PC 4006 Shorty 40 of 2000 with PCZ Serial Number

wlp624 · Oct 30, 2021

The comprehensive list of Performance Center semi-autos, a portion of which is pictured below, shows the PC 4006 Shorty 40 of 2000, product code 170164, to have been manufactured in a run of approximately 500 units, all having serial numbers beginning with a DSF prefix.

As you can see in the photo, mine has a PCZ prefix, which usually indicated a serial number used by the Performance Center for any gun that was not associated with a specific run.

Does anyone have any more information on the significance of this particular gun and/or why it has this serial number prefix?

RedCardinal · Oct 30, 2021

Mine was DSF prefix. I have seen a photo of one other PCZ prefix, and it was #319. Very close to yours. It was offered for sale in the classified section here in September 2009. I have read that the PCZ prefix was used for special orders and limited runs but can not remember the source. The all steel stainless and black tutone CQB 45 without the billboard on the slide had a PCZ prefix. I believe only 20 or so of those were made on a special order.

joedegs · Oct 30, 2021

“The PCZ prefix was used as a generic prefix for anything that needed a serial number but was not associated with any special order.”

My thought is, a customer ordered a certain amount of a special order semi-auto or revolver. I do believe there’s a few PCZ revolvers?? Someone making the pistol liked the idea and made a few extra. They weren’t a part of the customers order and needed to be numbered. So it was given PCZ. This prefix can also be found on some other 3rd gen PC models.

Joe

Gunhacker · Oct 30, 2021

The PCZ prefix has been said to be associated with a Performance Center small number run of "proof of concept" guns or pre-production samples, that were used by S&W to entice a large distributor such as Lew Horton, RSR, etc., to market a limited run. It would not surprise me if some of the guns shown at the SHOT shows had a PCZ prefix.

This is the 4006 IDPA, the kissing cousin to the successful 5906 IDPA PC pistol. The 4006 IDPA went nowhere, as .40 S&W was not a popular choice for IDPA.

4 of these pistols went to Lew Horton, mine was confirmed from a factory letter that it was shipped to Lew Horton, and I was also able to get a confirmation from Lew Horton that they only distributed 4 pistols. Yet unconfirmed, is that only 12 of these 4006 IDPA were produced, if true, there's a few more floating around.

cherrypointmarine · Nov 2, 2021

I don't mean to hijack this thread , but seeing they were mentioned ..........
I have both a 4in and 5in 5906IDPA . Why did they put those rear sights on them ? I would think they would have put the same sights as the 845 and 945's , Bo-mars .

CALREB · Nov 7, 2021

Even though the 5906s have an DPA serial number. I think that was done due to some IDPA shooters associated with the Smith and Wesson Academy or the PC. I know there were IDPA matches at the SW Academy. Im sure that most of these pistols were sold to Police Combat shooters. Ther rules at the time called for a 5"pistol with fixed sights. As most guys couldnt afford to have a 5" 1911 built just for that match, most just shot with whatever duty pistol they had that met the rules. The match was being won by shooters sponsored by Springfield, or others with a 1911. Then SW came out with this pistol and it was an instant big hit winning at least the first, and 2nd year it was out and several times after that. Many guys carried it for a duty gun and already had a bunch of magazines from their PPC 9s. The rules were relaxed some time later to include adjustable sights.
I had S/W adj sights from Bomar that fit the 5906, but the ridge on the rear of the slide would have to be milled off. I found it easier to buy the Kensight DAS type sight and file the sightbase to fit the SW cut, you have to trim the very rear of the sight also to fit within area of the slide cut, but it works great. You will need a taller front. By the time the 5" DPA 5906s came out most PPC shooters had gone the 1911 route. or didnt feel it was worth it if you already had a 4". Here is a photo of a
Kensight DAS on my 6906 with a Dawson F/O front, worked great. I have since changed it to a lower front so I could lower the rear.

James&theGiant1911 · Nov 8, 2021

I thought all Shorties were Lew Horton distribution specials, limited to 500 pieces each run for the model year they were sold. I owned two and still have one Shorty 40 caliber and they have letters stating Lew Horton was the distributor for these pieces.

PC 4006 Shorty 40 of 2000 with PCZ Serial Number

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