Performance Center model 19-7

[anguslincoln]

Greetings fellow Smith and Wesson admirers,
I found myself in the right place at the right time today and managed to come home with a slightly used model 19-7 with a PC logo on the left sideplate. It has a 3" ported barrel with a front night sight and an adjustable rear sight. It is in fine shape and appears to have seen very little use. The problem is, it didn't come with a box or any paperwork that might tell me exactly what it is. the numbers on the base (round butt) are "SDA 1400". Under the Pachemeyer grip, the SN reads 2408 xxx. I'm wondering if the grips are the original PC grips or are they aftermarket? I figure the manufacture date to be around 1996 as the SN is of the dot matrix and not stamped. I do own a copy of The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson but the information on this model is a bit limited as far as I have read and understood. The one thing I do know is that this gun seems to be a little more than the average Smith and Wesson. I know this post/question would be totally worthless without a few pictures so here y'are:

 

[anguslincoln]

Greetings fellow Smith and Wesson admirers,
I found myself in the right place at the right time today and managed to come home with a slightly used model 19-7 with a PC logo on the left sideplate. It has a 3" ported barrel with a front night sight and an adjustable rear sight. It is in fine shape and appears to have seen very little use. The problem is, it didn't come with a box or any paperwork that might tell me exactly what it is. the numbers on the base (round butt) are "SDA 1400". Under the Pachemeyer grip, the SN reads 2408 xxx. I'm wondering if the grips are the original PC grips or are they aftermarket? I figure the manufacture date to be around 1996 as the SN is of the dot matrix and not stamped. I do own a copy of The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson but the information on this model is a bit limited as far as I have read and understood. The one thing I do know is that this gun seems to be a little more than the average Smith and Wesson. I know this post/question would be totally worthless without a few pictures so here y'are:

 

[Guest]

Nice gun! The Performance Center "K-Comp" was made in two runs, once for the Stocking Dealer Program and one for Lew Horton Distributing. The prefix on the serial number will be different, the Stocking Dealer gun had a "SDAxxxx" serial number squence and was made in the 1994 timeframe, while the Lew Horton version had a "KCPxxxx" serial number sequence and was made in the 1997 timeframe.
The grips on your gun are original to the gun.

 

[anguslincoln]

Thanks Smithnut, I was just reading about and drooling over your collection on another thread I found while searching the forum; I reckon you know what your talking about. I appreciate your time and now I'm off to get some paper towels to clean up the drool. I can't get over not only your fine collection, but the fine cabinetry you store them in;that is some talent you have there!
Thanks again, it's nice knowing the grips are original.

 

[Hoot]

Neat gun! I wasn't looking for this when I ran across it at a price I just couldn't say "no" to. It's an SDA also.

SmithNut, I'm guessing from what you said about the OP's pachmayr grips, that these aren't original?

 

[MACHTECH]

Hoot,

Both of mine are NIB and came with grips just like yours.

Todd

 

[Guest]

SmithNut, I'm guessing from what you said about the OP's pachmayr grips, that these aren't original?

No, I wouldn't go that far. The original K Comp brochure shows the Pachmeyer compact professionals seen on his gun. Who knows what they slapped on later guns, it seems like you'll find anything on factory guns anymore.... Just about anything rubber was used - Pachmeyer, Uncle Mikes, Hogues, they all show up from time to time.....

I will add, however, that I dis-like the rubber grips so much that they get tossed, many times before I leave the gunshop. Yuck. Original or not, why have such abominations on a nice high end professional gun? When it comes to having an "original" gun from a collector standpoint I generally shrug when it comes to rubber grips, I mean - who cares of they are original or not, it's not like they can't be replaced with a simple $5 investment....

FYI

 

[Hoot]

Thanks Todd and SmithNut!

I agree on the rubber grips. I need to figure out which wood grips I'm going to put on this. The rubber will get a tag so I can put them back on later, if I ever decide to sell it. That's not likely to happen anytime soon, though.

That brochure is neat, thanks for posting it! In reading the text, I see that it refers to a "one piece injection molded carrying case bearing the Performance Center logo." I don't think I've seen one of these, and the SCSW doesn't reference it. I guess this didn't come in an aluminum case? Mine came (used) without a case. I have an aluminum PC case, and thought that would be the right one.

Now I got to find an original case. Anybody got a photo of one?

Thanks for all the info!

 

[Snapping Twig]

I was at my local pushers a week or so back and a guy was picking one of those up after his 10 day wait. He let me examine it and it sure is one I need to get one day. What a sweet feeling, well done pistol!