Smith & Wesson Receives Military Contract

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (Amex: SWB - News), the legendary 153-year old firearms maker, today announced that it has secured a contract to supply pistols to the United States Army Security Assistance Command (USASC) Special Projects Office for shipment to the Afghanistan National Army.

Michael Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "This order is significant because it demonstrates that we are executing on our committed strategy to become a significant supplier of high quality pistol products to the military and the federal government. I view this as a major milestone in that strategy and as the first step in making the Smith & Wesson brand synonymous with quality firearms for military and federal usage."

Smith & Wesson competed with other leading firearms manufacturers and indicated that it won the contract based on the features of the SW9VE. The Company declined to comment on specific volume and pricing, but stated that it will manufacture and ship its SW9VE pistols in May and June of 2005. The pistols will be manufactured entirely in the United States.

Golden continued, "I am especially pleased because this order represents a domestic purchase by the U.S. government, utilizing U.S. tax dollars, for products which will be manufactured in the U.S. We believe there are many similar opportunities for Smith & Wesson to continue to support our country's military needs, while generating both revenue and jobs in the U.S. To that end, we will continue to intensify our focus and strengthen our sales force to further penetrate the military market."

The SW9VE is a double-action-only pistol constructed with a durable polymer frame and a through-hardened stainless steel slide and barrel. The 9 mm pistol features an ergonomic design to accommodate various hand sizes. Unique features include simple operation procedures and tool-less disassembly.

Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., through its subsidiary Smith & Wesson Corp., is one of the world's largest manufacturers of quality handguns, law enforcement products and firearm safety/security products. The Company also provides shooter protection, knives, apparel, footwear and other accessory lines. The Company is based in Springfield, Mass., with manufacturing facilities in Springfield and Houlton, Maine. The Smith & Wesson Academy is America's longest-running firearms training facility for America's public servants. For more information, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.

Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements under federal securities laws, and the Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor created thereby. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's anticipated sales to the military and the federal government and sales into those respective markets, the Company's ability to successfully meet manufacturing and shipping requirements, and the generation of future revenue and job opportunities. The Company cautions that these statements are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the demand for the Company's products, the Company's growth opportunities, the ability of the Company to engage additional key sales related employees, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC.

That Smith & Wesson has received a contract is great. That the 9mm round continues to find it's way into the US Military is not. Certain agreements and conventions require that a ball cartridge (a fully jacketed (normally copper coated) round nosed bullet be used by our military. What this means is your while your local civilian police department or the general US public may load and shoot various hollow or expanding point bullets to increase the shock and stopping power of any bullet. The US military in general cannot. (It may be that smaller men and young women find them easier to shoot?, It may be that the ordinance officers testing the 9mm also find them easier to shoot but for close in defense where the handgun finds it's effective role the trusty and proven 45 cal 1911 is simply superior) While it is nice to have many bullets to shoot ,18 round magazines and such the 9mm bullet itself is rather anemic in a ball cartridge and will often require multiple hits to have a rapid incapacitating effect. It has also added one additonal logistical support layer.

Although the US has retired the 1911 45cal from general use by soldiers and Marines for more than 10 years now. Somehow they have not got the word. Every unit that has discretion in the selection of a side arm has returned to the 1911 or at least the 45cal cartridge by special contract.

Pretty stupid situation.

Wm

http://www.sightm1911.com/Care/45acp.htm

"
Jim Higginbotham, a 30-year law enforcement veteran and trainer writes the following on the subject of pistol cartridges and failures to stop:

While I have come across some lethal encounters that took a lot of rounds to settle they mostly were the result of either poor hits (or complete misses) or lack of penetration. Nearly all of the high round count cases I have reviewed involved 9mms, .38s, .357’s or smaller calibers. This is not to say they do not occur with major caliber rounds. It is to say I have been collecting data for 30 years and have not encountered many cases in which multiple hits (more than three as two or three shots are a fairly normal reflex action) from major caliber cartridges to the center of the chest have not been sufficient, - the single exception being a case involving the .41 Magnum loaded with JSP bullets which did not expand - they did penetrate - it took five hits center mass to stop the
attacker - and (His Quote!!!)

!!!!I have not encountered any with the .45, even with Ball.!!!

I have encountered several with 5, 6 or even more hits to the center of the chest with .38, .357, 9mm and .223 rifle rounds failing to stop. Almost every one could be traced to lack of penetration with a couple of exceptions that hit the heart but just did not cause enough damage to be effective quickly. Note I am not talking about "torso" hits. There is a lot of area in the torso in which a hit will seldom produce rapid incapacitation even if hit by a 12 ga. slug or a 30-06 - we simply cannot count such data if we are going to learn anything.

My purpose here is not to argue Fackler versus Marshall and Sanow because that's a book in itself. What is important in all of this is that regardless of which philosophy you choose to accept as true, the .45 ACP comes out well--at or near the top of the effectiveness ratings for both schools of thought."

To conclude.

A 9mm is not a 45

A Humvee is not an Armored Vehicle

Wheeled vehicles generally stay on roads and burn easy.

Tracks .... don't

Nothing says "check point, please stop and play nice" so clearly as M1s, Bradlys or improved M114 Gavin APCs. Nothing says “attack me I'm a sitting duck ” like a thin skinned Humvee pickups, LAVs and Strykers.

Systems from 9mm pistols to “Strykers” and other goofy solutions only cost lives and save nothing, with 5-7000 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers sitting in US inventories today why are we buying 3-4 million dollar wheeled Stryker Crapomatics? 3 Predators cost 15 million to own and operate for one year and we should have them. 15 million will also put 20 light reconnaissance aircraft with advanced surveillance capabilities into the skies over Iraq (or the US Border) with crews, spare parts and fuel for 1 year Air America Style and we should also have them.

Pray for the Kids on active duty and pray for all of us.

Wm

That Smith & Wesson has received a contract is great. That the 9mm round continues to find it's way into the US Military in general is not. Certain agreements and conventions require that a ball cartridge (a fully jacketed (normally copper coated) round nosed bullet be used by our military. What this means is your while your local civilian police department or the general US public may load and shoot various hollow or expanding point bullets to increase the shock and stopping power of any bullet. The US military in general cannot. (It may be that smaller men and young women find them easier to shoot?, It may be that the ordinance officers testing the 9mm also find them easier to shoot but for close in defense where the handgun finds it's effective role the trusty and proven 45 cal 1911 is simply superior) While it is nice to have many bullets to shoot ,18 round magazines and such the 9mm bullet itself is rather anemic in a ball cartridge and will often require multiple hits to have a rapid incapacitating effect. It has also added one additonal logistical support layer.

Although the US has retired the 1911 45cal from general use by soldiers and Marines for more than 10 years now. Somehow they have not got the word. Every unit that has discretion in the selection of a side arm has returned to the 1911 or at least the 45cal cartridge by special contract.

Pretty stupid situation.

Wm

http://www.sightm1911.com/Care/45acp.htm

"
Jim Higginbotham, a 30-year law enforcement veteran and trainer writes the following on the subject of pistol cartridges and failures to stop:

While I have come across some lethal encounters that took a lot of rounds to settle they mostly were the result of either poor hits (or complete misses) or lack of penetration. Nearly all of the high round count cases I have reviewed involved 9mms, .38s, .357’s or smaller calibers. This is not to say they do not occur with major caliber rounds. It is to say I have been collecting data for 30 years and have not encountered many cases in which multiple hits (more than three as two or three shots are a fairly normal reflex action) from major caliber cartridges to the center of the chest have not been sufficient, - the single exception being a case involving the .41 Magnum loaded with JSP bullets which did not expand - they did penetrate - it took five hits center mass to stop the
attacker - and (His Quote!!!)

!!!!I have not encountered any with the .45, even with Ball.!!!

I have encountered several with 5, 6 or even more hits to the center of the chest with .38, .357, 9mm and .223 rifle rounds failing to stop. Almost every one could be traced to lack of penetration with a couple of exceptions that hit the heart but just did not cause enough damage to be effective quickly. Note I am not talking about "torso" hits. There is a lot of area in the torso in which a hit will seldom produce rapid incapacitation even if hit by a 12 ga. slug or a 30-06 - we simply cannot count such data if we are going to learn anything.

My purpose here is not to argue Fackler versus Marshall and Sanow because that's a book in itself. What is important in all of this is that regardless of which philosophy you choose to accept as true, the .45 ACP comes out well--at or near the top of the effectiveness ratings for both schools of thought."

To conclude.

A 9mm is not a 45

A Humvee is not an Armored Vehicle

Wheeled vehicles generally stay on roads and burn easy.

Tracks .... don't

Nothing says "check point, please stop and play nice" so clearly as M1s, Bradlys or improved M114 Gavin APCs. Nothing says “attack me I'm a sitting duck ” like a thin skinned Humvee pickups, LAVs and Strykers.

Systems from 9mm pistols to “Strykers” and other goofy solutions only cost lives and save nothing, with 5-7000 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers sitting in US inventories today why are we buying 3-4 million dollar wheeled Stryker Crapomatics? 3 Predators cost 15 million to own and operate for one year and we should have them. 15 million will also put 15 light reconnaissance aircraft with advanced surveillance capabilities into the skies over Iraq (or the US Border) with crews, spare parts and fuel for 1 year Air America Style and we should also have them.

Pray for the Kids on active duty and pray for all of us.

Wm

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