doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Eric Johnson Winchester Model 52 Target gun, 22RF

I am the new owner of an Eric Johnson 5 Star 8 barreled bolt action single shot 22 rimfire target gun.

This gun was originally owned and used in 1956 by a Mr Chet Bickers former employee and personal friend of Charles Newton Arms of Buffalo, New York.

The action of this gun is a Winchester Model 52 clone or near clone being built around a Winchester Model 52 Bolt, the action is stamped #1 and bears no other ID.

The barrel is an Eric Johnson 5 Star 8, Serial number 1361 dtd 2/17/56 and it was installed to the action that same month by EJ himself to a Winchester Model 52 International stock (Prone/3 Position), that is both Pillar and Glass bedded and serialized to the barrel.

My hope is that someone here can tell me something more about the gun and who could have possibly machined the action.

I can both Post and or Email pictures of the gun to anyone interested or knowledgeable re the gun.

My Email is ctlama@yahoo.com, my Tele is 734 420 1918, I am located in Plymouth, Michigan.

Chuck

I'm no expert, but I believe Eric Johnson did build some actions, this may be one or may be something else. I also think the Winchester International (52D) came along later than this rifle, so this is probably a custom stock. Ask over here:

http://benchrest.com/showthread.php?51427-eric-johnson-guns&s=374bdc4a23cdc164c517d8c36845dc39

Chuck, Welcome to the forum.

Looks like the action was built by Mr. Bickers.

Thank you for that information...very enlightening.

Dang - that thing looks like it would just eat a one hole group all day long. Hope you post a target.

I do not think this work was done in 1956

I know the barrel, action and stock all came together in 1956, I cannot verify that the Bedding was at the same time, you are quite possibly right.

I don't know that Chet Bickers was a machinest/gunsmith however an Emil Flues also worked at Newton Arms and was an associate and friend of Chet Bickers, he may have been the machinest on this action or assisted Mr Bickers.

*Also, FWIW, I don't believe there is any significant historical interest in this specific gun/barrel but it sure is interesting because of the
Eric Johnson "5 Star 8" barrel connection.

Ryan this is a 50 yd PSL 25 Bullseye target that I shot last week , 1st target for this gun.
The Red circle measures .560 the White circle measures .390

Gun is not dialed in yet, need to accurize it, test some different ammos, shoot some 5 shot test groups.

However... based on this 1st target the gun shows some really good potential for competition BR shooting.

Coulda/mighta but no way to prove it. Pillar bedding was first used commercially by Paul Mauser in his 1898 rifles(!), and New York gunsmith Seely Masker widely popularized its use for aftermarket accuracy improvement in the middle/late 1960s. Fiberglass bedding was first popularized via its widespread marketing by Brownell's in the 1950s.

Interesting to speculate though.
Regards, Joe