Billboad gun
- Thread starter Jaco1234
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Could be but I always thought it was Ruger when they started filling up the barrel space with warnings and about reading the manual.
nra jim
Member
I first heard it after these came out from S&W and many people were complaining about the billboard on the slide. Personally I like it and better yet this thing is a tack driver, owned it since new and have well over 30,000 rounds without a hiccup.
Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
I was under the impression that these and the above 1911 with Performance Center markings on the slide were considered Billboard Guns - not sure about the TSWs though they certainly have enough text on the slides.
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You are likely correct. On second thought the Rugers are called Warning or pre-warning.
Billboard, a large outdoor board for displaying advertisements.
Unfortunately S&W decided to use this idea of advertising. The Chief Specials, TSW’s and some 1911’s were one thing but many PC’s examples went WAY too far. (My opinion of course.)
PC’s are excellent pistols but regrettably some have all that “ad print” on the slide. The CQB and 945 are just two examples that I think are distracted from a “billboard.”
Jim
Unfortunately S&W decided to use this idea of advertising. The Chief Specials, TSW’s and some 1911’s were one thing but many PC’s examples went WAY too far. (My opinion of course.)
PC’s are excellent pistols but regrettably some have all that “ad print” on the slide. The CQB and 945 are just two examples that I think are distracted from a “billboard.”
Jim
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IIRC, the billboard originated with the PC 952 and 945 models, S&W wanted competitors on the shooting lines to know what they were competing against and to differentiate them from 1911s and other manufacturers. They pre-dated S&W getting into the 1911 game.
KurtC
Member
Billboard slides have a bunch of hokey stuff on them, starting in the mid 90's. Early slides were just tastefully rollmarked.
Back when the Performance Center actually did custom work, I had them remove the "Tactical" billboard from this 4586TSW ane properly roll mark the slide in the traditional manner.
Back when the Performance Center actually did custom work, I had them remove the "Tactical" billboard from this 4586TSW ane properly roll mark the slide in the traditional manner.
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Totally true -- but we must also mention that both of these models evolved away from the billboard. The 952 no-dash was a billboard pistol made to (supposedly!) 400 units. The larger share of the 952-1 was a billboard design that looks exactly like the no-dash.
The last group of the 952-1 was a non-billboard design, and then S&W carried that understated look to the new stainless 952-2 pistols.
The 945 began life with a size 24 font "9 4 5" on the slide but there were soooo many 945 variations in look, style, lettering, serrations and colors/finishes, along with four distinct sizes. With the 945, they too evolved and the billboarding went away, it's just not nearly as easy to say when and where as it is with the 952's.
It's also worth mentioning for anyone that had never heard of this term that "billboarding" is not a S&W specific aesthetic, but plenty of different gun makers have done it. I think if we speak generally... it will always be looked back upon as somewhat less than attractive.
My biggest billboard pain is that my one single favorite firearm beyond all others sports a really unattractive billboard script. It's the PC 845 Limited second series, "Model of 1998" and it says that in irrationally large letters taking up most of the left side of the slide.
For me and my journey, this pistol exists in it's own single spot above all others in my heart and YET, I genuinely hate this homely, silly nonsense carved in to my phenomenal stainless pistol.
Reminds me of some of the Springfield XDs with the obnoxious “Grip zone” on the frame
