S&W Model 52
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 127 mm
- Weight, empty
- 1.13 kg
- Introduced
- 1961
About
What it is, and why it matters
The S&W Model 52 is an American single-action semi-automatic target pistol chambered in .38 Special, firing flush-seated full wadcutter cartridges. Introduced in 1961 and derived from the Model 39 service pistol, it was a dedicated centerfire bullseye match pistol prized for its exceptional accuracy. It used a five-round detachable magazine, a 5-inch match barrel with an adjustable bushing, and a micrometer-adjustable rear sight. Production ended in 1993 when the specialized tooling required to build it wore out.
Built specifically for centerfire bullseye competition, the Model 52 fired only flush-seated .38 Special wadcutters and earned a reputation as one of the most accurate production target pistols Smith & Wesson ever made.
Often nicknamed the '.38 Master'. Three versions were produced: the original Model 52 (1961), the Model 52-1 with a redesigned single-action trigger (1963), and the Model 52-2 with an improved extractor (1970-1993).
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Smith & Wesson
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- United States
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1961 to 1993
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 127 mm
- Overall length
- 216 mm
- Height
- 140 mm
- Weight, empty
- 1.13 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Short recoil
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Trigger pull
- 11.0 N
- Capacity
- 5
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Slide
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Walnut
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 230 m/s
- Effective range
- 50 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Single action only- Adjustable barrel bushing
Micrometer adjustable rear sight
Match grade barrel- Flush seated wadcutter
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 25 .38 Special pistols | 1.13 kg | 595 g | Heavier than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 1,911 pistols | 216 mm | 196 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 127 mm | 51 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 5 | 5 | Holds fewer rounds than about 60% |
Answers
Questions about the S&W Model 52
How much does the S&W Model 52 weigh?
The S&W Model 52 weighs 1.13 kg (2.50 lb) empty.
What caliber is the S&W Model 52?
The S&W Model 52 is chambered in .38 Special.
How many rounds does the S&W Model 52 hold?
The S&W Model 52 holds 5 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the S&W Model 52?
The S&W Model 52 is 216 mm (8.50 in) long overall, with a 127 mm (5.00 in) barrel.
Who makes the S&W Model 52?
The S&W Model 52 is made by Smith & Wesson (United States). It was designed by Smith & Wesson.
When was the S&W Model 52 introduced?
The S&W Model 52 was introduced in 1961 and discontinued in 1993.
How does the S&W Model 52 operate?
The S&W Model 52 uses a short recoil action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- United States competitive shooters
- United States
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/smith-wesson-model-52' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "smith-wesson-model-52", "name": "S&W Model 52", "manufacturer": { "id": "smith-wesson", "name": "Smith & Wesson", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1852, "website": "https://www.smith-wesson.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "6e259a578cb1b21d72610d761d652c983ff25806b9e736e2db8d2938596e9202" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 1961, "barrel_length_mm": 127, "weight_empty_g": 1134, "action_type": "short_recoil"}