Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson , 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.

History of Smith & Wesson

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.

Loss of the Police Market

During the mid-1980s, the company's long-standing dominance in the American police handgun market totally collapsed. This happened because American police forces switched from revolvers to semiautomatic pistols, while the company's semiautomatic pistols for police use had a bad reputation for unreliability both then and through the 1990s. Other foreign manufacturers, notably GLOCK, Beretta, and SIG, took virtually the entire American police handgun market during the 1980s.

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

.22 Short (the popular .22 Long Rifle, based on the .22 Short - actually developed by the J.Stevens Arms & Tool Co.)
.32 S&W (sometimes called .32 Short)
.32 S&W Gallery
.32 S&W Long (sometimes called .32 New Colt Police, or 32-44 Target)
.35 S&W Automatic
.38 S&W (Sometimes called .38 Colt New Police)
.38 S&W Special
.357 S&W Magnum
.40 S&W
.41 Remington Magnum (while Remington developed the ammunition, S&W made the first revolvers to chamber this cartridge)
.44 S&W American
.44 S&W Russian
.44 S&W Special
.44 Remington Magnum (see note at .41 Remington Magnum)
.45 S&W Schofield
.460 S&W Magnum
.500 S&W Magnum

Famous S&W revolvers

Model 3 (First automatic ejection of used ammunition)

J-Frame (small) Models

Model 60 (First stainless made .38 Special)
Model 340PD (First revolver made of scandium alloy, very light, possibly the final evolution of the classic J-frame Chief's Special introduced over 60 years before)
S&W Ladysmith

K-Frame (medium)Models

Model 10 (First .38 Special; evolved from the famous Smith & Wesson M&P)
Model 19 (First low weight .357 Magnum)

L-Frame (medium-large) Models

Model 586 (blued steel)
S&W Model 686 (stainless)

N-Frame (large) Models

S&W Model 25 (Both .45 ACP and .45 LC)
Model 27 (First .357 Magnum)
Model 29 (First .44 Magnum)
Model 1917 (First revolver that could fire .45 ACP pistol ammunition)
Model 625 (used by Jerry Miculek to set the world record for 12 rounds (with one reload) on target in 2.99 seconds)
S&W Model 627 (replacement for Model 27)
S&W Model 629

X-Frame

Model 500 (First .500 Magnum)

Famous S&W semi-automatic pistols

Classic semi-automatic pistols

Model 39 (First US-designed double-action pistol in 9 mm Luger/Parabellum).

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

Sigma series

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 9: Uses the 9 mm Luger/Parabellum ammunition.

Sigma 40: Uses the .40 S&W ammunition.

Sigma 380: Uses the .380 ACP ammunition.

M&P Series

Pistols

In 2005, Smith & Wesson debuted a new polymer-frame pistol intended for the law enforcement market. Dubbed the M&P, 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

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. 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 bikes

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.

Miscellaneous

Nineteenth century Japanese samurai and revolutionary Sakamoto Ryoma carried a Smith & Wesson revolver. ^*

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

Pop Culture

The gun famously used by Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry was a S&W Model 29 revolver.
Smith & Wesson guns were used in the novel, Battle Royale.
Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch, the main character of many of Michael Connelly's novels, carries a Smith & Wesson.
A .45 ACP Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector 2nd model was used by Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. ^*
Smith & Wesson has been referenced on such TV shows as Cheers, The Simpsons, Seinfeld, Boomtown and many more.
Smith & Wesson guns were used on the TV show Miami Vice.
Smith & Wesson has been referenced in songs by Linda Ronstadt, Bon Jovi, The Cranberries, ZZ Top, Cypress Hill, Eminem, Sublime, 2Pac, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, No Doubt, "Weird Al" Yankovic, 50 Cent, Method Man, Goldie Lookin' Chain, The Game, etc.
Pop singer Bjork released a song titled "Smith & Wesson" in 2000.
American Idol star Paula Abdul dated Smith & Wesson board member Colton Melby in 2003.
Actor Wesley Snipes used a S&W 3913 LS in the movie, "Demolition Man".
The Smith & Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum is the preferred weapon of Jigen Daisuke in Lupin III.
In the computer game "Command and conquer Yuri's revenge" there is a level titled "Operation Hollywood and Vain" where you command a movie star named Flint Westwood. When you command Flint Westwood to attack something he says is "Say hello to Smith & Wesson".
On "The Shield," Vic Mackey carries a Smith and Wesson Model 4506-1 .45 ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol with adjustable 3-dot sights.
In "Dr. No" James Bond shoots Professor Dent after a failed attempt on his life. After Dent has shot six bullets into Bond's bed Bond Says "That's a Smith & Wesson, and you've had your six"

External links

Smith - Wesson Firearms - American-made firearms and handguns

Firearms manufacturers | Gun politics | Springfield, Massachusetts | Surname pairs

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