All of the true Performance Center semiautomatic pistols were made in very limited quantities and because of this, they are not exactly easy to find them. In all my searching, there is one place that beats all others hands down, no contest, if the subject is finding PC pistols that are for sale. I'm not saying that Gunbroker is the cheapest place, but it is undoubtedly the largest market where the most S&W PC pistols are traded.
As expected, models made in low volume are a little more difficult to pin down in price, and as with any auction, there are many facets beyond simply the model of gun that affect the final hammer price.
Last night I observed a new stratospheric high for a rare PC model. The pistol is the 6-inch long slide version of the PPC-9 pistol, and an auction that was supposed to end on Sunday evening finally ended around 2am Monday morning at $8,000.
All true Performance Center semiautomatic pistols are special handguns but the PPC-9 model is specifically interesting as it was never a cataloged item. You couldn't go in to any gun store in North America and buy one and no dealer (not even Lew Horton) could request one. To get a PPC-9, you had to be sworn law enforcement AND you had to make a written request to S&W on the letterhead of your department or agency to get a PPC-9.
So, what is "market price" for a PPC-9 these days? Well, it is a fluid market. Gotta start with laying out the available versions. I believe there were three different versions available in North America -- two versions of the 5-inch gun and a single 6-inch long slide.
Typical market that I have seen for a 6-inch Long Slide PPC-9 would run from $3,000 on the low end (visible wear, no box, no papers/accessories, but no alterations or damage beyond finish wear) to probably $4,500 on the high end.
The piatol that sold last night was not mint, but it was in high condition and included the original box and everything and also included the scarce white cardboard outer carton, which may sound silly to some, but this carton has the original S&W end label.
Add all that up and have it offered with many pictures and a well-known, high feedback seller -AND- get two high rollers with deep pockets and a bidding war and, well, $8,000 final price.
This doesn't mean that a 6-inch long slide PPC-9 is now "worth 8 grand!" but it has been my experience on Gunbroker that you have a really good chance of seeing some of the same (or close!) models get listed very quickly in the wake of this event.... typically with some obscene "buy it now" prices attached.
As expected, models made in low volume are a little more difficult to pin down in price, and as with any auction, there are many facets beyond simply the model of gun that affect the final hammer price.
Last night I observed a new stratospheric high for a rare PC model. The pistol is the 6-inch long slide version of the PPC-9 pistol, and an auction that was supposed to end on Sunday evening finally ended around 2am Monday morning at $8,000.
All true Performance Center semiautomatic pistols are special handguns but the PPC-9 model is specifically interesting as it was never a cataloged item. You couldn't go in to any gun store in North America and buy one and no dealer (not even Lew Horton) could request one. To get a PPC-9, you had to be sworn law enforcement AND you had to make a written request to S&W on the letterhead of your department or agency to get a PPC-9.
So, what is "market price" for a PPC-9 these days? Well, it is a fluid market. Gotta start with laying out the available versions. I believe there were three different versions available in North America -- two versions of the 5-inch gun and a single 6-inch long slide.
Typical market that I have seen for a 6-inch Long Slide PPC-9 would run from $3,000 on the low end (visible wear, no box, no papers/accessories, but no alterations or damage beyond finish wear) to probably $4,500 on the high end.
The piatol that sold last night was not mint, but it was in high condition and included the original box and everything and also included the scarce white cardboard outer carton, which may sound silly to some, but this carton has the original S&W end label.
Add all that up and have it offered with many pictures and a well-known, high feedback seller -AND- get two high rollers with deep pockets and a bidding war and, well, $8,000 final price.
This doesn't mean that a 6-inch long slide PPC-9 is now "worth 8 grand!" but it has been my experience on Gunbroker that you have a really good chance of seeing some of the same (or close!) models get listed very quickly in the wake of this event.... typically with some obscene "buy it now" prices attached.
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