I am trying to learn what type of box a Performance Center Model 952-2 (shipped in April in 2008) looked like and with what accessories, anyone who knows please advise. I would hope to locate said box & accessories if they are available and hopefully, priced reasonably. Thanks for looking!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Some came in an aluminium hard case, with manual, lock and an extra magazine.
Others came in a blue plastic case I have two both in blue plastic "performance centre" cases. My no dash and -1 are in blue cases also while others I have seen are in aluminium cases. Someone may know the rationale that determines which case was used.

Good news or bad news… the last of the 952-2 pistols definitely came in a black zippered soft side pistol case. There was a PC logo on the case. And the PC was fully dead, gone and buried by 2011. It’s possible your 952-2 came in the zippered case.

As a zippered pistol case goes, it was nice, but also a far cry from a box.

Now for my often unpopular opinion: the aluminum PC cases are ridiculously overrated items. They were good looking with a lot of curb appeal and they are definite bidding fuel in Gunbroker auctions, that’s a fact. So if the idea is to build a package that sells for the highest price, people PAY for that case.

But the aluminum case is chineeze junk. It’s not very protective, the pistol can slide around inside it, and if the case has ever been used for anything other than glamour shots it gets royally dinged up. The hinges are cheap, the locks are extremely cheap.

When they are offered for sale with no gun… the prices are comical.

Seriously, I am relieved to learn the box could have been a bag with a zipper or a molded plastic box. neither of which I will be eager to obtain now that you have cleared my vision of what it might have been to what it really was. I sure hope that the pistol isn't thought of with the same lack of respect since I'm happy with the way it shoots.
I appreciate the replies, had posted in the "Members" section with no responses.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

I have had a few of these pass through my hands. I don’t “think” the -2 ever came with the plastic case but definitely could be wrong. I have had the -2s with metal case and zippered case. I picked up one of the soft sided zippered PC cases off of eBay a while ago for cheap. People don’t seem to seek those out like the metal PC cases. A perusing of sold items on the flea says a soft case is about $50 and about $200 for the hard case.

Does anyone have an image of the soft sided zippered cases for clarity? Is it the same one that came with my 3.5” PC 460 or is there a older version they used at that time?

I believe they are all the same. Here is a shot from the internet.
Us

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Goodness no! The 952-2 pistols are in an extremely elite group of handguns — I would term this elite group the finest semiautomatic pistols that Smith & Wesson ever made, and I do mean EVER, hands down. My opinion, of course, based on my experience. I got my first S&W semiautomatic in 1995 and I’ve owned multiple dozens of them, and still own most of them, and the single action only, target sighted PC Limited guns are the best of the best to literally ever wear the classic ampersand.

FWIW,

There is a first gen aluminum case on fleabay for $250.00.

My later 952-2 shipped in June 2008, in the smooth-sided aluminum case, with the embossed PC logo.

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Trey Gorbett, SWCA #3676

I'm not the original owner but mine came with the normal paperwork, SAT, and 3 magazines. The spent shell envelope is dated Oct 13, 2006. As for the aluminum cases, I had a 945 that came in a smaller sized aluminum case...again not the original owner.

Trigger is a little heavy at a crisp 2 lbs/ 11 ounce average.

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Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

And the pc zipper case came in a white cardboard box with a small circular S&w sticker, a red performance center ink stamp, and its identifying end label. At least my 945-1 did as of April ‘05. Was underwhelmed at the time.

My 952-2 (purchased new in 12/2010) came in a light brown plastic performance center case. Fired case bag was dated February 2010.

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I decided that I will not pursue the shipping case no matter what it was, am disappointed that the shipping box was changed, to me cheapened so I don't need one!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

I'm simply dazzled that 952s are this common. Never saw one in the flesh, only in an older S&W catalog.
BTW, does the 952 use a single stack magazine, like that from a M39?
Moon

Single Stack Magazines

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

The magazine is similar to the Model 39 mag but it is longer. It's the same magazine used in the 3906/3904/908. It is a 9-round single stack magazine with an orange plastic follower and a black plastic floorplate.

You can use the 952 magazine in a 39/39-2 or 439/539/639 but the opposite is not true.

EDIT forgot the other part of your post...

These pistols are not THAT common, a couple thousand perhaps, but you are discussing them on the single most likely place on the entirety of the internet where folks might own and love them. Out in the world, yes, they are certainly scarce and it is quite unlikely that you will see one randomly at the gun range or at the gun store.

I noticed in your picture that there is the presence of the old school Pachmayr rubber grip. It's worth noting that this grip will NOT properly mount to the 952 series of pistols.

You can half-azz it but you need to be quite careful in doing so. I bought a used 952-1 from the Broker of Guns a number of years ago and the seller had mounted this grip (BADLY) and he completely destroyed one of the grip screw bushings in the process.