I recently saw a Performance Center longslide 59 series (it was all steel, as per the weight of the device) with the rounded trigger guard, DAO finished in a matte black, extended magazine well and fully adjustable rear sights. Does anyone out there know what this is??? I am thinking of buying it, yet the price is north of 1200 USD!!!

It is clearly a third generation auto and it is quite slick...

It's a European model made for the German (if I recall correctly) distributor Wischo. It's basically a black (Melonite) version of the older 5" PPC (i.e. undercut muzzle with the shorter guide rod) with an DAO trigger. Please buy it as I'm tired of looking at it! :-). It probably worth what they are asking as I' e never seen another but I would low ball them on the first offer as its been sitting there for several months. Evidently S&W unloaded a bunch of demo/proto type guns on them. I would have bought it by now, but for that 5" DPA 5903 that I beat you too!

That makes sense and you have described the pistol to a tee. I will have to buy it now because I have a sore spot for the PC and DAO third gen guns... Thanks!!!

Glad to hear its going to get a good home. It may very well be one of kind, but who knows. I"ve seen DAO PPC's but not a more or less European Target Champion that is black and DAO. Now don't go telling all these guys were the honey hole is.