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Smith & Wesson

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Smith & Wesson AMEX: SWB, the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States, has its corporate headquarters in Springfield, Massachusetts. Smith & Wesson has a reputation for the many types of ammunition it has introduced over the years and for its revolver know-how.

A Modern Smith & Wesson Revolver (Model 629)

History of Smith & Wesson

 
Cal. .44, between 1881 and 1923
 
Model 1, cal. .22
 
Smith & Wesson Volcanic, cal. .31, between 1845 and 1855
 
Model 3, Cal. .44, between 1874 and 1878

Beginning

In 1852 partners Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson formed a company to produce a lever-action pistol nicknamed "The Volcanic". The company became known as the "Volcanic Repeating Arms Company", and due to financial difficulties came into the majority ownership of investor Oliver Winchester.

In 1856 the partners left the Volcanic Company to begin a new company and to manufacture a newly-designed revolver-and-cartridge combination. The timing of the founding of this new company proved quite opportune for the partners, as the onset of the American Civil War five years later produced a great demand for Smith & Wesson's products.

In 1964 the company passed from Wesson family control, and subsequently a number of conglomerates took control of it.


The Agreement of 2000

From 1996 to 2001 Tomkins plc, a British company, owned Smith & Wesson.

In March 2000 Smith & Wesson signed an agreement with the Clinton administration in order to avoid lawsuits. The company agreed to a number of safety and design standards, as well as limits on the sale and distribution of their products. Gun clubs and gun rights groups responded to this agreement almost instantly by initiating large-scale boycotts of Smith & Wesson by refusing to buy their new products and flooding the firearms market with used S&W guns to cut into their market share. In 2001, when the company changed hands to a group of American investors, most customers returned, as the agreement involved Tomkins rather than Smith & Wesson. However, many continue the boycott today.

Corporate governance

As of 2005 Smith & Wesson has the following members on its board of directors: Jeffrey Buchanan, John Furman, Michael F. Golden, Colton Melby, James Minder, Barry Monheit, Mitchell Saltz, Robert L. Scott, and Marie Wadecki.

Ammunition types introduced by S&W

Famous S&W revolvers

 
Smith & Wesson Model 60, 3 inch barrel
  • S&W Model 3 (First automatic ejection of used ammunition)
J-Frame (small) Models
K-Frame (medium) Models
L-Frame (medium-large) Models
N-Frame (large) Models
X-Frame

Famous S&W semi-automatic pistols

Classic semi-automatic pistols

  • S&W Model 59 (First high-capacity double-action pistol in 9 mm Luger/Parabellum).

Sigma series

 
A Sigma pistol

Smith & Wesson introduced the Sigma series of recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-auto pistols in 1994 with the Sigma 40, followed by the Sigma 9. Sigma pistols bore so much similarity to GLOCKs that users could reportedly interchange many parts between GLOCK and Sigma models. The similarities were so great that many pundits referred to the Sigma series as 'Swocks', a playful contraction of S&W and Glock. As a result, GLOCK initiated a lawsuit against Smith & Wesson, which paid an undisclosed sum (some millions of dollars has been theorized) to GLOCK for infringement of their patents. S&W thereupon received the rights to continue the production of Sigma line but they were forced to redesign the pistol's trigger mechanism so that it did not infringe upon GLOCK's patents.

The gun frame is manufactured from polymer, while the slide and barrel use either stainless steel or carbon steel. Improvements to the Sigma series 1999 included shortening the barrel and slide, adding an accessory rail under the barrel, incorporating more comfortable grip checkering, and enlarging the ejection port.

In 1999 S&W updated the Sigma by shortening the barrel (from 4-1/2 to 4 inches) and adding an integral accessory rail for lights/lasers.

  • Sigma 40: Uses the .40 S&W ammunition.
  • Sigma 380: Uses the .380 ACP ammunition.

SW99 Series

S&W also reached an agreement with Walther to produce variations of the P99 line of pistols. Branded as the SW99, the pistol is available in several calibers, including 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, and in both full size and compact variations. Under the terms of the agreement, Walther produced the receivers, and Smith and Wesson produced the slide and barrel. The pistol has several cosmetic differences from the original Walther design, and strongly resembles a hybrid between the P99 and the Sigma series mentioned above.

M&P Series

Pistols

In 2005, Smith & Wesson debuted a new polymer-frame pistol intended for the law enforcement market. Dubbed the M&P (standing for Military and Police), its name was meant to evoke S&W's history as the firearm of choice for law enforcement agencies through its previous lineup of M&P revolvers. Though similar in appearance to the still-produced Sigma lineup, the M&P is a new design. Many of the ergonomic study elements that had been incorporated into the Sigma and the SW99 were brought over to the M&P. The improved trigger weight and feel, and unique takedown method (not requiring a dry pull of the trigger) were meant to set the M&P apart from both the Sigma and the popular GLOCK pistols.

It is available in 9x19, .40 S&W, and will later be available in.357 SIG. There are rumors of a .45 ACP model in the future. A compact version is also in development for at least the 9x19, .40 S&W, and .357 SIG.

Rifles

Smith and Wesson has now entered into the AR-15 market as well with its M&P15 series of rifles.

SW1911 Series

File:Sw1911.jpg
A SW1911 pistol

In 2003, Smith & Wesson introduced their variation of the classic M1911 .45 ACP semi-automatic handgun, the SW1911. This firearm retains the M1911's well known dimensions, operation, and feel, while adding a variety of modern touches. Updates to the design include serrations at the front of the slide for easier operation and dissembly, a high "beavertail" grip safety, external extractor, lighter weight hammer, and trigger, as well as updated internal safeties to prevent misfires when dropped. S&W 1911's are available with black finished carbon steel slides and frames or bead blasted stainless slides and frames. They are also available with aluminum frames alloyed with Scandium in either natural or black finishes. These updates have resulted in a firearm that is true to the M1911 design, with additions that would normally be considered "custom", with a price similar to entry-level M1911 designs from other manufacturers.

Police bicycles

In addition to firearms, Smith & Wesson also produces a line of bicycles designed by and for police. These bikes have features such as higher handle bars and silent hubs.

Flashlights

Smith & Wesson Flashlights are also now available to the general public. They are designed and produced by a company called PowerTech, Inc. [1] in Collierville, TN with Smith & Wesson's approval on every product.

Miscellaneous

Nineteenth century Japanese samurai and revolutionary Sakamoto Ryoma carried a Smith & Wesson revolver. [2]

In 2005, the History Channel released a documentary about Smith & Wesson titled "Tales of the Gun: Guns of Smith & Wesson". [3]

Pop Culture

File:Dirtyharry2.jpg
Dirty Harry
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