While S&W hasn't made an official statement (that I've heard), it's obviously something that might be asked, now that the 2.0 has been released (and is being expanded upon).
However, consider that the "original" M&P is still being produced and ordered by LE agencies.
LAPD has been issuing M&P 9's to academy cadets, but the existing previously-issued (and authorized optional) weapons are still in-service (until such time as they may require replacement).
LASD's order isn't quite fulfilled, yet (it had a 5 year estimate for completion). The bulk of their order was for M&P 9's, although I was then told a small number of M&P 40's were also ordered.
All models, last I heard, remained the "original" model.
The most recent large agency order I've heard about was the CHP order, and they deliberately ordered the "original" models.
Then, consider that Glock still produces Gen3 & Gen4 pistols, at the same time they're producing Gen5 models (although some of their models with some of the Gen5 revisions may not be specifically called Gen5's).
It probably remains to be seen how long S&W corporate considers it financially profitable to continue making the "original" version of the M&P's, and in which models.
I remember when they were just releasing the M&P pistol line, and they had their Sigma and their then-new SD line for the budget minded, non-LE market ... but they hadn't yet "officially" decided whether to keep buying 99 frames from Walther to continue making their licensed SW99/990L series.
I was told by a couple of people at the factory that they were unsure themselves of the fate of the 99's, and were waiting for a corporate announcement of any decision, but it might turn out that they kept the SW99's for a middle-priced plastic pistol option. Well, as it turned out, the 13 year Strategic Alliance with Walther was coming to an end, and Walther apparently had their own plans to become their own importer for US sales, no longer using S&W's Walther America company (except to continue making PPK's for a then-undecided length of time). I was later told that much of the remaining Walther parts stock at S&W was sent to the new Walther importer company.
S&W could finally market their own high-end plastic pistol, carrying the M&P brand, so there was no need for the SW99 series (and production of the standard 99 models had already been stopped, with only the 990L models being produced toward the end).
Then, apparently rather than having the Sigma and the SD being "competing" budget lines, they were eventually "folded" together into the current SD9/40 VE series. It's been many years since I took that original Sigma/9M/380M armorer class (add-on to the 3rd gen class), and I don't know anything about the SD's. When I once asked about a SD armorer class, I was told that since it hadn't ever been intended to be sold to LE, they'd decided not to put together an armorer class. (LE armorers would have an armorer class for the M&P, as that was the model line intended for LE/Gov use.)
So, until S&W corporate releases some official announcement, I'd be inclined to take the
hurry up and wait position.
Never Say Never, as it were.
I'd not be surprised to see them - like Glock - continue to make and sell all of the models they can sell in both versions, but also perhaps discontinuing any models which fall off in sales. (Which they've often done.)
Dunno.
S&W M&P 1.0 models discontinued??
Linear Mode
