Guns International #: 100567915

Category - Smith & Wesson Revolvers - Model 640 - Smith & Wesson Pistols - Performance Center

Category
Smith & Wesson Revolvers - Model 640
Smith & Wesson Pistols - Performance Center

Smith & Wesson performance center model 640 carry comp 3" .38 special "one of 25

Description:


Earliest Smith & Wesson Performance Center Revolver
model 640 "carry comp" chambered in .38 special

product code 170014 ...PCA serial prefix ...1992

What a beautiful collector piece!

One of the very earliest Performance Center revolver offerings.
This is also one of the earliest offerings from Lew Horton.
It is one of the first revolvers with factory porting and tuned action.
This is also an American Historical Foundation limited edition of  only 25  Engraved by hand.

non-standard 3" ported barrel
pre-lock...pre-MIM...pre-.357
American Historical Foundation "Tactical Competition Special Edition" "ONE OF 25"
Very Collectible
Very Uncommon
Perfect NIB condition 

This is a pistol of known and documented provenance. It is described in full detail. Clear photos are in full agreement with the description.
This is an extremely interesting and uncommon pistol. Much as I hate to use the "R" word, it definitely applies here. 
Product code 170014 was (designed and built from scratch) not modified existing stock. It was a S&W Performance Center special order that was produced exclusively for Lew Horton Distributing. This custom pistol is an immaculate example of one of the earliest revolver offerings from the S&W Performance Center during its infancy. This pistol is also one of Lew Horton's very earliest offerings. S&W PC began operations in early 1991. These PCA guns were mfg. 1991-1992, this one shipped to Lew Horton Distributing in august 1992 special order 2232. PCA serial prefix
A note on the 3" barrel :
FACT-Not all of these PCA prefix pistols have a 3 inch barrel. This one is uncommon. As you can see in the original advert( see the B&W photo), this pistol was originally specified as a 2 5/8" barrel because most were per original PCA order. The original box label (shown in photo) clearly shows this pistol is a 3". I have seen box labels confirming that 2 5/8" barrels do exist within the PCA prefix. One S&W forum account stated that most PCA's were produced with the 2 5/8" and only 150 of these PCA pistols were made with the 3" barrel. I attempted to confirm the exact number with S&W and Lew Horton without results. Surprisingly, their records are not easily cross referenced for this specific information and doing so would have required more than a reasonable effort. A fact that I did discover in my contact with Lew Horton Distributing is this... the original PCA order was for 300 units, but as a result of available parts, 415 were actually produced. So an extra 115 units were made in the PCA run.
This version is an American Historical Foundation limited edition of only 25 sold world wide. AHF purchased a 25 lot  from Lew Horton, embelished them with custom engraving by hand, and entered them into a serialized limited register of 25. This is so limited that most people have never seen one of these. Granted, it is not for everyone. They sold for 2,195.00 each in the early ninties, no wholesale, no dealer price, that was the price for each of these 25 pistols.  If you would like to own this, contact me. I am not asking for some stupid multiple  and this gun is quite special.  Sounds like a lot of money now? Imagine that price tag and that buying power in the early 90s when I purchased this. How much does your dollar buy today compared to 1995 ?...So what can you compare this to for market value?...certainly not a pawn shop gun..not even a standard  Lew Horton carry comp. You can only compare this to the other 24 similar pistols, and I have never seen another on the market.  I am offering an opportunity to buy an extremely rare pistol at an extremely fair price.
 Each of these 25 differ slightly from one another because they are HAND ENGRAVED (hammer & chisel), not CNC machine or laser production work.
Each of these 25 pistols was authenticated with a letter signed by Bob Buerlein, owner of AHF. This was reserved for very special products only and it will be included with your purchase.
CONDITION....This revolver is in absolutely perfect NIB conditionand and I mean, perfect!  I am the original owner. This is from my own collection. It is unfired, factory test shots only. There is No Turn Line on the cylinder...ZERO! It is free of storage issues, free of handling marks, free of "micro scratches." The original factory papers and cleaning brush in sealed plastic bag are included. Original early style, blue, polymer PC hard shell case has the end label in tact. Two letters of authenticity specific to this pistol and the original advertisement photo piece from AHF are included for a total of 3 pieces of documented provenance.

• Features:

• Satin low luster stainless steel .38 J frame 640 no dash
• 3" ported barrel...  full under barrel lug w/radius end and full length ejector
• Dovetailed adjustable front sight
• Top frame sight groove
• Abrasive blasted non-glare top side
• Fluted cylinder
• Beveled cylinder edges and chamfered charge holes
• Chambered for 38 special
• Forged radiused trigger and forged internal parts
• Performance Center hand fitted components and hand tuned action
• Rosewood grips with inlaid S&W badges
• Old style Performance Center logo stamped in to some depth or possibly pantograph engraved
• Hand engraved( hammer and chisel) artwork except No. 6 engraved on rise above grip is by pantograph.
• Limited edition register of 25
• Letter of authenticity from American Historical Foundation signed by Bob Buerlein President/owner 
• Lew Horton Distributing letter of authenticity written for this gun.
• Original advertising photo piece from AHF 
• Original hang tag and strap on cylinder are intact

As a collectible, this pistol has EVERYTHING going for it:

• Excellent! Condition perfect NIB
  This pistol is in the ultimate condition, complete and original. Clear photos are in full agreement with the detailed description. At the age of 23 years, in perfect NIB condition.....how many exist?
• Excellent! Quality
  Handcrafted and throughout of the highest quality materials and workmanship. The Performance center was just a small handful of highly dedicated and skilled guys at this time. Product code 170014 indicates that it was designed and built from the ground up. It is engraved by hand.
• Excellent! Rarity
  THERE ARE ONLY 24 OTHERS. The 3" .38 special 640 carry comps are plenty scarce by themselves. Do a search and try to find one in any condition. These were made in limited numbers and this particular limited edition of 25... even more so. I cannot even be sure that all 25 of these AHF guns have 3" barrels, they weren't spec'd that way. The American Historical Foundation has been history since 2004. GONE ! At least ten years since a single AHF product was crafted, and never again. Most of their products came with unsigned certificates of authenticity. Very few came with letters signed by the owner like this one.
• Excellent! Historical Value
  This 640 carry comp is an important part of the modern revolver evolution...Although this may not look so exotic now compared to some of the more recent products, this was cutting edge in 1991-1992. One of the first factory ported revolvers. The growth trend in PC hybrid revolvers with ported barrels and tuned action started here. This gun is the milestone that invented new enthusiasm for wheel guns in a market dominated by automatics. The popularity of custom featured revolvers followed with great growth and success for The S&W performance center, Lew Horton Distributing, and later others like Talo etc.
  
  The pistol has many "grandfathered" features...The 3" barrel was no longer available as of 1993. 640's became a .357 mag. with a beefed up J frame in 1996. MIM[metal injection molding) parts were introduced replacing forged parts to save cost in the later 90s. The everloved integral locking was added in 2001.
  No more American Historical Foundation as of 2004. It has been gone for 10+ years.  AHF is now a part of History!  
• Excellent! Eye Appeal
  This pistol is an astonishing eye-catcher, all who see it agree. The unique art design and engraving are balanced, and appropriate for this pistol. The engraving is not gaudy or overly busy. This is just a great looking little gun. My photos really do not do it justice.
• Purchase this excellence!
  Includes: Pistol, original box, sealed original cleaning kit, and all original factory paperwork. Also included are 3 documents of provenance, the signed AHF letter of authenticity, and the Lew Horton authenticating letter and, as an extra, the original 8 X 10" b&w advertisement from American Historical Foundation is also included to document provenance. The leather storage/carry bag seen in the ad photo is also included.
   
•  No sale where prohibited.
• I am not an FFL holder. I do not collect sales tax. This is from my collection.
• Buyer must provide an original signed hard copy of his receiving FFL. This must accompany payment in order to expedite prompt shipping for me.
• Shipping
  Buyer pays 50.00 shipping cost. I will ship fully insured fedex overnight to lower 48 states.
• Payment
  I prefer to accept USPS money order only. Certified check may also be acceptable.
• Standard 3-days non-firing inspection from date delivered to receiving FFL. No dry firing or disassembling allowed. 
  
   Step Up! Join the "ONE OF 25" club!

SOLD