952-2 variations

[Tntcwg3]

I've been fortunate enough to have two M952-2 pistols in my collection, one is very early production s/n DAB0002, and a later production s/n DAB1701, mfg'd ~ 4 years apart. There are some minor variations between the two, compared below early to late,

• checkered vs stippled grip panels.
  Model # stamp on right side vs left side.
  No billboard "Performance Center" on right side.
  Blued extractor vs stainless extractor.
  No magazine disconnect vs mag disconnect.

I'd like to hear from other owners as to the serial number sequences where these changes might have been implemented.

 

[huthike]

I can’t answer your questions, but wow. I’m just exploring the joys of a 952 - those are beautiful.

 

[toddcfii]

​

DAB058X has checkered grips and model number on left side. No Billboard.

 

[Sevens]

Mine is a later example, DAB10xx and it was made Aug 24, 2006. As with most later PC Limited guns, it has the newer style barrel hood/stamping. The older PC guns say "9mm P Performance" in small letters but mine has the much less attractive 9mm in the large round font.

I have the checkered stocks and no model marking on the right side. My extractor is black. Mine does not have the billboard "Performance Center" on the right side.

Inside the frame and HAND WRITTEN in what appears to be black sharpie is the number 12, a matching 12 is stamped inside the slide and the barrel has a 12 electro-penciled. The last two digits of my serial number are not 12.

The guide rod has the flat cut for assisting install... I have found that some have it and some do not.

The rear sight is a Bo-Mar style but stamped LPA. Across PC guns, you will find variances here. The rear sight blade is fully lined, another part that varies from gun to gun, in my experience.

 

[hoytx10]

Anyone have an idea how many 952’s were made in total? Thank you!

Here’s a picture of mine, DAB00xx.

 

[Sevens]

Roy wrote in a 2009 letter that 1,735 were made in the blued finish... so that would be 400 of the no-dash and 1,335 of the 952-1. HOWEVER it may be worth noting that the crazy rare 952-3 (chambered in 9x21) was a blued pistol and I have no idea if Roy included these in that number.

Unfortunately I have not seen a published number for the 952-2.

 

[Tntcwg3]

Anyone have an idea how many 952’s were made in total? Thank you!

Here’s a picture of mine, DAB00xx.

Nice, I've wondered that myself as well. I've read somewhere that 952-2 production was about 200 units per year but can't confirm that. Nice avatar!

 

[joedegs]

Here’s a thread from the past that may help.

My 952 Collection

Joe

 

[Tntcwg3]

Here’s a thread from the past that may help.

My 952 Collection

Joe

Thanks Joe, that's a simply awesome collection!

 

[Aussie Collector]

The way I read the factory letters is that.
1735 blue models were made. That includes both the 952 and 952-1.
If the 952 production was 400 then the 952-1 would be 1335.

The factory letters are confusing and inconsistent.
From letters.
952 KAZ0001 - KAZ0399 400 made(actually 399)
952-1 begin at KAZ0461 to KAZ1535 (thats 1075)
What then were KAZ0400 to KAZ0460?
Another letter lists the 952 going to KAZ0459?
Regardless looks like somewhere between 399 to 459 for the 952s
And 952-1 some where between 1275 to 1335
Plus or minus and allowing for rounding.

Regardless a low number and collectable guns.

Any one have the numbers for the 952-2.

 

[Sevens]

I can prove for certain that factory letter have errors. For example, my 952-1 has a serial number that lies in the dead zone you just mentioned where "supposedly" no units are marked. Mine is -- so the letter has a mistake.

Also as I noted, the 952-3 that I believe was made for the Italian market is indeed a blued and not stainless pistol. No idea how many 952-3 were produced and the fact that they exist absolutely messes with Roy's statement of "all the blued models of 952."

So what we are left with is literally the best that we can deduce, until we see a NEW letter with possibly conflicting or updated or potentially more accurate information.

 

[Tntcwg3]

Mine is a later example, DAB10xx and it was made Aug 24, 2006. As with most later PC Limited guns, it has the newer style barrel hood/stamping. The older PC guns say "9mm P Performance" in small letters but mine has the much less attractive 9mm in the large round font.

Looked at mine again last night, the 952 "no dash" has "9mm P Performance" in small letters, while both the -2 models have the larger font 9mm. since my older 952-2 is arguably the second or third stainless -2 produced, my assumption would be that this change was made between the no dash and the -1 configurations.

Sevens, does yours have the magazine disconnect?

 

[Camster]

I had a -1 variant, to which I added Nill grips. One of the finest guns that I ever owned. That and my Les Baer P2, were real gems, the best of my centerfire automatics.

 

[Aussie Collector]

I have three 952s just checked my 952-1.. serial number KAZ1696.

(Error removed...maths error...)

My two 952-2s are UBZ and DAB prefex.
Is that two different runs?

 

[Sevens]

Yes, both my 952-1 and 952-2 have the magazine disconnect safety. My PPC-9 does not, nor does my 3566 Limited, or my 845's or my 4006 Limited. My PC SD-9 has it.

As to the evolution of the caliber markings on the barrel hood, I could not say surely when that happened, or if it was a change in suppliers or just a different method of marking them. I think it's safe to say that Briley was the source of most of the PC barrels early, I have no idea if they used Briley all the way to the end (2010 or so.)

And it's not that I'm trying to point a nasty finger at the information in factory letters... thank goodness we get some info from them. And Roy Jinks has always been fond of saying that S&W was never in the business of making collectibles or cataloging them, they were selling guns and very little else beyond selling guns.

It is important to remember that while the letters are a blessing, they are not the absolute end-all of factual information.

I still have yet to see anyone that actually owns the 952-3, but as most who have owned the 952-2 will know... S&W even wrote "952-3" as being a covered model in the owner's manual. (more of a pamphlet but anyway)

 

[JohnHL]

It has been mentioned a few times on this Forum (IIRC by Fastbolt), that on the regular production guns, when the barrel stamping went from "9mm Parabellum" (in small letters) to "9MM" (in larger letters) that the shape of the chamber was changed.

I don't know if this applies here.

John

 

[huthike]

Recently got a 952-2. Serial DAB0895, letter says 2006.

Checkered grips, left side model number, billboard logo right side, black extractor. 9mm P Performance on barrel hood.

Not sure how that fits with OP’s numbers exactly.

 

[huthike]

Sorry - has mag disconnect, too.

 

[five 0]

I can prove for certain that factory letter have errors. For example, my 952-1 has a serial number that lies in the dead zone you just mentioned where "supposedly" no units are marked. Mine is so the letter has a mistake

My late 952-1 Blued prefix is KAS, is this what you are referring to a serial that lies in the dead zone?

 

[Sevens]

My late 952-1 Blued prefix is KAS, is this what you are referring to a serial that lies in the dead zone?

Aussie Collector has a fine post above, and I mined 'dead zone' from that post. He said:

The factory letters are confusing and inconsistent.
From letters.
952 KAZ0001 - KAZ0399 400 made(actually 399)
952-1 begin at KAZ0461 to KAZ1535 (thats 1075)
What then were KAZ0400 to KAZ0460?
Another letter lists the 952 going to KAZ0459?

My 952-1 is KAZ-042x, so that's a dead zone if you take the data he posted which was mined from different factory letters.

I suspect your post has a small typing error in that yours is KAZ and not KAS as you typed.
However, if your pistol is actually stamped with a KAS prefix, I think you have a factory goof, I have never seen that prefix on any 952.

Two strong thoughts I believe in with great vigor:

1) There are many variations across Performance Center Limited guns, I believe this was due to parts suppliers and different bits and pieces and parts the PC had in stock. They had no care of making them exactly the same, so they put together pistols with the parts they had available.

1A) ...it's fun to compare and contrast them and share what we have and what we see and how they differ. This is the hobby side of owning these guns.

2) Factory letters are a blessing, and a double blessing when folks choose to share them. They often contain fantastic information that's otherwise nearly impossible to get -- and at the same time, across the board and across the decades, they are also riddled with small errors or erroneous information. I believe this to be wholly unintentional, I believe this is a very inexact science and these letters are written with the best of intentions. These letters are fantastic but they are not infallible and they are not gospel.