Winchester 52 British made clone?
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:50 pm
Hello ,
New to this forum.Thought I'd try and get an answer on this rifle supposedly made in England.It was owned by Charles J. Hyde an Olympic shooter of & for Great Britain in the Helsinki Games of 1952. Is there any images in England of the 1952 rifle team in England. I can't believe there is nothing written or photos. Photos or articles please if you can find them it would help me solve this puzzle.
Winchester 52 111 design prototype circa 1919
Below is the link on Hyde.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/sh ... p?t=589249
The barreled action is proof marked with Birmingham & London markings. Do the proofs tell anything about the rifle?
The rifle was re-barreled by noted barrel maker Eric Johnson he was a shooter at Camp Perry in the USA during the late 20's-40's. Johnson barrels are prized items for there uncanny accuracy.
Hyde sent the rifle to Johnson in 1953 and Johnson sent it back to Hyde who lived in Wiltshire .Did they make Winchester 52 clones before or after the war ?This is a Winchester 52 Pre A circa 1931 round top rare receiver with a flat at the rear of the receiver.Who would clone such a rifle?It is also a single shot design not until 1956 or later did Winchester make this in a 52D & E.
Winchester did make a Single Shot rifle as it was produced in 1919 the design was from Thomas Johnson. Twelve rifles were made according to Winchester and all but one was converted to a magazine fed receiver.So there was single shot rifles made in that time period.Springfield also made a singleshot rifle called the "International Match " in 1923-1924. Possibly this is something Winchester built at that time. See image here.
I am stumped and trying to find any info on this rifle and the shooter.Very little on the net about Hyde maybe someone knew him or knew of him here.
Here is a link to the rifle.
http://www.gunauction.com/buy/13288112
Received the action and it's a Winchester all parts of the action measure the same as my original Model 52's dimensionaly.There are no welds as far as modification to Single shot or removing the safety. The rear of the receiver tang is the same as the Winchester 52. My guess it was made as a very early prototype by Winchester. Hyde probably had an opportunity to procure the rifle by means of traveling to the States buying it from Winchester. American Olympian Art Jackson owned a very similar rifle and he was a fellow shooter at the 1952 games.
All this is conjecture on my part after seeing the action and measuring it the action is a Winchester and not a clone made by some gunsmith in England.
Here are pictures of my 52c and the Single shot Winchester 52 Special side by side
The receiver drill holes have been filled. Now the bluing and restocking is all that's needed.
Rear flat cut round receiver original rare Winchester..... is the last photo
Thanks,
Gary
New to this forum.Thought I'd try and get an answer on this rifle supposedly made in England.It was owned by Charles J. Hyde an Olympic shooter of & for Great Britain in the Helsinki Games of 1952. Is there any images in England of the 1952 rifle team in England. I can't believe there is nothing written or photos. Photos or articles please if you can find them it would help me solve this puzzle.
Winchester 52 111 design prototype circa 1919
Below is the link on Hyde.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/sh ... p?t=589249
The barreled action is proof marked with Birmingham & London markings. Do the proofs tell anything about the rifle?
The rifle was re-barreled by noted barrel maker Eric Johnson he was a shooter at Camp Perry in the USA during the late 20's-40's. Johnson barrels are prized items for there uncanny accuracy.
Hyde sent the rifle to Johnson in 1953 and Johnson sent it back to Hyde who lived in Wiltshire .Did they make Winchester 52 clones before or after the war ?This is a Winchester 52 Pre A circa 1931 round top rare receiver with a flat at the rear of the receiver.Who would clone such a rifle?It is also a single shot design not until 1956 or later did Winchester make this in a 52D & E.
Winchester did make a Single Shot rifle as it was produced in 1919 the design was from Thomas Johnson. Twelve rifles were made according to Winchester and all but one was converted to a magazine fed receiver.So there was single shot rifles made in that time period.Springfield also made a singleshot rifle called the "International Match " in 1923-1924. Possibly this is something Winchester built at that time. See image here.
I am stumped and trying to find any info on this rifle and the shooter.Very little on the net about Hyde maybe someone knew him or knew of him here.
Here is a link to the rifle.
http://www.gunauction.com/buy/13288112
Received the action and it's a Winchester all parts of the action measure the same as my original Model 52's dimensionaly.There are no welds as far as modification to Single shot or removing the safety. The rear of the receiver tang is the same as the Winchester 52. My guess it was made as a very early prototype by Winchester. Hyde probably had an opportunity to procure the rifle by means of traveling to the States buying it from Winchester. American Olympian Art Jackson owned a very similar rifle and he was a fellow shooter at the 1952 games.
All this is conjecture on my part after seeing the action and measuring it the action is a Winchester and not a clone made by some gunsmith in England.
Here are pictures of my 52c and the Single shot Winchester 52 Special side by side
The receiver drill holes have been filled. Now the bluing and restocking is all that's needed.
Rear flat cut round receiver original rare Winchester..... is the last photo
Thanks,
Gary