SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Wesson
Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp.,
the legendary 157-year old company in the global business of safety, security,
protection and sport, announced today that the Maryland Natural Resources
Police (NRP) has equipped its entire officer force with primary duty side arms
from Smith & Wesson's Military & Police (M&P) Series of advanced-design
polymer pistols. The Smith & Wesson M&P40, chambered in .40 S&W, will be
issued to each officer of the Maryland NRP to replace currently issued
non-Smith & Wesson firearms supplied by a European-based manufacturer.
Officials at the Maryland NRP indicated that the M&P pistol incorporates
several key features that are valuable for their officers, including enhanced
ergonomics and ambidextrous controls. The department added that the polymer
pistol's interchangeable grip sizes and ease of maintenance, as well as the
officers' ability to disassemble the firearm without pressing the trigger were
all key factors in their decision-making process.
Other full-conversion in-state police departments and agencies that have
selected the M&P pistol for use in Maryland include the Charles County Police
Department, the Gaithersburg Police Department, Howard County Probation, Queen
Anne's County Police Department, Seat Pleasant Police Department, St. Mary's
County Sheriff's Office and the Greenbelt Police Department. The contract with
Maryland DNR represents the first Maryland state agency that has converted to
the M&P Series of pistols.
Leland Nichols, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Smith &
Wesson said, "We are extremely pleased with the continued success that the M&P
pistol has achieved in police departments across the nation. Contracts from
sizeable state agencies such as the Maryland NRP not only provide a respected
endorsement for the M&P Series, but they also allow other departments within
the state the ability to access the testing and evaluation results. This often
saves smaller agencies the time, expenses and manpower of conducting their own
analyses."
The M&P pistol features a Zytel polymer frame reinforced with a rigid
stainless steel chassis and a through-hardened black Melonite finished
stainless steel barrel and slide for durability; a passive trigger safety to
prevent the pistol from firing if dropped; and a sear release lever that
eliminates the need to press the trigger in order to disassemble the firearm.
A loaded chamber indicator is located on top of the slide. The firearm also
features an ambidextrous slide stop and a reversible magazine release, as well
as an enlarged trigger guard designed to accommodate gloves. The M&P40 has a
15 + 1 capacity and the Smith & Wesson lifetime service policy is standard
with each pistol. The M&P pistol series is available in 9mm, .40S&W, .357SIG,
and .45ACP calibers. Compact versions of the M&P pistol are also available
for concealed carry and back-up use.
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 Company 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
www.smith-wesson.com. For more information on Thompson/Center Arms, log on to
www.tcarms.com.
Industry Contact: Matt Rice
Blue Heron Communications
(800) 654-3766
matt@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
- 08/06/2009
CONTACT: Industry, Matt Rice of Blue Heron Communications,
1-800-654-3766, matt@blueheroncomm.com;
or Liz Sharp, VP Investor Relations of
Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., +1-480-949-9700, ext. 115,
lsharp@smith-wesson.com
Web Site: http://www.smith-wesson.com
http://www.tcarms.com
(SWHC)