Smith & Wesson Gun History

Smith and Wesson is a cornerstone company in the gun manufacturing market.

As an old company of long standing, Smith & Wesson provides quality gun products and accessories to a large customer base. Smith & Wesson is an American company that continues to be an industry leader and developer.

Company History

Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson started their first company in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1852. After a few years of financial difficulty, they sold their business to Oliver Winchester, who renamed the venture as the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Smith and Wesson created another partnership a few years later and developed and patented the rimfire cartridge. After designing and securing patents for a number of other gun designs, Smith and Wesson created a very strong and lucrative business.

Gun History

One of the most famous guns in history is the .38 Military and Police model revolver, known today as the Model 10. Created in the late 1800s, this gun is used by the military and police agencies worldwide and is still in production.

Another Smith & Wesson breakthrough was the Magnum revolver, the first double-action, autoloading pistol. The first Magnum, the .357, was developed in 1935; the subsequent model was created in 1955.

Fun Facts

The Model 29 Magnum, created in 1956, was made famous by Clint Eastwood in the movie "Dirty Harry." In the mid-1980s, the police drama television show "Miami Vice" used Smith & Wesson weaponry in the third and fourth seasons of the show.

References

• Smith & Wesson: History
• Shooting Times: Smith & Wesson's 12 Most Important Guns
• The Miami Vice Connection: Miami Vice, Sonny Crockett and His Bren Ten