Performance Center PPC 9 6"

[sndbggr1484]

This is a compelling discussion point. I believe there was some overlap as the very first ever 952 pistols, the no-dash model made to 400 units was a 2000 year pistol, exclusive to Bangers Distributors. The very last of the 952-2 pistols ran as late as maybe 2010, these had an odd serial prefix that was UBZ, iirc, and not the DAB prefix of the bulk of the 952-2 guns.

Where inside that space were the PPC-9's made? I'm not sure, but they were definitely made in the mid-1990's and perhaps later.

I saw a 5'' PPC 9 with the odd serial number UBZ57XX that had a test fired casing dated 6-22-2009. I was curious so I asked Roy Jinks about it and he said it showed a shipped date of Aug-2009 on the books. I didn't think they were still making them that late and the odd serial number prefix confused me cause all the ones I saw started with PPCXXXX

 

[colt_saa]

Man, think what 20 of us could dream up today if that was an option. Most of us are way better off financially then back then. And I bet we have a better gun imagination. I would go for a 6" 845 in a heartbeat. Sevens has me feelin the heat...Ha!

We probably have 20 Forum Members that would commit to a 6" Model 845.

Quite a few Performance Center guns were built with multiple top ends.

Sometimes they were for different cartridges, but I have also handled several that had both 5" and 6" slide assemblies that were easily interchanged

 

[4T5GUY]

We probably have 20 Forum Members that would commit to a 6" Model 845.

… but no one, and or no place/talent to build them for us.

Sad.

Jim

 

[CALREB]

Ken, I know sometimes they will "discover" left over parts and put together a few guns. They had the personnel there at that time to do it. I dont think the machinery went anywhere. So who knows maybe they were still making them.

 

[Sevens]

I saw a 5'' PPC 9 with the odd serial number UBZ57XX that had a test fired casing dated 6-22-2009. I was curious so I asked Roy Jinks about it and he said it showed a shipped date of Aug-2009 on the books. I didn't think they were still making them that late and the odd serial number prefix confused me cause all the ones I saw started with PPCXXXX

My theory is that the PPC serial prefix were the last of the PPC-9/Target Champion pistols and the DAB-prefix guns were the last of the 952 pistols, but as with any other offered model, they had slides and frames and barrels held back for service and warranty work.

And after some period of time had passed, as S&W does, someone said "okay, take all of those parts and build guns out of them and sell those guns."

 

[BAM-BAM]

I have/had a handful of Performance Center autos from the 90s.......... all I can say is I wish I'd bought more!!!!!

 

[malph]

My theory is that the PPC serial prefix were the last of the PPC-9/Target Champion pistols and the DAB-prefix guns were the last of the 952 pistols, but as with any other offered model, they had slides and frames and barrels held back for service and warranty work.

And after some period of time had passed, as S&W does, someone said "okay, take all of those parts and build guns out of them and sell those guns."

I Still have roughly a dozen 952s including two of those two-tone 6" guns.

I was told, at least in the case of the 952s, that the prefix identified the person who built the guns.

The original 952s were KAZ prefixes I think. When that gentleman took another position in the company, we started seeing the DAB prefixed guns.

I don't think Smith ever had more than two or three guys building these guns durring there entire run.

 

[toddcfii]

How about a One of a Kind DAO PPC 9.....?

OMG. This looks amazing but the concept behind it befuddles me. I am fascinated and yet do not like it. I am finding more and more things in life like that. Reminds me of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

 

[IAM Rand]

Just like a Porsche, Ferrari, or a Lamborghini, it would be lost on me. I would want to drive them all of the time which would decrease the value. I might want to buy one as an investment but, then it would just go to Barrett Jackson or Mecum.

For me, bottom line, pull trigger-go bang.....repeat as needed. I don't know that I could tell the difference between a 12k gun and a 500 gun other than my bank account.

 

[SmithNut]

Im still trying to figure why he had that built. As D/A only it might meet dept specs of a carry pistol ? If you had trouble with anticipation, you get more of a surprise break ??? I would think a nice 4" or 5" DPA model made to D/A only would suffice. But then again in those days if you had a few bucks, and had the want, why not.

....snip!

Bob,
Never thought to ask about the "why", as I like DAO models and it appealed to me, and my collecting habits always included the "wierd and unusual"...
Nonetheless, I'll have to ask him about it, if it had a purpose or if it was "just because".
Maybe he'll see this and chime in, he is a member of the forum and posts from time to time.
Have not shot it for some time, so now I'll just have to take it to the range soon to revisit how well it shoots...

 

[BAM-BAM]

OMG. This looks amazing but the concept behind it befuddles me. I am fascinated and yet do not like it. I am finding more and more things in life like that. Reminds me of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Kind of like my SD-9 ( and the others SD's in .40 and .356) 6906 size frame but all stainless steel and a 4 1/4" barrel. Doesn't seem to have a niche use.... but I love mine.

 

[toddcfii]

Kind of like my SD-9 ( and the others SD's in .40 and .356) 6906 size frame but all stainless steel and a 4 1/4" barrel. Doesn't seem to have a niche use.... but I love mine.

Honestly I see a niche use for those. All stainless so body sweat never would be a worry. And longer (relatively) barrels were always easy for me to conceal vs a a full height frame that tended to print more on me.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Honestly I see a niche use for those. All stainless so body sweat never would be a worry. And longer (relatively) barrels were always easy for me to conceal vs a a full height frame that tended to print more on me.

The SD-9 inspired me to build a FrankenSmith 6915..... alloy frame from a 6906 with a 4" 915 barrel and slide..... my 3rd Gen CCO.

 

[CALREB]

Well when the PPC venue started up an OPEN semi-auto event. Ther were a lot of competitors who had a terrible time controlling the single action trigger press. I KNOW THIS TOO WELL....
Before that started you might borrow someones S/A just to shoot the Distinguished event at a regional or nationals but not invest in a gun just for those events.
So after 20 years of shooting D/A revolvers only. Maybe someone thought hey I will just fix that problem and go D/A semi-auto.
I actually bet it was a whim, the guns were about a grand and if you wanted a special one you certainly got it there.

 

[RWJ]

Before that started you might borrow someones S/A just to shoot the Distinguished event at a regional or nationals but not invest in a gun just for those events.
.

You mean like when the WHOLE pistol team "borrows" your Colt Gold Cup with its factory 9mm conversion unit to go Auto-Distinguished with ?????


Not that any of MY co-workers would have done that!

 

[CALREB]

We had a couple older guys on the team that had .45 1911s but they made it clear you had to provide your own ammunition. I was lucky and could check out a Gold Cup from the armory to use and shoot it a few times before nationals. We all jumped on the PPC 9s when they came out. Way easier to get/shoot the available 9mm ammo.

 

[CALREB]

You know one I would love to see a photo of is the 5906 PC-9. Never have seen one. Full size stainless frame, 3.5 inch barrel, blue slide, PC offering from LH. Dont know how many were made. I always wanted one for the off duty match.

I put one together for an April 1st joke here, from DPA 5906 and an LNIB Shorty-9 thats been in the safe so long the slide has gone plum a bit. The originals have a bobbed hammer. The other was my EDC for about 20 years.

 

[SmithNut]

C-R,

Is this the one you are asking about??

I have (had??) a couple, one is in my son's safe and one is in my daughter's safe....

In all my pics, I can't seem to find a pic of either, will keep looking.

edit... These might be the Shorty 9 you mention, both of mine are using the 6906 frame, not the full size, I didn't know they made a full size one... Got to get out more...

 

[4T5GUY]

You know one I would love to see a photo of is the 5906 PC-9. Never have seen one. Full size stainless frame, 3.5 inch barrel, blue slide, PC offering from LH.

I'd would really like to see an image of one too. I've never heard of one but that isn't surprising with S&W and my lack of knowledge.

The 5906 9 Recon and 5906 Shorty 9 kinda feel like a full size frame with 15 rnd magazines and adapters.

Why were soo many of them "5906's"? 9mm Limited, IDPA, PPC, Recon, Shorty all were 5906's. Big, small, stainless frames and alloy. At least with the .45's there were 63's and 13's.

Jim

 

[4T5GUY]

Well I never considered a Frankensmith PC before. Other than putting a Shorty 40 MK3 top end on my 2nd 500 run of the first @ 1500. It works exceedingly great. I probably got lucky.

I've played around with 3rd Gen and TSW swaps, (I've posted my 4006TSWCHPSSV for grins here too many times.) The sacred PC's are different. They were "precisely individually assembled, expertly hand fit, put together with perfectly finished and mated parts."

I just tried to put a Shorty 9 top end on my PPC 9. NO WAY but guess what? The 9 Recon went on exactly like the PPC's top end. (Easy until just past the ejector lever, "a bit" tight then easy.) Everything seems very happy and functioned as it should with snap caps. The slide was easy to cycle and very smooth. I might be missing something since I can't live fire in my backyard anymore.

I hope some of you are sitting down when you read this. I'm not going to take the mag well off and commit. Everything is back to where it belongs but I'm going to repeat and test drive live to confirm function and accuracy.

If there was a LH PC special run of something like this I'd like to hear about it. Too bad we can't just call Earl.

Jim