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ULTRA RARE SMITH & WESSON HANDMADE PERFORMANCE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 11,000.00 USD
ULTRA RARE SMITH & WESSON HANDMADE PERFORMANCE

CENTER PROTOTYPE W/ PAUL LIEBENBERG LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY & ORIGINAL PERFORMANCE CENTER BOX. Cal. 356 TSW. S# TSW0356. Bbl. 6". According to the accompanying letter from Paul Liebenberg Co-Founder of the S&W Performance Center and Former Chief Design Engineer, this was the first center fire 6" long slide of any kind to be mfg in the Performance Center. Five other pre-production 356TSW long slides were produced to feed the Performance Center Shooting team. This pistol was the only one that features a 1911 style frame mounted manual safety that was handmade by Tom Gordon for the weapon. Several procedures utilized for the production of this pistol were unique to this handful of custom performance center guns including the slide forging, bbl marking, & experimental "Tree Bark" one piece grips. Even more remarkable is that the six pistols debuted in the 1994 US National USPSA Championship and despite the USPSA previously sanctioned the firearms for competition, protests posted by the other shooter at the match lead the Performance Center team scores to be disallowed on the basis of unfair advantage. The pistol features a serrated blade front sight with adjustable target rear. Dual tone finish frame & slide. Extended push button mag release. "Tree Bark" checkered prototype grips. Serrated trigger & hammer. Cross thatched front strap & trigger guard. MAGS: (1) 20rd w/ white plastic factory extension. (1) 15 rd Performance Center with black base. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Unlabeled Original Performance Center box, additional complete 5" slide assembly that is mentioned in the letter, additional factory performance center bbl, & Paul Liebenberg letter of authenticity. CONDITION: All aspects appear very fine original finish with some mild frame wear on the ligh edge and slightly thinning finish forward of the triggerguard otherwise like new with some mild evidence of firing. PROVENANCE: Estate collection of Fred Inganamort. (22-1587/ZAL) MODERN $7,000-11,000.