IIRC..... the TSW guns were upgraded from earlier guns.... utilizing features that were first seen in PC gun......
I remember the heavier box rails were originally a PC feature added to the later TSW guns.
history on the Performance Center Recon 45
- Thread starter brasspoint
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IIRC..... the TSW guns were upgraded from earlier guns.... utilizing features that were first seen in PC gun......
I remember the heavier box rails were originally a PC feature added to the later TSW guns.
Since this isn't quite a zombie thread yet.....
It's interesting to me that the SCSW mentions that two of the three product numbers (170098 for the black finish and 170041 for the stainless finish) for the 45 Recon were produced for RSR (a large Stocking Dealer), but RSR isn't mentioned with the third product number (170028).
That third number is the one specified to have come with the matching knife numbered to the gun.
The SCSW also mentions the nice aluminum double-lock Performance Center case, and some of the guns were shipped that way; others were in PC-marked plastic cases.
I've looked at photos of a couple of dozen 45 Recons, and it appears their serial numbers fall into two groups: the all-black ones start at REC0000 and go at least as far as 0309, and the all-stainless start as low as 0416 and go as high as 0596. This leads me to think that perhaps half of the run of 603 was black, and half stainless -- but that's a guess.
What's interesting about the ones that come with the knives (which are black) is that they were available with both the black- and the stainless-finish guns. Pictured below are the black 0283 with its knife, and the stainless 0460 with its knife. So it appears the PC marked a certain number of knives for both models, and those sets became product number 170028, and the remaining pistols were sold without the knives.
Long story short, it'll probably be difficult, short of a Jinks letter (and maybe not even then), to determine the number of units of 170028 -- 45 Recon models that came with the knives.
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Do you own the Recon 45 with a 0283 serial number?
vigil617
US Veteran
No, just found a picture of it with the knife during a search of photos online of the model. Thanks for your PM, and congratulations on your new-to-you 45 Recon! 
Sorry for the thread revival, but I thought my question would be fitting to this thread.
I purchased a Recon 45 last year. I didn't know that some of them came with a matching knife until reading this thread. Mine did not come with a knife. Is there some way to check if it is supposed to have a matching knife?
I purchased a Recon 45 last year. I didn't know that some of them came with a matching knife until reading this thread. Mine did not come with a knife. Is there some way to check if it is supposed to have a matching knife?
vigil617
US Veteran
If you have the original label from the box or case, and it has the product code 170028 on it, then I think it was supposed to have a knife.
Performance Center 45 Recon
I own a PC 45 Recon, serial number REC0059, that I purchased new at a local range in 2000. It came with a silver Performance Center double locking case. The knife was included with the purchase, but I had to register the gun with S&W and then they sent me the knife.
I own a PC 45 Recon, serial number REC0059, that I purchased new at a local range in 2000. It came with a silver Performance Center double locking case. The knife was included with the purchase, but I had to register the gun with S&W and then they sent me the knife.
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vigil617
US Veteran
Now that's very interesting, and perhaps it goes a long way toward explaining why some owners have the knives with their Recons and some don't. I imagine the knives were probably serial numbered when those warranty registrations were returned; otherwise, it would seem to have been wasteful to mark all the knives beforehand and then to have to keep up with them. Easier just to mark the knife after the card came back.
Do you happen to recall how much you paid for your package at the time? Just asking so to add to the lore of a fine Third Gen PC auto.
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At my age, there's no way that I'd remember what I paid for it; but since I still have the receipt in the case, I see that it was $899.95 :O)
vigil617
US Veteran
Interesting! Depending on which inflation calculator one chooses, that $900 in 2000 is $1,250 to $1,300 in 2017 dollars. Too bad S&W isn't still tooled-up to produce these; I think they would sell! Of course, that's another thread altogether, and a subject that has been debated to death already....
And I do remember it's true that these were slow sellers back then, so what do I know?
vigil617 said:And I do remember it's true that these were slow sellers back then, so what do I know?
Isn't that the case on all the cool guns that we like today but sold slow when they came out.
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Recon 45
I have been unsuccessfully trying to find the very gun you are talking about. I had a PC Recon 45 until it was stolen out of my car parked on Las Olas Blvd and the intercoastal waterway in Fort Lauderdale FL. Nov.11-12... I really liked that gun and normally did not use it as my everyday carry. Of course this was an exception that I continue to regret. The serial number is recorded with the police department but I doubt if a theif would try to sell it legitimately anyway. Just a shot in the dark so to speak, willing to pay a reward for its return.
I have been unsuccessfully trying to find the very gun you are talking about. I had a PC Recon 45 until it was stolen out of my car parked on Las Olas Blvd and the intercoastal waterway in Fort Lauderdale FL. Nov.11-12... I really liked that gun and normally did not use it as my everyday carry. Of course this was an exception that I continue to regret. The serial number is recorded with the police department but I doubt if a theif would try to sell it legitimately anyway. Just a shot in the dark so to speak, willing to pay a reward for its return.
Hi, I also have a Recon 45 in the stainless and alloy silver, it came in the metal case with 2 p/c mags and knife both marked ser #0528. Purchased new from lgs. Price new I paid for the pkg. was 999.00 Has been a safe Queen all her life except for test firing of 2 magazines to confirm functionality. Thinking of selling, what do you guys think it's value is on the market?
SafeTFirst
Member
I’m looking for an OWB leather holster for this gun. Any recommendations for a maker? I know it’s likely going to be custom, pricey, and a long wait…
I wil diverge a bit, since I had and have a large selection of Performance Center guns. I had a 952 in 5" and 6" but when I did my accuracy evaluations, my 3566 Tactical .356TSW (with PC installed Match 9mm barrel and bushing) out shot both of the the 952s, so I sold them. The triggers were virtually identical in all so there was no downside. I had the Briley Race gun in the .356TSW configuration and it was stellar. I still have a CASEs of .356TSW ammo, both Cor-Bon and Federal, but hav little use for them. My 9mm handholds (5gr.VV N330 and a Montana Gold 124gr. JHP) were the most accurate in most of my 9s, so I shoot mostly 9mm.
To the .45 RECON. Had one and it did not compare to my Shorty 45 mkII. The trigger on Shorty 45 is stellar in SA and the gun is incredibly accurate, with Remington 185gr Golden Saber the best. It has a Briley bushing and will group 1-hole at 25 yds. I have a PC 1911 and a 1911SC but the Shorty 45 is still incredible... The Briley Bushing guns reign king in accuracy. So much so that i converted other 1911s to a fitted Briley Bushing and accuracy increased by, easily, 50%/.
To the .45 RECON. Had one and it did not compare to my Shorty 45 mkII. The trigger on Shorty 45 is stellar in SA and the gun is incredibly accurate, with Remington 185gr Golden Saber the best. It has a Briley bushing and will group 1-hole at 25 yds. I have a PC 1911 and a 1911SC but the Shorty 45 is still incredible... The Briley Bushing guns reign king in accuracy. So much so that i converted other 1911s to a fitted Briley Bushing and accuracy increased by, easily, 50%/.
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cherrypointmarine
Member
Terry you've opened up the can now , talking about PC guns .I too find my .3566 Limited an awesome piece . My 40 Limited is a close second , but then all those {old} PC guns are awesome . I ended up sending my 45Recon to Guzzitaco and he put an Sig Romeo on it . I see you didn't mention the 845's , some here will swear they are the finest 45's made by S&W . But I must say , my 945 which is from the first run of 945's , will shoot as well as either of my 845's . Sit back and watch the PC brothers come out and voice their opinions .........
Yeah, My 945 is serial# 91...unreal.
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