The History of Smith and Wesson

The Founding: Smith and Wesson

The story of Smith and Wesson begins in 1852, when two men with complementary skills partnered in Norwich, Connecticut. Horace Smith was an experienced gunsmith who had worked for the Springfield Armory and Allen and Company. Daniel B. Wesson was a gifted designer and machinist who had already pioneered improvements to revolver mechanisms. Together, they formed Smith and Wesson to manufacture a new lever-action repeating pistol that fired a fully self-contained metallic cartridge — a radical concept at a time when most guns used loose powder and ball ammunition.

The Volcanic and the Early Years

Their first product, the Volcanic pistol, was a lever-action repeating firearm that used a unique rocket-ball cartridge. The Volcanic was innovative but commercially unsuccessful due to the cartridge's limited power. In 1854, the partners sold the Volcanic patent rights to Oliver Winchester, who would go on to create the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Smith and Wesson briefly dissolved their partnership, but the patent for a truly viable metallic cartridge — the Smith and Wesson .22 Short — brought them back together.

The critical breakthrough came in 1856, when Daniel Wesson secured rights to Rollin White's patent for a bored-through cylinder. This patent, which prevented other manufacturers from making cartridge revolvers, gave Smith and Wesson a virtual monopoly on metallic-cartridge revolvers in the United States for nearly two decades.

The Model 1 and Model 2

In 1857, Smith and Wesson introduced the Model 1, a small seven-shot .22 caliber revolver that was the first truly mass-produced cartridge revolver in America. It was an immediate success, selling over 11,000 units in its first year. The Model 1 was followed by the Model 1 1/2 in .32 caliber and the Model 2 in .32 rimfire, which became a favorite of Union officers during the Civil War.

The .44 American and the Schofield

After the Rollin White patent expired in 1876, Smith and Wesson faced competition from Colt for the first time. The company rose to the challenge with the Smith and Wesson No. 3, a large-frame top-break revolver chambered in .44 American. The U.S. Army adopted it, and the design was modified at the Army's request into the Schofield revolver, named after Major George Schofield who suggested improvements. The top-break action allowed for simultaneous ejection of all spent cases, making it faster to reload than Colt's gate-loaded designs.

The Hand Ejector and the .38 Special

In 1899, Smith and Wesson introduced a design that would define the revolver for the next century: the Hand Ejector, later known as the Military and Police or Model 10. It featured a swing-out cylinder, simultaneous ejection, and chambered the new .38 Special cartridge. The M and P became the most widely used law enforcement revolver in history, remaining in continuous production for over 120 years. Over 6 million have been sold.

The .357 Magnum

In 1935, Smith and Wesson introduced the .357 Magnum, developed in collaboration with ammunition manufacturer Remington. The Registered Magnum, as it was initially known, was the most powerful handgun cartridge of its era. Each gun was hand-fitted and shipped in a wooden case with a certificate signed by company president C.R. Hellstrom. Hollywood icons, FBI agents, and police marksmen adopted it. The .357 Magnum established Smith and Wesson as the premier manufacturer of high-performance revolvers.

The Model 29 and Dirty Harry

In 1955, Smith and Wesson introduced the Model 29 chambered in .44 Magnum. This was the most powerful production handgun in the world. But it was 1971 that turned the Model 29 into a legend. Clint Eastwood's character Inspector Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry famously declared: "This is a .44 Magnum — the most powerful handgun in the world." Sales skyrocketed. Smith and Wesson could not keep up with demand, and the Model 29 became one of the most iconic firearms in cinema history.

The Transition to Semiautomatics

By the 1980s, the handgun market was shifting from revolvers to high-capacity semiautomatics. Smith and Wesson responded with the Model 39 (1954) and later the Model 59 (1971), the first double-action 9mm pistols made in America. But it was the Sigma series (1994) and then the M and P series (2005) that truly established Smith and Wesson as a semiautomatic powerhouse. The M and P became the standard sidearm for numerous law enforcement agencies and a top competitor to the Glock.

The M and P 15 and the Modern Era

Smith and Wesson also became one of the largest manufacturers of AR-15 style rifles through its M and P 15 line. The company's ability to produce quality firearms at accessible price points made it a market leader. In 2020, the company was acquired by Outdoor Sportsman Group for approximately $228 million. Today, Smith and Wesson remains headquartered in Maryville, Tennessee, producing over one million firearms annually across its revolver, pistol, and rifle lines.

Key Models Timeline

MatchMyGun Verdict

Smith and Wesson is one of a handful of companies whose history mirrors the evolution of the firearm itself. From the first metallic-cartridge revolver to the modern polymer-framed M and P, the company has been at the center of virtually every major development in handgun technology for over 170 years. The Model 10, the .357 Magnum, the Model 29, and the M and P are more than products — they are milestones in the history of firearms. Smith and Wesson's ability to adapt, survive financial hardships, and remain relevant across changing markets is a testament to the enduring value of the brand.

The .44 Hand Ejector: The Triple Lock (1908)

In 1908, Smith and Wesson introduced what many collectors consider the finest revolver ever made: the .44 Hand Ejector First Model, better known as the Triple Lock. Chambered in .44 Special, this revolver incorporated three locking points — the front of the ejector rod, the rear of the cylinder yoke, and a third lock at the rear of the cylinder crane. This triple-locking mechanism made the revolver extraordinarily rigid and accurate, capable of handling pressures that exceeded any other production revolver of its time.

The Triple Lock was a marvel of precision machining. Its frame was forged from a single steel billet, and the cylinder was hand-fitted to each gun. A unique shrouded ejector rod protected the rod from damage while also adding structural support. The .44 Special cartridge, developed by Smith and Wesson, was a formidable round that combined manageable recoil with excellent stopping power. The Triple Lock quickly gained a reputation among outdoorsmen, explorers, and lawmen as the ultimate big-bore revolver. President Theodore Roosevelt was a known admirer. Production ran until 1915, with approximately 15,000 units made. Today, the Triple Lock is among the most sought-after Smith and Wesson collectibles, often commanding prices in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Wartime Production: World War I and World War II

Smith and Wesson's manufacturing capability made it a vital defense contractor during both World Wars. In 1917, with the U.S. entry into World War I, the company delivered the Model 1917, a simplified large-frame revolver chambered in .45 ACP. Because the .45 ACP was a rimless cartridge designed for the M1911 pistol, Smith and Wesson developed half-moon clips — stamped steel rings that held three cartridges each and provided the rim needed for extraction. The Model 1917 became a staple sidearm for U.S. troops in the trenches of France, with over 150,000 delivered to the military.

During World War II, Smith and Wesson converted its entire production capacity to the war effort. The company produced over 570,000 Victory Model revolvers — a simplified version of the Military and Police revolver with a sandblasted, parkerized finish instead of the traditional blue. Victory Models were chambered in .38 Special for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and in .38/200 for the British Commonwealth forces under Lend-Lease. The grips had a distinctive smooth walnut shape with a lanyard ring at the base. Beyond revolvers, Smith and Wesson also manufactured M76 submachine guns, components for the M1 Carbine, and aircraft machine gun parts. The company received the Army-Navy 'E' Award for excellence in wartime production, a testament to its quality and output during the nation's greatest crisis.

The .357 Registered Magnum and the Model 27

The .357 Registered Magnum, later designated the Model 27, was introduced in 1935 and represented the pinnacle of revolver engineering. Each Registered Magnum was built to the customer's specifications — barrel length, sight configuration, action type, and finish could all be customized at the factory. The revolver featured a checkered top strap, a recessed cylinder chamber, and a distinctive under-barrel shroud that protected the ejector rod. With a .357 Magnum cartridge generating over 800 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, it was a career-changer for law enforcement agencies confronting the armored cars and bulletproof vests of Prohibition-era gangsters.

The Model 27 remained in production for decades and earned a devoted following among police marksmen, competitive shooters, and collectors. Its fine checkering, hand-polished blue finish, and exacting fit and finish set it apart from the more utilitarian K-frame revolvers. Though the Model 27 was eventually overshadowed by the .44 Magnum Model 29, it remains one of the most respected revolvers in Smith and Wesson's history, with original Registered Magnums commanding premium prices on the collector market.

Model 27 vs. Model 29: The Magnum Revolvers Compared

The 3rd Generation Semiautomatic Pistols (1988-2000s)

By the late 1980s, Smith and Wesson's 2nd Generation pistols (Models 439, 459, 469) were being outpaced by newer designs from Glock, SIG Sauer, and Beretta. The company responded with a comprehensive redesign: the 3rd Generation series, introduced in 1988. These pistols featured an all-stainless-steel slide, a more ergonomic frame with a squared trigger guard, an extended slide release, and improved three-dot sights. The 3rd Gen line encompassed dozens of models covering virtually every law enforcement and civilian use case.

The 5906 was the flagship — a full-size, all-stainless 9mm pistol with a 15-round magazine, ambidextrous safety, and a reputation for exceptional reliability. It became the standard-issue sidearm for numerous police departments including the New York City Police Department, which adopted a variant in the early 1990s. The 6906 was a compact 12-round 9mm designed for plainclothes and off-duty carry, blending the 5906's reliability into a smaller package. The 3913 and 3914 were slim, single-stack 9mm pistols favored by detectives and female officers for their slender grips and easy concealment. The 3913 LadySmith, a stainless version marketed specifically to women, was one of the first firearms to target the growing female shooter demographic.

The 3rd Generation pistols also included popular .40 S&W models (the 4006, 4013) and .45 ACP models (the 4506, 4516). Production of most 3rd Gen pistols ended in the early 2000s, but they remain widely available on the used market and retain a loyal following for their all-metal construction and proven reliability.

The Sigma Series and SW99

In 1994, Smith and Wesson introduced the Sigma series, its first polymer-framed striker-fired pistol. The Sigma was a direct response to Glock's dominance of the law enforcement market. It featured a 15-round magazine, a consistent trigger pull from first to last round, and a low bore axis that reduced muzzle flip. However, the Sigma's trigger was widely criticized for being heavy and gritty, and Glock successfully sued Smith and Wesson for patent infringement, claiming the Sigma's internal mechanism copied Glock's Safe Action system. The lawsuit resulted in an undisclosed settlement and a redesign of later Sigma pistols.

Despite these challenges, the Sigma line improved over time with the Sigma SW9F and SW40F (Enhanced) models, which smoothed the trigger and refined the ergonomics. Smith and Wesson also partnered with Walther to produce the SW99 (1999-2008), a polymer-framed pistol that combined a Walther P99 slide assembly with a Smith and Wesson-manufactured frame. The SW99 was available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, and offered interchangeable backstraps and an ambidextrous magazine release. While the SW99 never achieved the sales volume of the Glock or the SIG P226, it demonstrated Smith and Wesson's willingness to collaborate internationally to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving pistol market.

The M&P Shield and the Concealed Carry Revolution

In 2012, Smith and Wesson introduced a pistol that would reshape the concealed carry market: the M&P Shield. With the passage of shall-issue concealed carry laws in state after state, the demand for slim, easily concealable handguns had exploded. The Shield was a single-stack, striker-fired 9mm pistol measuring just 0.95 inches wide, with a 7+1 or 8+1 capacity. It combined the proven ergonomics of the full-size M&P line with a slim profile that disappeared under a T-shirt.

The Shield was an immediate commercial triumph. Its aggressive grip texture, crisp trigger, and reliable feeding made it a favorite among both new and experienced carriers. It won the NRA's Handgun of the Year award in 2013 and consistently ranked as one of the best-selling handguns in America. Smith and Wesson later expanded the line with the Shield M2.0 (2017), featuring an enhanced trigger, improved grip texture, and a more durable finish. The Shield Plus (2021) increased capacity to 10+1 or 13+1 without significantly increasing size, using a staggered-stack magazine design. The Shield family has sold well over five million units, making it one of the most successful concealed carry pistols ever produced.

The M&P 15 and the Modern Sporting Rifle

Smith and Wesson entered the AR-15 market in 2006 with the M&P 15, bringing its manufacturing expertise and quality control to the modern sporting rifle segment. The M&P 15 was a direct-impingement, semi-automatic rifle built to military-specification standards but offered at a more accessible price point than boutique AR manufacturers. It quickly became one of the most popular AR-15 platforms on the market, earning a reputation for reliability out of the box.

The M&P 15 line expanded rapidly to cover virtually every AR-15 configuration: the M&P 15 Sport II (an entry-level option with a 5-round magazine for compliance states), the M&P 15T (with a quad-rail handguard), the M&P 15 MOE (with Magpul furniture), and the M&P 15-22 (a .22 LR training rifle). In 2020, Smith and Wesson introduced the M&P 15 Volley, featuring a patented muzzle device that reduced felt recoil. The company also produced the M&P 10 chambered in .308 Winchester for those seeking a larger-caliber semi-automatic rifle. The M&P 15's combination of quality, affordability, and Smith and Wesson's legendary customer service made it a dominant force in the sporting rifle market, with over a million units sold.

The Bodyguard Series

Smith and Wesson's Bodyguard nameplate has covered two distinct but equally important product lines. The original Bodyguard revolver (Model 38, introduced 1955) was a J-frame .38 Special with a shrouded hammer that prevented snagging on clothing while allowing single-action cocking. It was designed specifically for plainclothes officers and armed citizens who needed a reliable, concealable defensive revolver. The Bodyguard 38 and Bodyguard 49 variants remained in production for decades, prized for their smooth draw from a pocket or ankle holster.

In 2010, Smith and Wesson introduced the Bodyguard 380, a modern polymer-framed pocket pistol chambered in .380 ACP. It featured an integrated laser sight, a double-action-only trigger with a heavy but smooth pull for safety, and a 6+1 capacity. The Bodyguard 380 was a direct competitor to the Ruger LCP and became one of the best-selling pocket pistols in America. In 2019, Smith and Wesson updated the design with the Bodyguard 2.0, offering a much-improved trigger, a higher-capacity 10+1 or 12+1 staggered magazine, and improved ergonomics. The Bodyguard family — both revolver and pistol — exemplifies Smith and Wesson's ability to adapt classic concepts to modern concealed carry needs.