"Wischo" Performance Center Guns?

[MartinSW41]

I read on the thread started by wlp624 about his 952 Collection posted below and was immediately grateful for the pictures, history and willingness to share but more so jealous.
Truly awesome collection. Thank you for sharing.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/609282-my-952-collection.html

I do have a question. Bill mentions a 952-2 from "Wischo." Is a Wischo gun more valuable? Tuned differently from the factory offerings? Serial numbers start with? I've never heard of Wischo and the only reason I ask is the Target Champion I just purchased has a serial number which starts with "Wis". The gun was imported and I was just wondering if it was a Wischo gun and the significance?

Thanks in advance for the education.

 

[murphydog]

Wischo was a German firearms importer. I imagine they were a big enough customer for S & W that the company may have set aside a serial number prefix, like "LH" plus a third letter for some of the Lew Horton distributor specials.

 

[Erocksmash]

I wouldn't say "more" value, certainly a different story...

I guess you can take into account some variants that were strictly sent over the pond, thoes would fetch a premium if brought back state side.

My understanding is they were made just the same here as for there, just shipped over, again with the exception of a few awesome and beautiful variants....

Wis ser# start is a designation for the company who requested the order, Wischo..

Thats all I got, I have a true love for the Target Champion (known state side as a "limited") it has virtually ruined every other handgun I shoot.

I'm sure other will be along shortly to add more detailed information.

 

[4T5GUY]

I've never heard of Wischo and the only reason I ask is the Target Champion I just purchased has a serial number which starts with "Wis".

What caliber is your wonderful, new to you TC?

There were several different Target Champion examples made. The 9mm was basically a 5906 PPC9, the .45 was basically the 45 Limited, (845.) There were also several different S&W WIS revolvers.

Jim

 

[MartinSW41]

Jim, It is a 9mm.

 

[4T5GUY]

Nill or Hogue grips? Just really like these and appreciate seeing and hearing about any TC.

Those “two tone” 9mm Target Champions with Nill’s look outstanding.

I guess I should have also mentioned the Wischo “2206TGT” whatever it was called. I’m probably the only person that hated my early ‘90’s 2206TGT.

Search here for recoil spring replacement cause you probably would want to at least have a few new.

Jim

 

[malph]

The original 952-2 6" pistols were made for Wischo.

I'm not sure if the deal fell through or if there was an overrun but some of these guns ended up being sold in the US instead of being sent to Germany.

I bought two of them at Gander Mountain back in the day. Gander evidently had a good relationship with Smith at the time.

These early 6" guns were built by Tom Gordon and are really nice.

It is evident these guns were given a lot of attention.

In my humble opinion, they are amongst the best 952s.

 

[Shutthefrontdoor]

The fun thing for me about the WISCHO guns is the extra proofing the guns go through along with the associated proof marks showing the proofing house and tech doing the associated (over)pressure tests. Some like the embellishments, myself included, others don’t care for it or even notice.

Still, it’s subjective, but combining that with the round-trip across the ocean and stamps adds value.

But that’s me.

 

[4T5GUY]

These early 6" guns were built by Tom Gordon and are really nice.

Stupid dumb question. Did 952’s come with an acceptance target? Did the 6” 952-2 guns built by Tom Gordon have a “proofed” target by him?

As was discussed here it seems that most, if not all, (?) of the 5906 PPC’s proof targets were done by him. Mine was anyway so Tom built it too?

Jim

 

[jag22]

It's been while since I thought about those. As I remember those wischo guns were exported to Europe but I used to correspond with someone who had one so some of them ended up in the US. I can't remember the exact words but they had some script writing on the right side of the slide. Memory sucks, getting old sucks.

 

[MartinSW41]

It's been while since I thought about those. As I remember those wischo guns were exported to Europe but I used to correspond with someone who had one so some of them ended up in the US. I can't remember the exact words but they had some script writing on the right side of the slide. Memory sucks, getting old sucks.

The one I purchased has "9mm Target Champion" inscribed on the slide.

 

[malph]

Stupid dumb question. Did 952’s come with an acceptance target? Did the 6” 952-2 guns built by Tom Gordon have a “proofed” target by him?

As was discussed here it seems that most, if not all, (?) of the 5906 PPC’s proof targets were done by him. Mine was anyway so Tom built it too?

Jim

I don't remember test targets with the Wischo 952s.

Tom Gordon moved out of the PC soon after the first 952-2s appeared.

I think that was around 2001-2002?