun comes to us consigned from the man who purchased it directly from Whelen's daughter, Violet Whelen Bowling, and a signed and notarized September 1971 dated letter stating such, from Mrs. Bowling is included. Also included with the gun are copies of two 1935 Outdoor Life articles picturing the gun, Colonel Whelen's marksmanship scoring cards -all for this rifle- dated 1934, 1935, 1942, 1944 and finally 1951 (27 cards total), photocopies of correspondence between the Winchester Arms Company and Colonel Whelen Re: replacement of the Army's Winder muskets with a bolt action 22 rifle, correspondence regarding the debut of the 52 (target) rifle at the Caldwell match in Caldwell New Jersey in August of 1919 (correspondences date between December 1918 and July 1919). As well as copies of "The Winchester Collector", Winter 2003 which features an article by Herb Houze on the Winchester 52 sporter, a copy of "Man at Arms" from September of 2003 in which Major John Hession's model 52 is featured, and finally an article in the September 1924 American Rifleman where Colonel Whelen talks about the improved Winchester Model 52 target rifle. This is a very rare opportunity to own one of the most famous rifles owned by one of America's most respected and legendary "grand old men of gunning" without whom many modern advances in the sciences of ballistics and arms making that we today take for granted, might never have occurred. (2057-1) {C&R} (15,000/20,000) SOLD FOR $17250.00 |
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