Smith and Wesson: History, Models, Features & Complete Guide

Smith and Wesson is one of the most recognised names in American firearms history. The company has been developing firearms since 1852 and has played an important role in the development of revolvers, pistols and modern sporting firearms.

Over the years, Smith & Wesson has produced many famous models. These include the Model 10, Model 29, Model 60, Model 686 and Model 500. The company also developed the M&P family, which became an important part of its modern product range.

Today, Smith & Wesson offers a broad selection of firearms and related products. Its current catalogues cover M&P products, modern sporting rifles, Smith & Wesson firearms, Performance Center products and accessories.

This guide looks at the history of Smith and Wesson, its most important models, major product families and the company’s place in the modern firearms industry.

What Is Smith and Wesson?

Smith and Wesson, usually written as Smith & Wessons or S&W, is an American firearms manufacturer.

The company was founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson. Their early work focused on firearms capable of using self-contained cartridges.

From those early beginnings, the company developed a long history of revolver and pistol manufacturing. Later, Smith & Wesson expanded into modern sporting rifles and other firearm categories.

As a result, the Smith and Wessons name now covers a wide range of historical and modern firearms.

The company is particularly well known for its revolvers. However, its M&P pistol family has also become a major part of the modern brand.

Smith and Wesson History

Smith and Wesson has a history stretching back more than 170 years.

In 1852, Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson formed a partnership. Their goal was to manufacture firearms using fully self-contained cartridges.

A few years later, the company introduced the Model 1 revolver. Smith & Wesson’s official history identifies the Model 1 as a .22 rimfire revolver introduced in 1857.

The company continued to develop new designs during the 19th century.

In 1870, Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 3 American. It was the company’s first large-calibre centerfire cartridge revolver.

Then, in 1887, the company introduced the Safety Hammerless revolver. This design used an internal hammer and represented another important step in revolver development.

However, one of the biggest milestones came in 1899.

The Smith and Wesson Model 10

In 1899, Smith & Wesson introduced the .38 Military & Police revolver.

The design became one of the company’s most successful firearms. It was later known as the Smith & Wessons Model 10.

According to Smith & Wesson, the Model 10 has been in continuous production since 1899, with more than six million produced.

That makes the Model 10 particularly important when studying Smith and Wesson history.

The revolver also became closely associated with police and military use. Over time, numerous versions and variations appeared.

Today, the Model 10 remains an important historical reference when discussing Smith & Wessons revolvers.

Smith and Wesson and the .357 Magnum

Another major milestone came during the 1930s.

Smith & Wesson introduced its .357 Magnum revolver in 1935. The company describes the design as initially being developed as a heavy-duty handgun before gaining wider interest.

The .357 Magnum cartridge became an important development in handgun history. It was also associated with law enforcement use during the 20th century.

Furthermore, the .357 Magnum helped establish Smith & Wesson as a major name in high-performance revolvers.

The company would later produce many other Magnum revolvers.

Smith and Wesson Model 29

The Smith and Wessons Model 29 is one of the company’s most famous revolvers.

The Model 29 is chambered for .44 Magnum. It became especially well known through popular culture and its association with the film character Dirty Harry.

Smith & Wessons still references the Model 29 within its Classics range. These firearms use historic designs as inspiration while being manufactured in modern production.

Because of its history, the Model 29 has become one of the most recognisable Smith and Wessons revolvers.

It is also an important model for collectors and firearms historians.

Smith and Wesson Revolvers

Revolvers remain a major part of the Smith and Wesson brand.

Unlike a traditional magazine-fed pistol, a revolver uses a rotating cylinder containing individual chambers. The cylinder rotates to bring each chamber into alignment with the barrel.

Smith & Wesson produces revolvers across several frame sizes and product families.

These include:

• J-Frame revolvers
• K-Frame revolvers
• L-Frame revolvers
• N-Frame revolvers
• X-Frame revolvers
• Performance Center revolvers
• Classic revolvers

The different frame families have developed over many years. Therefore, they can vary considerably in size, configuration and intended use.

J-Frame Revolvers

The J-Frame is one of Smith & Wesson’s best-known small revolver families.

These revolvers have a long history and are available in several configurations.

Smith & Wesson has also continued developing its smaller revolver range. Recent company materials highlight products such as its Ultimate Carry revolvers.

K-Frame Revolvers

The K-Frame has a long history within the Smith and Wessons lineup.

Several classic .38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers have been associated with this frame family.

As a result, the K-Frame is an important part of the company’s historical revolver story.

L-Frame Revolvers

The L-Frame family was developed for larger revolver applications.

The Model 686 is one of the best-known examples.

The 686 became closely associated with the .357 Magnum and remains a recognised Smith & Wesson model.

N-Frame Revolvers

The N-Frame represents a larger Smith and Wessons revolver platform.

Several famous large-calibre revolvers have used this frame size.

The Model 29 is one of the most notable examples.

X-Frame Revolvers

The X-Frame is associated with some of Smith & Wesson’s largest revolvers.

The Model 500 is particularly well known.

This family demonstrates how far Smith & Wesson’s revolver development has progressed since the company’s early years.

Smith and Wesson Model 60

The Smith and Wessons Model 60 is another important revolver.

Introduced in 1965, it was the first stainless steel handgun produced by Smith & Wesson.

This was significant because stainless steel offered different corrosion-resistance and maintenance characteristics compared with traditional blued finishes.

The Model 60 therefore became another important milestone in Smith and Wesson’s history.

Smith and Wesson Model 686

The Smith and Wessons Model 686 is a well-known L-Frame revolver.

It has become strongly associated with .357 Magnum revolvers.

The 686 is also available in different configurations, allowing the model family to serve different sporting and recreational applications.

Its long production history has helped make the 686 one of the most recognisable Smith and Wessons revolvers.

Smith and Wessons Model 500

The Smith and Wessons Model 500 belongs to the company’s X-Frame family.

It is one of Smith & Wesson’s largest and most powerful revolver designs.

The Model 500 is primarily notable for its large frame, large-calibre chambering and distinctive size.

Smith & Wesson’s technical information continues to list patents associated with the S&W 500 revolver.

The model also demonstrates the company’s long-running interest in large-frame revolvers.

Smith and Wessons Pistols

Although Smith & Wessons is famous for revolvers, pistols are also an important part of the company’s history.

The company produced its first automatic pistol in 1913. Smith & Wesson’s historical records identify the early .35 Automatic as its first automatic pistol.

Since then, Smith & Wessons has developed numerous semi-automatic pistol families.

These include historical models as well as modern M&P products.

The company’s current materials continue to identify pistols and revolvers as major handgun categories.

Smith and Wessons M&P Series

The Smith and Wessons M&P series is one of the company’s most important modern product families.

Smith & Wesson introduced the M&P pistol series in 2005.

The company says the M&P line was developed with input from professional users and quickly became an important part of its pistol business.

The M&P name stands for Military & Police.

The product family has expanded considerably since its introduction.

Today, the M&P name covers multiple pistol configurations and other firearm products.

The M&P M2.0 series represents a later development of the M&P pistol platform.

Smith & Wessons introduced M&P M2.0 in 2017 after a decade of research and development.

The company describes the M2.0 range as incorporating updates to areas such as the trigger, grip, frame and finish.

As a result, M&P M2.0 has become a major search term for people researching modern Smith and Wesson pistols.

Smith and Wessons Shield

The Smith and Wessons Shield became another important name within the company’s modern pistol history.

The Shield family focuses on compact and slim pistol designs.

Over time, Smith & Wessons expanded the family with different configurations.

The Shield name remains closely associated with the company’s compact pistol range.

Smith and Wessons 1911

Smith & Wessons has also produced 1911-style pistols under the SW1911 name.

The SW1911 is based on the traditional 1911 design.

This gives the company a place in another major part of American pistol history.

The SW1911 range has included different configurations, finishes and feature sets over the years.

Smith and Wessons Performance Center

The Smith and Wessons Performance Center is a specialised part of the company.

Smith & Wessons says the Performance Center has provided specialised products and services since 1990.

The company describes Performance Center products as incorporating features that differ from standard models. These can include specialised sights, enhanced triggers and other performance-focused features.

The Performance Center therefore occupies a distinct position within the Smith and Wesson lineup.

It is also important to separate Performance Center models from standard production models when researching specifications.

Smith and Wesson Modern Sporting Rifles

Smith & Wessons expanded beyond handguns with the M&P15 rifle.

The company introduced the M&P15 in 2006.

This marked an important step in the growth of the M&P product family.

The company later developed additional modern sporting rifle models.

The M&P15-22 is another notable example. It uses the M&P15 concept while chambered in .22 LR.

Today, Smith & Wesson’s official catalogues continue to include a dedicated modern sporting rifle category.

Smith and Wesson Product Categories

Smith & Wessons now covers several major product categories.

The exact current lineup can change over time. Therefore, readers should check the company’s current catalogues and product pages for the latest specifications. Smith & Wessons itself notes that product specification sheets can change.

Smith and Wessons Classics

Smith & Wessons also maintains a Classics range.

The idea is to recreate or reinterpret historically important firearms using modern production.

The Model 29 is one example highlighted by the company.

This approach allows the brand to connect its current products with its long history.

It also gives collectors and enthusiasts an opportunity to explore designs associated with earlier periods of Smith & Wesson history.

Smith and Wessons Manufacturing

Manufacturing has always been an important part of the Smith and Wessons story.

The company has combined traditional firearm design with newer materials and manufacturing technologies over its long history.

This can be seen in the progression from early cartridge revolvers to stainless steel revolvers and modern polymer-frame pistols.

The development of the M&P range is another example of this transition.

As a result, Smith and Wessons provides an interesting case study in how a historic firearms company can adapt its product range over time.

Why Is Smith and Wessons So Well Known?

There are several reasons for the company’s long-standing recognition.

First, Smith & Wessons has been manufacturing firearms since the 19th century.

Second, it produced several historically important revolvers.

The Model 10, Model 29, Model 60 and Model 686 are particularly notable examples.

Third, the company successfully expanded into modern pistol designs.

The M&P family helped establish Smith & Wesson as an important modern polymer-frame pistol manufacturer.

Finally, the company has maintained a strong connection between its historic products and modern designs.

Smith and Wesson vs Historical and Modern Models

One important point is that the Smith and Wesson name covers many different generations of firearms.

A Model 10 from the early 20th century is very different from a modern M&P pistol.

Likewise, a classic Model 29 should not automatically be treated as identical to a modern version inspired by the same design.

Therefore, anyone researching a particular Smith and Wesson model should check the exact production period and configuration.

This is especially important when researching specifications, materials and features.

Smith and Wesson Reviews

Reviews of Smith and Wessons firearms vary because the company produces such a broad range of models.

A compact revolver, a large-frame Magnum revolver and an M&P pistol are very different products.

Therefore, a review of one model should not automatically be applied to the entire Smith and Wesson brand.

Instead, readers should look at the specific model, production generation and configuration.

Official specification sheets are useful for confirming technical information. Smith & Wesson provides a searchable collection of product specification sheets through its official website.

Smith and Wessons FAQ

Who founded Smith and Wesson?

Smith & Wessons was founded by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson in 1852. Their early partnership focused on firearms using self-contained cartridges.

When was Smith and Wesson founded?

Smith & Wesson dates its founding to 1852.

What is Smith and Wesson best known for?

The company is especially well known for its revolvers. However, modern products such as the M&P pistol family are also important to the brand.

What is the Smith and Wesson Model 10?

The Model 10 is the later designation for the company’s .38 Military & Police revolver. Smith & Wesson introduced the original design in 1899.

What is the Smith and Wesson Model 29?

The Model 29 is a famous .44 Magnum revolver. It became particularly well known through popular culture and its association with Dirty Harry.

What is the Smith and Wesson M&P series?

M&P is a major Smith & Wessons product family. The company introduced the M&P pistol series in 2005.

What is Smith and Wesson Performance Center?

Performance Center is a specialised Smith & Wesson product line. It focuses on firearms with additional features and specialised configurations.

Does Smith and Wessons still make revolvers?

Yes. Revolvers remain an important part of the company’s current product range.

Does Smith and Wesson make rifles?

Yes. Smith & Wessons introduced the M&P15 in 2006 and continues to maintain a modern sporting rifle category.

Final Thoughts

Smith and Wessons has one of the longest and most recognisable histories in American firearms manufacturing.

The company began in 1852 with Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson. Since then, it has developed numerous revolvers, pistols and long guns.

The Model 10 became one of the company’s most successful revolvers. Later, models such as the Model 29, Model 60, Model 686 and Model 500 added to the brand’s reputation.

Meanwhile, the M&P series helped Smith & Wesson establish a strong position in modern pistol and sporting firearm markets.

Today, the company continues to combine historical designs with modern product families. Its current catalogues cover M&P products, modern sporting rifles, Smith & Wessonz firearms, Performance Center products and accessories.

For anyone researching Smith and Wesson, the key point is simple: the brand represents more than one firearm or product family. Its history covers more than 170 years of changing technology, designs and manufacturing.

That combination of history and modern development is what makes Smith and Wessons an important subject for anyone interested in American firearms history.