M3953 - Performance Center "Special Edition"

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SmithNut

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Was lrumaging through my safe looking for something to do and ran into this cool little Third Gen model, the M3953 "Special Edition" (see letter from Roy Jinks).

Have a few questions about this particular gun, have seen others post theirs but with the "billboard" marking as Performance Center Classic.

I'm wondering if this is part of that run, or if it is/was a different PC run?
The factory letter on mine indicates that this was part of a run of 20 guns. The serial prefix is "PCZ" which has been used for all sorts of models that came out from the PC in short runs (as does the M3953 "Classic" guns I've seen posted here).

So, here's my first question, has anyone lettered their "Classic" marked gun and have any quantities noted in the letter?

Next question, does anyone have one like mine, with no billboard? It would be interesting to know if, while using the same "PCZ" prefix, were their two different runs of the M3953 (one as the Classic, one as Special Edition?

Here's a couple pics and the letter pg. 2 on this one.....

lPEnFG.jpg


i2FE90.jpg


n2SZks.jpg


P.S., if you have one, Billboard or not, please post pics of yours.
Enjoy.....
 
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Some wow factor there. Not sure if I could take that beauty to the range, out of the safe to admire and wipe down and away it would go.
 
BAM-BAM said:
Looks a bit like the 6015s Sharkbait and I built 6906 lower mated to a 915 upper!!!!
Click to expand...

A gentleman on the forum made this gun up for me some years back (for the life of me I can't remember his name or forum handle.... my bad).
I've struggled with trying to figure out what model S&W that had a 5" non-PC 9MM barrel.
In a recent conversation with CALREB I mentioned this gun and he was the one that brought up the Super 9 as the source for the donor slide/barrel assembly....
So, now I can say I have 1/2 of a Super 9.... :) :)

Now, if I could just get Craig to make me a wrap-around set of nice Cocobolo Spegels ...
 
malph said:
Here is mine along with a few other rare Smith autos. A PC5903 5" and a Super 9.
Click to expand...

Malph,
I see your M3953 has the "Classic Series" banner, and is in the same s/n range as I posted above (and shown on the letter), so I think mine would probably be part of the Classis Series, but it just didn't get the slide banner.
Curious, in the PPC9 thread you show this same gun and indicate that it has a BarSto barrel, does that mean that it has the spherical bushing treatment like other PC guns? Mine has a standard production style barrel.
 
SmithNut said:
Malph,
I see your M3953 has the "Classic Series" banner, and is in the same s/n range as I posted above (and shown on the letter), so I think mine would probably be part of the Classis Series, but it just didn't get the slide banner.
Curious, in the PPC9 thread you show this same gun and indicate that it has a BarSto barrel, does that mean that it has the spherical bushing treatment like other PC guns? Mine has a standard production style barrel.
Click to expand...

Hello SmithNut. As far as I know, all of the M3953 PC guns were part of the short-lived Classic Series.

Did the Classic Series ever get of the ground? Were there any other guns in that series? A 45XX perhaps?


The pistol has a very well fitted bar-sto barrel but no spherical bushing.
 
malph said:
Hello SmithNut. As far as I know, all of the M3953 PC guns were part of the short-lived Classic Series.

Did the Classic Series ever get of the ground? Were there any other guns in that series? A 45XX perhaps?


The pistol has a very well fitted bar-sto barrel but no spherical bushing.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Malph,

There are other guns/models that have shown up with the PCZ serial number, I think I have another in my collection - I'll see if I can find it....
I'm not 100% certain, but I think there is a 45xx version out there, I'll see if I can find more info on it.

It's my opinion that late in the Third Generation lifespan the PC ended up with various frames from different models and made them up for revenue purposes (and calling them the Classic Series), using the PCZ prefix to distinguish these from earlier runs... Again, it's just my opinion. At this time the only concrete example I have is the M3953 in discussion here, mine was shipped in 1998, while the total production run of M3953 guns ranged from 1991 to 1999.
 
Classic Series info

Malph,
Here's an old thread that discusses the Classic Series, and it includes info on a M4567 that is so marked.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...6-how-about-4567-a.html?584395=#post140354546

There are other threads, if you search on Classic you can find other discussions from the past.

I'll look for more info on the PCZ serial numbered versions.... I know I've seen that serial number prefix used on other models (but that could be my fading memory... :) )

update - this same thread shows a M4566 using the PCZ prefix.... and it was posted by our friend CALREB... :) The plot thickens on the Classic guns....
 
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Here's another PCZ prefix gun, see the pic

Just came across this flyer for a M945-40 made for SportsSouth, Inc. Notice the s/n in the pic is PCZ0342.

Interesting...... :)
qqvDKa.jpg


And another.... this one is PCZ0303
SeeEJc.jpg
 
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The pistol in the OP was made using up the last of the 5944 slides and some leftover pre TSW 3953 frames. Had they used 3954 frames, I would have picked one up.
 
It seems that 1998 was a popular year for Performance Center Specials.

There was always speculation that these were made up from leftovers.

Jim
 

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KurtC said:
My idea of the perfect 9mm EDC.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, another "they should have made" example.

For the pic I used the top end from my M3953 Classic (shown above), but it's all back together and stored away properly :).
Now, I'm struggling over the idea of taking the top end from one of my two M5944's and put it on the 3954 frame shown above, use it for awhile to see how it shoots and "lugs".... I'm sure it will be great....

The problem is, I don't like scratching up and/or damaging any of my "hard to find/scarce" Third Gen DAO guns..... so, I'll just dream and go back to lugging one of my "using" polymer guns (yeah, I have several Glocks that get all the carry duty these days, don't tell anyone)..... They don't mind getting dirty and - as many have noted - they still work without a proper/regular cleaning... :(
 
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Back when the Performance Center actually customized firearms for customers, I had them fit a 4586 upper onto a 4556 lower. It was perfect combination of balance and concealability. I think someone on this forum currently owns it.

Safariland used to make suede lined universal fit concealment holster. I use several of them. They do a nice job of protecting the finish on the sidearm.
 
I've heard about that 4586/4556 on the forum, but not sure I've seen a pic of it, that sounds like a pretty cool shooter. Was it much of a challenge for them to get it working? I only ask as I hope so, so I don't get a hair up and take apart one of my 4586's and my 4556 to experiment with that configuration... :D
As for leather, I have three boonie packer plastic bins of old holsters of various makes and models, but in the past couple years have settled on my ultimate carry rig, using CrossBreed's Supertuck IWB product, it carries well, tight and close to the body, and evenly distributes the weight of a fairly large, somewhat heavy gun well. The downsize is that they use polymer for the holster shell and that can be harsh on a gun's finish, so carrying a G19 or G23, or even a larger G35 is not an issue, and I don't mind them marring the finish of these models....
My Smiths are relegated to range use and photo posing these days, keeps them exercised but not scratched up...... :)
 
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I had the PC install the upper because new barrels have slightly oversized locking lugs that require fitting to the recesses inside the slide. The slide bushing and barrel boss on 3rd Gen pistols requires fitting as well.

My parts were new. An existing upper should mate up without issue.
 
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SmithNut said:
I agree with you, another "they should have made" example.

For the pic I used the top end from my M3953 Classic (shown above), but it's all back together and stored away properly :).
Now, I'm struggling over the idea of taking the top end from one of my two M5944's and put it on the 3954 frame shown above, use it for awhile to see how it shoots and "lugs".... I'm sure it will be great....

The problem is, I don't like scratching up and/or damaging any of my "hard to find/scarce" Third Gen DAO guns..... so, I'll just dream and go back to lugging one of my "using" polymer guns (yeah, I have several Glocks that get all the carry duty these days, don't tell anyone)..... They don't mind getting dirty and - as many have noted - they still work without a proper/regular cleaning... :(
Click to expand...

It is funny you mention that. I bought my M3953 Classic with the intention of carrying it.

I shot it just enough to be amazed at how accurate and easy to shoot it was.

I then realized the rarity and specialness of what I had; came to my senses and tucked the gun away for safe keeping.
 
So is this a true PC gun? Hand fit frame and slide or a PC "Enhanced" standard variant?

I believe the PCZ prefix was for guns that they dident have serial numbers for. The prototype prefix is different.
 
Erocksmash said:
So is this a true PC gun? Hand fit frame and slide or a PC "Enhanced" standard variant?

I believe the PCZ prefix was for guns that they dident have serial numbers for. The prototype prefix is different.
Click to expand...

Hard to know exactly.

There were never production 4" 3953s as these guns are.

Frame to slide fit is excellent on my sample as is barrel fit.

The pistol is more than a production gun with a nice finish.

But I cannot tell you exactly how the pistols came about.

Due to the use of the bar-sto barrels, I believe these guns were produced in the early days of the PC as they later went to in-house barrels.
 
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