Last US 952

[toddcfii]

Is there any way to find out when the last 952 was made, shipped and sold in the US? Did the export 952-3 and Wishco 952-2s get produced later or at the same time as US 952s? Just thinking. Thanks.

 

[Barrie]

Why Not E-mail the maker or call them with your serial no. They should be able to tell you when it was built and most other questions about it as well. You just might be surprised on what they can tell you even on the ph.

 

[toddcfii]

Know

Well I have the sale result for a Us sold Wishco 952-2 in my possession. It was sold 6/2010. Trying to figure out the history of 952 sales/ production relative to mine. Thanks.

 

[Sevens]

These are mysteries that I would soooooo much love to have deeply detailed answers to myself. I can tell you that I recently saw a 952-2 on an auction that was different, slightly, in that it had it's 952-2 model number printed on the RIGHT side of the frame. It came is a black zippered PC gun pouch, and not the classic aluminum PC hard case, leading my to believe it was made late in the run.

 

[b_san]

These are mysteries that I would soooooo much love to have deeply detailed answers to myself. I can tell you that I recently saw a 952-2 on an auction that was different, slightly, in that it had it's 952-2 model number printed on the RIGHT side of the frame. It came is a black zippered PC gun pouch, and not the classic aluminum PC hard case, leading my to believe it was made late in the run.

A 952 in a black zippered case may have just been the original owner losing the aluminum case and ordering a black soft side PC case. Or to confuse the issue even more, I recently saw a 952 in a matching labeled grey PC plastic case. I didn't buy it but no idea whether it was produced in that case or if it sat around at S&W until it was sold off at the time when they no longer had the metal cases.

 

[Sevens]

That's true.

Pretty sure I have also seen a 952-2 with a UBZ or maybe it was a UCT serial prefix. That was also a surprise since all I had seen were DAB or WIS for the Euro guns.

I've said this before but have ya ever wondered if some guys at S&W would get a smirk on their face and laugh around the water cooler every time they did something ever so slightly odd because they thought it might send collectors in a tizzy years down the road?

 

[b_san]

That's true.

Pretty sure I have also seen a 952-2 with a UBZ or maybe it was a UCT serial prefix. That was also a surprise since all I had seen were DAB or WIS for the Euro guns.

That was most likely a sample gun that was returned to S&W and then resold as used. I've had a couple of those of various models through my hands with a U prefix.

 

[toddcfii]

Why Not E-mail the maker or call them with your serial no. They should be able to tell you when it was built and most other questions about it as well. You just might be surprised on what they can tell you even on the ph.

So called S&W. They did tell me when the Wishco 952-2 was made - January 2007. And I know it was sold in the US in June 2010. So 3.5 years from production to sale. Makes me wonder where it was all that time.

 

[Barrie]

Probably sitting on a shelf in a warehouse awaiting its turn to be shipped to a dealer.

 

[JohnHL]

I have a Model 439 that was built in 1981 but wasn't shipped until 1991.

I don't know why.

John

 

[toddcfii]

Not the last. Maybe second to last?? So I found a thread on here of another collector. Turns out his Wishco 952 is 1 number after mine! Pretty cool!

 

[Sevens]

It was said in a recent thread (rergarding PC semi-auto pistols) that lately the market has softened a bit and not only have the ever-rising prices leveled, many of the PC pistols on Gunbroker with high-end but still market prices haven't been selling either. I've been observing this also and agree.

However... a couple 952-2's sold at catastrophically high prices on Gunbroker last week. A very late one that didn't even ship with the sought-after aluminum PC case got bid all the way to $3,925 and sold there. (789441095)

Another one with the familiar case and all the goodies but didn't happen to have the cardboard outer carton with end label and wasn't being described as "new" or "unfired" had a $4,295 "buy it now" option listed and someone actually decided that option was the right move. (790215807)

I have some theories about crazy-high BIN option buyers, but it's all just conjecture.

 

[JohnHL]

Brother Sevens, conjecture has never stopped you before...

By all means, feel free to conject!

John

 

[Sevens]

I have a working theory with zero proof that some folks who are affluent at a level well (WELL!) beyond where I find (happily! ) find myself just pick up hobbies here and there and they don't have the time, care or energy to shop around. Or maybe they have a work life that makes their time -so- valuable that spending $1000 or $2000 over market for a 952 is of no real matter whatsoever.

In more detail, I'm saying that I believe the kinds of folks who own multiple houses and garages full of exotic cars and/or airplanes, that level of affluence, I believe that maybe they get the idea that they might try shooting, start with something typical (let's say a Glock or M&P) and then if they find interest in it, they might then ask someone "what is at the very top end?" and then go directly to it.

I believe that often enough, they hear Wilson and that's merely a phone call and $3000-$6000 away and maybe other times, someone clues them in to a 952 and being long out of production, they simply go to Gunbroker or they have a local dealer who is simply directed "please get me that, here is a blank check."

 

[jag22]

Wow, those were interesting auctions. The first one “leverman” was outbid so the next day he decided he wasn’t going to screw around on the next one. He hit the BIN which was about twice the amount of the current bid. And really, who among us hasn’t paid a wee bit more than we would like to admit. I know I have but I think I've had enough steals to balance it all out. My 952 long slide for $2520 comes to mind.

 

[mauser9]

It was said in a recent thread (rergarding PC semi-auto pistols) that lately the market has softened a bit and not only have the ever-rising prices leveled, many of the PC pistols on Gunbroker with high-end but still market prices haven't been selling either. I've been observing this also and agree.

However... a couple 952-2's sold at catastrophically high prices on Gunbroker last week. A very late one that didn't even ship with the sought-after aluminum PC case got bid all the way to $3,925 and sold there. (789441095)

Another one with the familiar case and all the goodies but didn't happen to have the cardboard outer carton with end label and wasn't being described as "new" or "unfired" had a $4,295 "buy it now" option listed and someone actually decided that option was the right move. (790215807)

I have some theories about crazy-high BIN option buyers, but it's all just conjecture.

Wow those are some prices!! I heard one sold on Gunbroker for $2,500 but much earlier this year. Prices appear to be on the rise. Wish I had one along with a few CS series to part with.

 

[M29since14]

I have a working theory with zero proof that some folks who are affluent at a level well (WELL!) beyond where I find (happily! ) find myself just pick up hobbies here and there and they don't have the time, care or energy to shop around. Or maybe they have a work life that makes their time -so- valuable that spending $1000 or $2000 over market for a 952 is of no real matter whatsoever.

In more detail, I'm saying that I believe the kinds of folks who own multiple houses and garages full of exotic cars and/or airplanes, that level of affluence, I believe that maybe they get the idea that they might try shooting, start with something typical (let's say a Glock or M&P) and then if they find interest in it, they might then ask someone "what is at the very top end?" and then go directly to it.

I believe that often enough, they hear Wilson and that's merely a phone call and $3000-$6000 away and maybe other times, someone clues them in to a 952 and being long out of production, they simply go to Gunbroker or they have a local dealer who is simply directed "please get me that, here is a blank check."

I have a theory, too. Mine is simpler than yours. People are skeptical about the state of our current monopoly money and fake economy. They know they can’t keep pace with inflation by putting their money in the bank, so they buy whatever they want, need, and can afford, figuring stuff is/will be more valuable to them than phoney money. I talk to a lot of people with this kind of attitude, some of them very intelligent, and I do not try to persuade them otherwise. All that said, $4000 for a 952 is a pretty tidy sum!

 

[toddcfii]

Good theory

Sevens
Good theory. I often wonder who buys and why they buy items at very high prices. I have found with various hobbies that the likelihood of someone buying one of MY items at a sky high price is about zero. But when I want to buy something nice there is always someone willing to pay a lot more than I am!