I know of 4 types of Performance Center cases. Blue plastic, brown plastic, ribbed aluminum with logo glued on, and the satin aluminum with embossed logo. Does anyone have the year range that the different cases were used? Also I forgot about the black gun rug.

Thanks
Scott

The first generation blue plastic case goes back to at least 1992. There were several types with minor differences. Those cases were used all through the nineties.

Many Performance Center guns from that area shipped in the normal one piece cardboard box.

In the 2000s the Performance Center switch to a new style plastic case that was gray in color. Other than the color and the PC logo on the lid, it look like the same case that most standard Smiths of that era shipped in. That gray case is still used today.

The aluminum cases were never universally issued. They were always something used on a limited basis depending on the model. I would expect there would be an early 1st gen and a later 2nd gen style, with the change occurred around 2000 or so.

I hope you uncover more details. There hasn't been a lot of scholarship done on Smith & Wesson containers and their respective date ranges.

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I bought a Wyatt 637 Performance Center back in 2014, and it came in a plain blue cardboard box. Gun's great though, just wonder why they didn't give it the usual special treatment if they're all supposed to come in plastic.

Let's not forget that "special" Black Plastic case embossed with DOSKOCIL. The Gold Performance Center Label was stuck on the case (blue lettering). I am not sure when and for how long these were used but I certainly have/had a few of them.

From its inception the PC has used cardboard boxes on certain products. It's not unusual.

__________________
~ S&W aficionado in training ~

The two different 90's blue plastic PC boxes I have are very different.

The PC 845's (1996) box (below) is the same as those that came with standard production models (which I have several of) & does not have any different labeling or logo/embossing on it to differentiate it.

The PC Shorty 40 Mk.I's (1993) box (below)has thicker plastic, that has a crinkled texture, has rounded corners, & the PC logo on the top. It looks like other Shorty 40 Mk.I boxes I've seen pictures of.

.

845 Limited box


.



.



.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

Different models got unique gun rugs, too. (If they came with a rug they typically came in a plain old white cardboard.)

.



.



.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

Kernel, if it helps you with any research, my Doug Koenig edition .38 Super PC1911-2 came in a very nice silver aluminum case with ribbed top and bottom and the PC logo embossed in the top. I think the gun was part of the second run of that model. Conversely, my 5" PC1911 .45ACP (the model with the slotted slide) purchased new in 2014 came in a blue plastic box.

Ed

Added picture of 1993 Shorty 40 PC box to post# 6.

.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day