The Origination of Smith and Wesson

The public company dedicated to defense products and services is currently the largest manufacturer of handguns in North America but it wasn’t always that way. The company began in 1852 by founder Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson who wanted to invent and produce a pistol that could a lever action pistol but due to financial instabilities Smith and Wesson were forced to sell their company along with their patent of the lever action pistol to the rifle manufacturer Winchester. In 1856 however, Smith and Wesson restarted their company with a new type of pistol and cartridge combination that made their company one of a kind which in turn created the infamous Smith and Wesson Model 1 pistol. This pistol could be shot repeatedly without the use of loose gunpowder, musket balls, and percussion caps.

It was the timely fashion of when the company began and the beginning of the American Civil War the created large demands for Smith and Wesson products, especially the Smith and Wesson Model 2 pistol. In 1867 Smith and Wesson began making their products available to larger markets in Russia while at the same time patenting new pistol models along the way. It was the combination of the demand for their products as well as the ever evolving technology of their firearms that kept Smith and Wesson popular and in business.

What also made Smith and Wesson even more popular was the fact that famous lawmen such as Wyatt Earp favored the Smith and Wesson pistols over others especially the Smith and Wesson Model 3 which became known as the “Schofield.” This version was popular amongst the United States Army Calvary unit during the Indian Wars and was purchased in large amounts for the use on the Western Frontier.

Today Smith and Wesson still remains a very popular and widely used side arm amongst law enforcement officials and sport shoot enthusiasts. Even Clint Eastwood made Smith and Wesson’s company more popular during the filming of “Dirty Harry.” Officially as of February 15th 2002 the company became recognized as ‘Smith and Wesson Holding Corporation’ after a purchase of the company made by the President of Saf-T-Hammer Bob Scott. Currently Smith and Wesson compete with other firearm companies such as Heckler and Koch, Winchester, and Beretta.

Sources:

“History of Smith and Wesson: No Thing of Importance Will Come Without Effort” By Roy G. Jinks


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