Thats awesome, I have a PC gun that is NIB but is so very tight around what I think is the Briley bushing, it will have to stay that way as there is nobody to send it to any more 
Tell a story of your personal Performance Center epiphany
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cherrypointmarine
Member
AveragEd , I have to ask , how did the bushing come out ? I have several 945's and an 845 which I shoot and I've never had a problem with the bushing falling out . Now putting the barrel back in after cleaning , that's a whole other story . At least until I found the secret to doing it .
Fun rereading "This Old Thread".
After about 25 years I have retired one of my Shorty-9s as a carry gun in favor of a FrankenSmith 6915 built by Squidsix.
Referring back to my earlier posts: when I bought my PC guns I had no idea how few were actually built. The LGS where I got them had PC guns from the 90s in Stock well into the 21st Century. They just didn't sell well in that area.
To my knowledge S&W never "advertised" the number of PC guns built/available in total or in a run. Looking back I'm glad that two of my guns saw range time and real life use as a EDC gun. The other two have been and probably will remain Safe Queens short of TEOTWAWKI. I which case I'll be like General Patton with a .357 Registered Magnum on one hip and a PC auto on the other!!!!!
After about 25 years I have retired one of my Shorty-9s as a carry gun in favor of a FrankenSmith 6915 built by Squidsix.
Referring back to my earlier posts: when I bought my PC guns I had no idea how few were actually built. The LGS where I got them had PC guns from the 90s in Stock well into the 21st Century. They just didn't sell well in that area.
To my knowledge S&W never "advertised" the number of PC guns built/available in total or in a run. Looking back I'm glad that two of my guns saw range time and real life use as a EDC gun. The other two have been and probably will remain Safe Queens short of TEOTWAWKI. I which case I'll be like General Patton with a .357 Registered Magnum on one hip and a PC auto on the other!!!!!
hberttmank
Member
My first PC gun was a 845, I was just blown away by the fit and workmanship. That was in 2003 followed closely by a 945 and a 627 the same year. Awesome guns.
First thing that caught my attention were the Briley bushings and the "fish-scale" slide serrations; years later and I've got a pair of 945s, three 952s, a pair of 52s, and a 686 Competitor. The fever hasn't broke yet, my pulse still quickens whenever i see those older PC Smiths!
hammy5150
Member
Shortly after I bought my first 3rd Gen (a pre-rail 4013TSW), I was offered a first-run Shorty 40 which I turned down, figuring the 4013TSW was 'just as good' and not really having an appreciation for what the Performance Center was at the time. Now I've sold the 4013TSW and wish I'd taken the Shorty 40. Also went into an LGS one time shortly after and found a beat-up 1006 and a PC 4006, left with the 1006 since the 4006 was over $2000. I've more or less collected all the 3rd Gens I wanted to but I'd still like to pick up a PC 5906 or 4006 someday.
A PC 4006?!?! Super rare I think only 5 ever in the public?
My first experience with a PC gun came with a gun that was put up for sale here back in 2009. Up to then, I had only read about the Performance Center in gun magazines and never thought I'd ever afford to buy one, much less a rare one.
Throughout the years, I've learned that the gun was part of a run of 12 guns, 4 were shipped to Lew Horton, mine is one of those 4 guns (verified by a letter from Earl Minot from Lew Horton).
The gun is a 4006 IDPA, which was the .40 S&W version of the PC 5906 IDPA model that was seeing success.
S&W made this small run to see what kind of interest there might be from their large distributors for an exclusive run.
But the gun was a bust and never got off the ground, as .40 S&W was not a popular choice among IDPA shooters.
The pistol has a non-production serial number prefix of "PCZ", which I understand was used for Performance Center prototypes or pre-production samples. The fired cartridge envelope is signed by Roland Provost, one of the 3 pistol master gunsmiths in the PC.
A couple of years after I acquired it, the decocker started to become difficult to operate, and it developed some lateral (side-to-side) play that caused the right side decocker lever to contact and score up the frame.
I sent it in to the PC for repair, about 2 weeks later it was returned and not only was the decocker fixed, but they also went to the trouble of refinishing (bead blast) the frame back to original condition to get rid of the scoring from the lever... the pistol came back looking like new with a "no charge" invoice.
I still have the pistol, it's now wearing a Performance Center mag well and curved grips.
Throughout the years, I've learned that the gun was part of a run of 12 guns, 4 were shipped to Lew Horton, mine is one of those 4 guns (verified by a letter from Earl Minot from Lew Horton).
The gun is a 4006 IDPA, which was the .40 S&W version of the PC 5906 IDPA model that was seeing success.
S&W made this small run to see what kind of interest there might be from their large distributors for an exclusive run.
But the gun was a bust and never got off the ground, as .40 S&W was not a popular choice among IDPA shooters.
The pistol has a non-production serial number prefix of "PCZ", which I understand was used for Performance Center prototypes or pre-production samples. The fired cartridge envelope is signed by Roland Provost, one of the 3 pistol master gunsmiths in the PC.
A couple of years after I acquired it, the decocker started to become difficult to operate, and it developed some lateral (side-to-side) play that caused the right side decocker lever to contact and score up the frame.
I sent it in to the PC for repair, about 2 weeks later it was returned and not only was the decocker fixed, but they also went to the trouble of refinishing (bead blast) the frame back to original condition to get rid of the scoring from the lever... the pistol came back looking like new with a "no charge" invoice.
I still have the pistol, it's now wearing a Performance Center mag well and curved grips.
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AveragEd
Member
I'm sorry if I mislead anyone into thinking the barrel bushing fell out. Quite the contrary - it is harder to remove and a LOT harder to reinstall than a standard bushing. I honestly don't know if it makes the gun more accurate.
That PC1911 in my photo above does not have a Briley bushing, in case anyone assumed it did from my post.
Ed
K-22
Member
hammy5150
Member
Probably not that model exactly. All I knew was that it was a wildly expensive 'Performance Center' .40 that wasn't quite like the one I'd just turned down and I was much more enamored with the beat up 1006 next to it that was half the price. I knew nothing about the Performance Center at the time other than that it was a marketing name S&W slapped on its M&Ps so I figured it was the same when these guns were being made too. Looking back now I would've given it a much closer second look.
If you actively participate in these discussions and enjoy the real "lightning in a bottle" of the Performance Center pistols, then you are in the club!
If you are asking if a pilot gun, AIP, RSA, pre-production 3rd Gen or transitional is a true PC gun then my opinion is no it is not, truly it absolutely is not. To that end, I would submit that the closest S&W semiauto pistol to the true PC that was never a PC were the very last of the three-alpha serial prefix 52-2 pistols with very late letter prefixes, as these were said to have been the first task of the newly formed Performance Center team. They finished the very last gasp of 52-2 guns and then set to work on the Performance Center line.
My first experience with a PC gun came with a gun that was put up for sale here back in 2009. Up to then, I had only read about the Performance Center in gun magazines and never thought I'd ever afford to buy one, much less a rare one.
Throughout the years, I've learned that the gun was part of a run of 12 guns, 4 were shipped to Lew Horton, mine is one of those 4 guns (verified by a letter from Earl Minot from Lew Horton).
The gun is a 4006 IDPA, which was the .40 S&W version of the PC 5906 IDPA model that was seeing success.
S&W made this small run to see what kind of interest there might be from their large distributors for an exclusive run.
But the gun was a bust and never got off the ground, as .40 S&W was not a popular choice among IDPA shooters.
The pistol has a non-production serial number prefix of "PCZ", which I understand was used for Performance Center prototypes or pre-production samples. The fired cartridge envelope is signed by Roland Provost, one of the 3 pistol master gunsmiths in the PC.
A couple of years after I acquired it, the decocker started to become difficult to operate, and it developed some lateral (side-to-side) play that caused the right side decocker lever to contact and score up the frame.
I sent it in to the PC for repair, about 2 weeks later it was returned and not only was the decocker fixed, but they also went to the trouble of refinishing (bead blast) the frame back to original condition to get rid of the scoring from the lever... the pistol came back looking like new with a "no charge" invoice.
I still have the pistol, it's now wearing a Performance Center mag well and curved grips.
Yessssss. There it is !!!
Thats awesome one of my top wants to go with my DPA5906! I'll have to search for one of the other 3 hahahah
I've been following this original post since "Sevens" started it. Of course I'm enjoying it's longevity but haven't added anything.
I've tipped my hand many times here. Once I received my Jan/Feb 2001 American Handgunner I just HAD to have a 45CQB. As most here know 18DAI has that featured pistol. Too cool. Even though I'd never even handled one that was my PC epiphany. I did eventually get one but it wasn't my first.
I just had to have an 845 and I did find one for a great price. Wow, I was convinced and what a great first PC to get. Not being a .40 guy I next got an excellent condition Shorty 40 for a stupid low price locally.
I've mostly been interested in the compacts but I get what interests me at the time.
Some of mine were under $800.00 so it makes sense to get them even when it doesn't. You can't get the quality, hand fit precision in pistols today unless you pay a bunch more.
Top to bottom .45's, .40's and 9mm's. If you can't see they are all different models even though some look the same. Missing a 40Recon but still looking.
Jim
I've tipped my hand many times here. Once I received my Jan/Feb 2001 American Handgunner I just HAD to have a 45CQB. As most here know 18DAI has that featured pistol. Too cool. Even though I'd never even handled one that was my PC epiphany. I did eventually get one but it wasn't my first.
I just had to have an 845 and I did find one for a great price. Wow, I was convinced and what a great first PC to get. Not being a .40 guy I next got an excellent condition Shorty 40 for a stupid low price locally.
I've mostly been interested in the compacts but I get what interests me at the time.
Some of mine were under $800.00 so it makes sense to get them even when it doesn't. You can't get the quality, hand fit precision in pistols today unless you pay a bunch more.
Top to bottom .45's, .40's and 9mm's. If you can't see they are all different models even though some look the same. Missing a 40Recon but still looking.
Jim
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Very nice sir, I had a recon 45, funny little barrel out front, I traded it back, and wish I never did, kinda like a shorty.45...
I know alloy frame but think I may seek another or a Shorty 45 out... really taken a liking to the 45 in these PC guns...
I know alloy frame but think I may seek another or a Shorty 45 out... really taken a liking to the 45 in these PC guns...
gnappi
Member
30+ something years ago (gads time flies) I went to gun show near closing time on a Sunday in Fort Lauderdale Fla. I stumbled on a PC SAO in .40 caliber.
It was silly expensive, had 11 mags with it, but it was almost 4:00 and the dealer would take cash only and no banks were open.
He lived in Orlando and the next nearest show was in Fort Pierce nearly 100 miles away in three weeks. For three weeks I sweated it out and I called him the day before the show and promised to meet him there Saturday AM at the show opening. Well I got the .40 and went right to the range with it and was REALLY happy I got it AND I was in the dog house for weeks with my now ex-wife
The next day I had a "pin" match where we setup 12 cutoff heads of bowling pins at 75 feet at the back of the range on the floor. It was one shooter at a time and the 12 pins spanned most of the width of the range. The rules were simple, knock all of the pin heads down (ricochet / bounce did not count) and the fastest time won. I won by far with zero misses (11+1) no reloads.
A "well heeled" business owner asked if he could shoot it (he shot really poorly with a Glock something like 3 mags and never got all 12 down) after the range was empty and we put 12 heads up, he cleaned them all without a mag change and asked what I paid for it, and offered to DOUBLE my money... I refused. P'oed he offered me TRIPLE what I paid... and I refused.
The next week at the match he tried to get me and my gun banned because I had an unfair advantage It didn't work. I still have the PC .40, there's nothing on the planet like it... and it's STILL not for sale
It was silly expensive, had 11 mags with it, but it was almost 4:00 and the dealer would take cash only and no banks were open.
He lived in Orlando and the next nearest show was in Fort Pierce nearly 100 miles away in three weeks. For three weeks I sweated it out and I called him the day before the show and promised to meet him there Saturday AM at the show opening. Well I got the .40 and went right to the range with it and was REALLY happy I got it AND I was in the dog house for weeks with my now ex-wife
The next day I had a "pin" match where we setup 12 cutoff heads of bowling pins at 75 feet at the back of the range on the floor. It was one shooter at a time and the 12 pins spanned most of the width of the range. The rules were simple, knock all of the pin heads down (ricochet / bounce did not count) and the fastest time won. I won by far with zero misses (11+1) no reloads.
A "well heeled" business owner asked if he could shoot it (he shot really poorly with a Glock something like 3 mags and never got all 12 down) after the range was empty and we put 12 heads up, he cleaned them all without a mag change and asked what I paid for it, and offered to DOUBLE my money... I refused. P'oed he offered me TRIPLE what I paid... and I refused.
The next week at the match he tried to get me and my gun banned because I had an unfair advantage
It didn't work. I still have the PC .40, there's nothing on the planet like it... and it's STILL not for saleAttachments
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RedCardinal
Member
I am now 84. Over the last 27 years, I have bought and sold dozens of PC pistols. I have had all calibers and almost every model. For the 945 as many as nine but not all at the same time. My first was the Shorty Forty in 1994 a few weeks before the Clinton Gun Ban kicked in and the last was a 40 Recon bought this year.
The 3566TSW Ltd, the 845 of 1998, and the 5906 IDPA, in my opinion, stood out from the rest. Based on my LE experience, I liked the 5906 IDPA the best, and I was fortunate to get a rare one directly from S&W. It has the 5" barrel and standard sights. I also obtained a 5906 PPC direct from S&W with the Aristocrat adjustable rear sight. It was a great masterpiece of craftsmanship but the single action did not fit in with my LE needs. The 5906 IDPA with its double action trigger and decocker only features make it perfect for me.
The 5" PC 5906 IDPA is the second rarest pistol that I have owned with only 20 being made according to a Jinks letter. However, others have been seen outside of the serial number range listed in the Jinks letter. The rarest pistol was a PC 952 with a 6" barrel, one of only 17 made. It now resides with a well known forum member who has a fantastic PC collection.
Photos of the 5" PC 5906 IDPA and my 4" are shown below.
The 3566TSW Ltd, the 845 of 1998, and the 5906 IDPA, in my opinion, stood out from the rest. Based on my LE experience, I liked the 5906 IDPA the best, and I was fortunate to get a rare one directly from S&W. It has the 5" barrel and standard sights. I also obtained a 5906 PPC direct from S&W with the Aristocrat adjustable rear sight. It was a great masterpiece of craftsmanship but the single action did not fit in with my LE needs. The 5906 IDPA with its double action trigger and decocker only features make it perfect for me.
The 5" PC 5906 IDPA is the second rarest pistol that I have owned with only 20 being made according to a Jinks letter. However, others have been seen outside of the serial number range listed in the Jinks letter. The rarest pistol was a PC 952 with a 6" barrel, one of only 17 made. It now resides with a well known forum member who has a fantastic PC collection.
Photos of the 5" PC 5906 IDPA and my 4" are shown below.
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gnappi
Member
Geez, I thought "I" was the only one on the planet that realized what a hoax the "Performance Center" name now is.
It's like they followed the Glock mantra...
"Glock Perfection" Then came Gen 2,3,4 and 5.
After I turned 21, the first gun I bought was a S&W 5" 686. While searching for a Beretta Cheetah, I stumbled across a 2.5" 686 with wooden combat grips. That 2.5" was the revolver that started it all and was the reason why I'm on this forum today. After this purchase, a 3" 686 model was next on the list, along with a few other 3" standard model Smiths. As my search continued for other 3" models I came across a 3" 686 PC mag comp. That is when I know, that the Performance Center was for me.
I started selling off the things I was collecting in the years past to be able to buy more PC revolvers. I would use the phrase, "I'm selling my Chevys and buying Cadillacs." The problem was, I was running out of Chevys and different Cadillacs kept popping up. I even had the let go of a few PC semis to help fund my revolver collection.
As time went on with my revolver collection, I had became pretty content with it. It was probably a few years back when things took a turn. I started looking at 3rd gen PC semis a little differently and wanted to replace the pistols that I had sold off a few years earlier and add a few new ones to my collection. I remember seeing the 4006 Limited for the first time and I wasn't interested but that was one of the pistols that got me back into the PC semi phase. So it was into the safe to see what can go to help fund my new PC semi craze. And now it was some of my PC revolvers that had to go while the PC semis were coming in.
Today I'm always on the look out for a PC revolver or semi that I don't own or never have owned in the past. There are a number of PC models that are on the list and I hope to cross them off that list when they pop up or when the time is right. Though it is much harder now deciding, what has to go if something is coming in.
And even when I look back and think about some of the things that have come and gone, I really don't have any regrets, well maybe one or two. The information, knowledge and friends I have obtained over the years along this journey have been well worth it.
Tomorrow is a new day with both old and new paths. Which path will you take on your next journey?
Joe
I started selling off the things I was collecting in the years past to be able to buy more PC revolvers. I would use the phrase, "I'm selling my Chevys and buying Cadillacs." The problem was, I was running out of Chevys and different Cadillacs kept popping up. I even had the let go of a few PC semis to help fund my revolver collection.
As time went on with my revolver collection, I had became pretty content with it. It was probably a few years back when things took a turn. I started looking at 3rd gen PC semis a little differently and wanted to replace the pistols that I had sold off a few years earlier and add a few new ones to my collection. I remember seeing the 4006 Limited for the first time and I wasn't interested but that was one of the pistols that got me back into the PC semi phase. So it was into the safe to see what can go to help fund my new PC semi craze. And now it was some of my PC revolvers that had to go while the PC semis were coming in.
Today I'm always on the look out for a PC revolver or semi that I don't own or never have owned in the past. There are a number of PC models that are on the list and I hope to cross them off that list when they pop up or when the time is right. Though it is much harder now deciding, what has to go if something is coming in.
And even when I look back and think about some of the things that have come and gone, I really don't have any regrets, well maybe one or two. The information, knowledge and friends I have obtained over the years along this journey have been well worth it.
Tomorrow is a new day with both old and new paths. Which path will you take on your next journey?
Joe
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