'Shotgun of the Year': Smith & Wesson Elite Gold

'Rifle of the Year': Thompson/Center ICON

'Handgun of the Year': Smith & Wesson M&P45 Polymer Pistol

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 156-year old company in the global business of safety, security, protection and sport, announced today that it has won National Rifle Association (NRA) Golden Bullseye Awards for the company's Elite Gold(TM) shotgun, M&P45 pistol and Thompson/Center Arms ICON(TM) bolt-action rifle. In preparation for the sixth annual awards presentation scheduled for May 2008, the Smith & Wesson Elite Gold shotgun was voted "Shotgun of the Year" from American Rifleman magazine. Shooting Illustrated magazine named the Smith & Wesson M&P45 pistol the "Handgun of the Year" and awarded the "Rifle of the Year" title to the Thompson/Center ICON rifle.

Presented once a year at the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits, the NRA Golden Bullseye Awards acknowledges the finest products available in the shooting sports industry. A committee of NRA editors and staff, representing more than a century of collective experience in the firearms industry, voted on each award. To be eligible for the Golden Bullseye Award, a shooting-related product must be recently introduced, reliable in the field, innovative, and widely available.

"The Golden Bullseye Awards acknowledge those companies and individuals who pursue excellence and innovation in the manufacture of firearms, accessories and related equipment," said Joe H. Graham, Executive Director of NRA Publications. "Once again, we honor our winners for bringing to market products that are remarkable in their utility to shooters and hunters. We are confident this year's winners will be received with great interest and appreciation for a job well done."

Michael F. Golden, President and CEO of Smith & Wesson, said, "We are very honored that multiple products from Smith & Wesson and Thompson/Center Arms have been selected for this year's NRA Golden Bullseye Awards. Earning this recognition from professionals within our own industry is a tremendous validation of our continuing innovation and provides an endorsement of the positive impact our products have had in the market. Winning three separate categories is a true honor, and reflects our commitment to growing and diversifying our current portfolio with high-quality products that meet the needs of all our customers. We would like to thank the NRA for their acknowledgement as we proudly accept these awards."

Smith & Wesson and Thompson/Center Arms will be presented with the awards during the 136th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits on May 16, 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky.

About Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, a global leader in safety, security, protection and sport, is parent company to Smith & Wesson Corp., one of the world's largest manufacturers of quality firearms and firearm safety/security products and parent company to Thompson/Center Arms, Inc., a premier designer and manufacturer of premium hunting rifles, black powder rifles, interchangeable firearms systems and accessories under the Thompson/Center brand. Smith & Wesson licenses shooter protection, knives, apparel, and other accessory lines. Smith & Wesson is based in Springfield, Massachusetts with manufacturing facilities in Springfield, Houlton, Maine, and Rochester, New Hampshire. The Smith & Wesson Academy is America's longest running firearms training facility for law enforcement, military and security professionals. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to http://www.smith-wesson.com. For more information on Thompson/Center Arms, log on to http://www.tcarms.com

Industry Contact: Gary Giudice
Blue Heron Communications
(800) 654-3766
gary@blueheroncomm.com

Liz Sharp, VP Investor Relations
Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.
(480) 949-9700 x. 115
lsharp@smith-wesson.com

SOURCE Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation

Web site: http://www.smith-wesson.com