Selected Handgun Detail

Manufacturer
	Smith & Wesson More Info

About the Gun

The Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 952 is a full-size, single-stack, single-action-only 9mm target pistol. It features a hammer-fired mechanism with a slide-mounted safety/decocker and is configured as a dedicated precision handgun rather than a defensive or service pistol. The frame and slide are of substantial construction, giving the pistol a solid, balanced feel in the hand. Early examples were finished in blue over carbon steel, while later production shifted to stainless steel in both standard and two-tone configurations. A six-inch long-slide version was also offered alongside the standard five-inch barrel. Grips are two-piece walnut panels, and the overall layout follows traditional target-pistol proportions without an accessory rail.

Production

Production ran from 2002 through 2003.

Market value

MSRP at production was around $2,000–$2,100. Current used market value for examples in good to very good condition ranges $1,800–$3,000.

Cartridge Specifications
Cartridge:	9 mm Luger
Alias:	9 mm Parabellum
More Info

Analysis

Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 952 in 2000 through the Performance Center as a modern 9mm successor to the discontinued Model 52, which had been a dedicated .38 Special wadcutter bullseye pistol. The change in caliber addressed the broader availability and lower cost of 9mm ammunition while retaining the single-stack, single-action architecture favored by precision shooters. Early production (the no-dash and 952-1) used carbon-steel frames and slides with a blued finish; the 952-1 added a grip-activated firing-pin block. In 2004 the series transitioned to stainless-steel construction under the 952-2 designation, and a six-inch long-slide option appeared in 2006. Production remained limited throughout the run, which ended in 2012. The model occupies a specialized niche among hand-fitted Performance Center target pistols rather than high-volume production lines, reflecting Smith & Wesson’s response to demand for an accurate 9mm alternative once the original Model 52 tooling was no longer viable.