Update > lettered. 1994 Performance Center SD-40 "Stocking Dealer"

jughed440 · #1 12-12-2023, 01:52 PM

I would never have found a SD-40 if I were in search of one. Spotted this one on a table at a recent gun show. While looking it over, the seller told me "it's an experimental pistol, and that's all I know". Wasn't exactly sure what he was meaning, but he did mention the very low serial number, so I'm guessing that it had something to do with his statement. I didn't question him and paid his price. Came with the original PC case, mags, paperwork, SAT, and what I'm assuming to be a partial remnant of the end label stuck to the top of the case.
Little info is available because of the model's rarity, but I have found several good threads....including this one. Post #16 by Sevens is gold!
S&W Performance Center Stocking Dealer SD9 and SD40

Sevens · #2 12-12-2023, 10:09 PM

Haha no idea if that dude knows anything about Performance Center semiautomatic pistols but he sure is passionate about them.

Nice pistol you got!

jughed440 · #3 12-12-2023, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sevens

Haha no idea if that dude knows anything about Performance Center semiautomatic pistols but he sure is passionate about them.

Nice pistol you got!

Too funny, and thanks.

He also had a 745 priced higher than the SD.

Sevens · #4 12-13-2023, 12:10 AM

Did you also buy the 745? Those are a blast but he has some questionable Pro-Mags with it.

jughed440 · #5 12-13-2023, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sevens

Did you also buy the 745? Those are a blast but he has some questionable Pro-Mags with it.

I did not buy it. Another dealer had a 845 for $850 firm. It was scratched in a few spots, and it looks as though someone used a screwdriver to try to drive out the rear sight. The damage done to it would make you cringe

Michaelp57 · #6 12-13-2023, 01:48 AM

I dont know if I have ever been more jealous of anybody in my life. If I ever found one of these I would sell a kidney if I had to lol. Another forum member posted something about this as well as the 9mm and 356tsw version a while back and i screenshot the pictures he posted. I never really could find any more info about them online. As jealous as I am though, I'm happy for you that you got this beauty. That's the score of a lifetime in my opinion.

Tntcwg3 · #7 12-13-2023, 08:35 AM

Congrats! Gorgeous pistol!

jughed440 · #8 12-13-2023, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michaelp57

I dont know if I have ever been more jealous of anybody in my life. If I ever found one of these I would sell a kidney if I had to lol. Another forum member posted something about this as well as the 9mm and 356tsw version a while back and i screenshot the pictures he posted. I never really could find any more info about them online. As jealous as I am though, I'm happy for you that you got this beauty. That's the score of a lifetime in my opinion.

Thank you. You could be right about the "score of a lifetime" part, but then again i've made some unbelievable buys at guns shows, and always EARLY. After talking to a fellow enthusiast that attended that show (in St. Charles Mo.), and who had bought two pistols from the same gentleman, we are guessing that the seller (who appeared to be in his 80s) may have been unloading firearms that were left to him(??). But we're just guessing. There was also a Model 66 with a tag marked "police gun". I asked a younger guy who was with the seller where the police markings were at. He pointed to the number stamped on the crane. I explained what the number was for and he stated that he learned something new. He apparently knew little and may have been going by what he was told. I'm very surprised that dealers didn't buy up those guns before the doors opened. He was selling cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tntcwg3

Congrats! Gorgeous pistol!

Thanks! And thanks for your helpful replies on those other SD treads.

Dparker · #9 12-13-2023, 12:44 PM

Congratulations! I have all 3 SD calibers! Great pistols! Enjoy!

Cheers!!!
David

Sevens · #10 12-14-2023, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jughed440

I did not buy it. Another dealer had a 845 for $850 firm. It was scratched in a few spots, and it looks as though someone used a screwdriver to try to drive out the rear sight. The damage done to it would make you cringe

Actually — no. There is only one cringe I’m getting from this, and it’s that you passed on the 845 for $850.

If I found a fully functional 845 that still felt as expected, the previous owner could have electro-penciled his grocery list across 103% of the finish and I’m still tearing my wallet in half trying to extricate $850 from it.

I’m absolutely serious.

If you can find that seller and he still has it, that’s a score and a half.

jughed440 · #11 12-14-2023, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dparker

Congratulations! I have all 3 SD calibers! Great pistols! Enjoy!

Cheers!!!
David

Thanks! I read about your collection when researching past threads. Congrats on owning all three.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sevens

Actually — no. There is only one cringe I’m getting from this, and it’s that you passed on the 845 for $850.

If I found a fully functional 845 that still felt as expected, the previous owner could have electro-penciled his grocery list across 103% of the finish and I’m still tearing my wallet in half trying to extricate $850 from it.

I’m absolutely serious.

If you can find that seller and he still has it, that’s a score and a half.

You're right...that is cheap for a well cared for 845, and despite the Bubba issues that prevented me from owning it, it was probably bought by someone. My loss, someone else's find. My new legitimate excuse is that i had already bought the SD and was broke, and happy about it.

SmithNut · #12 12-22-2023, 11:01 AM

They were a marketing failure...

The Performance Center's partnership with Lew Horton was very successful, but along the way the Stocking Dealer's wanted their own cool PC models, so the Performance Center & Smith & Wesson marketing came up with the SD9, SD40 and the SD356. Unfortunately the price level was something the Stocking Dealers didn't like and they didn't sell well at all. (Good for us Collectors, but not so good for the full-line Stocking Dealers)

Here's the original flyer that was produced.

My SD356 hasn't been shot for over 20 years, but it's not going anywhere. Ammo is tough to find, brass is (or was) available for reloading or one can cut down Winchester 9mm Mag cases (tedious but workable), still have most of a case of the Federal ammo (ball) and some of the hot stuff from Federal and CorBon.

Enjoy....

jughed440 · #13 05-01-2024, 01:42 PM

Had the SD lettered, primarily because i wanted to know where it was shipped to, but also to confirm the production number, and get a shipping date.
The research so far only shows that the dealer is no longer in business. If anyone has any dealer info to share that would be much appreciated.

Update > lettered. 1994 Performance Center SD-40 "Stocking Dealer"-065660-jpg

Update > lettered. 1994 Performance Center SD-40 "Stocking Dealer"-065660-jpg

Michaelp57 · #14 05-01-2024, 01:50 PM

That's awesome. I actually have an sdc0065 on the way to my ffl now. After seeing your post, I decided that I needed to really start hunting for one. I'm not proud of the price I paid, but I'm glad it is coming. Thank you for the extra kick in the behind on this. I'm gonna see about getting it lettered when it shows up and post here what I find.

jughed440 · #15 05-01-2024, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michaelp57

That's awesome. I actually have an sdc0065 on the way to my ffl now. After seeing your post, I decided that I needed to really start hunting for one. I'm not proud of the price I paid, but I'm glad it is coming. Thank you for the extra kick in the behind on this. I'm gonna see about getting it lettered when it shows up and post here what I find.

Congrats on finding one! Please post some pics when it arrives...and Thanks!!!

JohnHL · #16 05-02-2024, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jughed440

Had the SD lettered, primarily because i wanted to know where it was shipped to, but also to confirm the production number, and get a shipping date.
The research so far only shows that the dealer is no longer in business. If anyone has any dealer info to share that would be much appreciated.

Update > lettered. 1994 Performance Center SD-40 "Stocking Dealer"-065660-jpg

Hi, jughed!

I can share some recollections about the dealer "Shooting Systems".

As I've mentioned before, I spent my career in the motorcycle business.

In the late 1970's, two brothers (I think their names were Rick and Ray Kohout) who worked for another motorcycle dealership opened a business manufacturing nylon web firearms gear (holsters, rifle cases) under the name "Assault Systems" in an industrial park on Headquarters Park Drive in Fenton, Mo.

Fenton, Mo. is a southwestern suburb of St. Louis, Mo.

The business was a success and in the late 1980's (as I recall) they subsequently opened a gun store (which they named "Shooting Systems") in addition at the same location.

They were a high volume dealer with the best prices in the area.

They ran into a little bad luck when they were burglarized by thieves breaking in by crashing through the wall with a stolen truck.

This may have happened more than once.

They spun off the gun store (Shooting Systems) to one of their managers who moved it closer in to the city in two different locations before finally closing up.

In 1994, they were still in the original location on Headquarters Park Drive in Fenton.

The nylon web gear manufacturing company eventually became "Elite Survival Systems" in Washington, Mo. (not far) which remains in business to this day.

Here is a link to their website: Concealed Carry Equipment | Elite Survival Systems

Someone there may be able to provide more info than my limited recall.

I hope this helps!

John