I was able to purchase a Shield 9mm last week in Houston. While I was at my local Academy (Austin area) I asked about availability - just being curious. The firearm section manager told me that they are hard to get because S&W has suspended production pending a copyright infringement claim by a competitor with a similar model. I haven't been able to find information to confirm/deny this, but though I would throw it out there for consideration. Anyone else heard this?

The Shield is an M&P design inside and out so I'm not sure who could possibly claim a copyright infringement.

IMO, if any company did so, they are trying to delay Shield shipment so people would buy their guns instead. They would have to claim copyright infringement on the entire M&P line that's been out for many many years now.

A "copyright infringement" - if in fact there is one - would likely refer to the use of the name "Shield", not the design of the weapon. Even that would more likely be a "trademark infringement".

Pistol design seems most likely to be covered by patents rather than copyrights.

IMHO, your local expert's story doesn't hang together.

I work for the steel mill that produces steel that goes into most of Smith & Wesson's barrels.
We're making tons & tons. Yes, TONS of steel for S&W this month.
If I had to take a guess, I would have to say it's most likely bad info, or a sales tactic.

This guy said this about a gun from this place that he heard from this other guy that told this dude on the street that he though he heard this from a homeless guy who heard it from a guy that walked by him wearing a S&W T shirt talking on his phone about some gun.....

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Aim small miss small

Hey, I know that dude!

If it is serious it is PATENT - a hardware design or manufacturing element or product manufacturing technique or process. Otherwise it is nothing more than marketing [trademark]. Copyright would only come into play if S&W stole verbiage in their description of the weapon word for word.

^^^this^^^

The Shield isn't available here yet and the competition is marketing thier similar guns heavily. Once the Shield gets here they are gonna fly off the shelves!! Many stores are taking lists and the interest in the local forums is huge!!

Hope to get one myself, then Apex will be selling trigger kits like crazy!!

It's so similar to the larger M&Ps, some of the parts interchange such as the type from Apex.

What company calls a gun of theirs "Shield" other than S&W?

IMO, the guy at your shop is full of it, he believes some lie he heard or some other company with a slim 9mm is trying to screw up Shield shipments or sales. I personally think it's one of the first two.

I was at Academy couple weeks back, asked if they had any Shields. Guy said no. Asked when they expected more. He looked in his computer said it wasn't shown anymore. He thought maybe just a one time deal, Academy might not carry them anymore. So who knows, pick a story.

Sounds like a real CROCK of BS to me, S&W'S home web site still lists the 9MM and the 40 S&W Shields in the M&P handgun section.

There were 40's available in Northeast Ohio VERY recently, I was close to purchasing one yesterday, I may still. I have the 9MM.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I seriously doubt that. Like what was said before, the Shield is just a scaled down M&P using the standard M&P sear, which made it easy for ATEi to replace the sear with the style that he makes for the larger M&Ps two months ago today (the very day the Shield 9 launched to the public)

They are hard to find/buy due to the tremendous popularity and demand for them.

If you are talking about Academy Sports, I assume...then I wouldn't rely on anything you might be told there. In my experience, their firearms sales personnel have little to no training or even knowledge about the guns they sell, much less any attendant issues in the industry. I have bought guns at Academy Sports (at several locations) on occasion because they have something I want at a lower price than is available elsewhere, and sometimes I just go look at what they have on display...and I am always amazed at what I hear the sales personnel telling other buyers. I don't claim to be an expert by any means, and it's not my place to butt in, but it is both comical and tragic what I have heard the sales people say to other customers who are obviously new to firearms.

From what I see when dissembled it is nearly identical to all other M&P's just smaller.

I happened to call S&W myself last Friday. They said they are still producing them and recently added a 3rd shift to meet demands for the Shield. I know some dealers are still getting them in stock because a local dealer just got a .40 in yesterday. I sure wish it was a 9mm because that is what I'm looking for! I also called the closest Academy Sports yesterday. He said their system showed 140 on order for Academy as a whole, but they haven't received any since the initial shipments.

Shields Are Shipping

I heard Twinkies weren't made anymore. Seriously.

I haven't done any research, but I kind of took that hard.

I'm not kidding!

S&W sells to Jobbers. The jobbers sell to dealers. Jobbers have a pecking order among the dealers they sell to. The best payers or bribers or drinking buddies get the guns first. It is best to get your name on several LGS lists. Guess what the dealers sell to their best buddies first too. Just the way it works.

Got a flyer in my e-mail today from Green Top Sporting Goods in Glen Allen, VA (just outside of Richmond). Advertising Fathers Day Sale and have 40 plus M&P Shields in .40 S&W. They want $449.99.
I'll be waiting for the 9mm.

Nonsense!

They get them in all the time over here still. Date of production are as little as a 9-10 days ago. I spoke to my LGS last night and they got two in the day before

Shop BS. Were they trying to sell you a Glock?

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

Academy is full of poopy! Everytime I walk in there they have made changes to their lineup. They used to sell HKs now gone, Colts Gone, S&W revolvers no longer there! I walked in last weekend and there was absolutely no sign of an M&P of any kind.

I sell guns at a LGS here in town, & this is just how it is. GARY N4KVE

I called S&W and spoke with Pat in customer service. Shields as I write this post are shipping and no one in customer service and Pat asked everyone in the office while I waited on the phone was aware of any copyright infringement story or any talk of haulting production. I was told S&W has three shifts running. 8 hours x 3 = 24 hours a day.

Russ

Wait - where in Houston?

Sorry, but the average Academy employee knows about as much about their product as the average Wal-Mart employee.

I have been told several times in the past that various "hard to Get" models had production issues, stoppages, etc.
Bottom line to me is they can't get them, so they come up with any lame excuse they can think of and maybe you will consider something in stock.

Isn't nice to know that an American made product,( and a firearm at that) has a company running 24/7 (maybe Sunday off) to meet demand, and also creating firm employment. Gives you a feeling of pride doesn't it

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John 3:16, Carry Everyday!

Hell yes, OOH RAH !

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Bob

Never mind - I bought a 9mm this morning from Carter's Country. They got it in about 4:00 yesterday afternoon and I jumped on it at 10:00 this morning!

Took it home, swabbed it out, wiped it down, lubed it up, and already have 150 rounds down the pipe.

And the verdict is ?

Extaordinarily accurate. I was amazed, actually. I have lots of nice pistols - Volkmann Precision (my carry piece), Ed Brown Kobra, S + W 627 Performance Center, S + W Model 41 Performance Center, M+P9 FS with Apex FSS and trigger kit, Sringfield TRP - but I immediately took to this little pistol.

It shoots to point of aim,,groups within 2 inches at 12 yards offhand, and has NO kick whatsoever! I have big hands and prefer the longer mag, but I still shot lights out withy the six rounder.

Simply an amazing piece of weaponry.

Well that speaks volumes as to how good this little gun is, that should quite down the naysayers.
Don't forget to vote on our pride & joy at gunsgunsguns.net

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John 3:16, Carry Everyday!

A bit more research showed me that Hostess filed for bankruptcy and was taken over by some speculators, and they WILL keep producing Twinkies.

I'm sorry, did you say something about Shield production???

Ya know a Twinkie can sit out for weeks & never change...
Scary

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John 3:16, Carry Everyday!

When the big one hits, Twinkies and roaches are all that will survive.

I'd rather eat Twinkies than roaches.

You'll never believe this, but that's what I was going to post a minute ago LOL

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John 3:16, Carry Everyday!

lol .. good post

So, went to the range today and shot my FS M&P .40 then went to Gander and lo and behold a wild Shield 9mm appears in the back room and is now home with me! Too bad i went to the range first though... test fire date is 5-21-12

You owe me a new keyboard... this one is coffee soaked!

lol isnt that how pretty much the whole world works!?

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Aim small miss small

Should be in the running for one of the funniest posts ever!

WOW ! That was hilarious. I love this place. Like home, a reunion, the local waterin' hole and work all in one.

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Bob

I was able to purchase the Shield 9mm at Carter Country on I-10 in Houston. They had more. I fired 200 rounds today at the range and the gun operation was flawless accurate, no FTF, FTE, etc). I have never been so impressed with a firearm. KUDOs to S&W

I got mine a week ago at Carter's Country on 59 and took it to the range that afternoon.

I had a local gun store owner told almost the same story when I purchased my S&W M&P Shield 40. He said that Smith and Wesson is about to shut down production of the Shield line because of some "legal stuff". I was informed by him that the Shield 40 wont be coming out maybe until early 2013 or even spring of 2013 because of his story. But when he kept pushing me to buy the "last" Shield 9mm he got I started adding things up and I knew the guy was giving me bull spit info to hook me on what he was selling me. A week later the 40's came out and bought one on his competitor for a lower price than he is selling his 9 Shield at his store. I made sure to drop by his store that day i got my Shield and showed it to him in front of his customer and told him where I bought it and how much.

Knowing Carter's Country like I do, I bet it wasn't cheep.

Although the Shields sell fast, he wanted you to buy what he had in the store right then and there instead of waiting for the .40. Some gun shops are no better than a car dealership when it comes to sales. If they can close the store with a tidy profit that day, they'll steer customers to whatever they have in the case/on the lot and make up any stories to get there.

Nonsense. They're changing the name to the M&P Assaver, available in 9x19 MetisMatch and .40 SavedisWeiner.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I paid list, no big deal. I make a decent living and I wanted the pistol.

At least I have one to shoot and carry when I wear shorts. I didn't pay scalper's prices, so its all good from where I sit.