why did S&W outsource the MP22 to walther?

what am I missing? why couldn't S&W simply adapt their striker system for a 22LR caliber?

I'm no gunsmith, but seems like an aluminum slide and offset pin on the striker and whala.

What am I missing?

And Walther did a great job. The 22 feels great along side my 9.

Walther already had its 22 mechanism that worked. Rather than re-invent the wheel to convert locked breech to blow back, etc., a new mold for the frame so that it looks like the M&P and new exterior machining for the aluminum slide that must function with low power rimfire ammo, and a big part of the job is already done. Walther has much more experience with this type of design.

The cheap little Jennings .22's are striker fired also Lincon and Raven not sure of the spelling.. they are guns that I had about 25 years ago.. cheap too! Had them in .22 .25 and a 380 all worked flawlessly put a ton of ammo through them too.
So they can be made.. sometimes it's cheaper for a place like S&W to source out a contract instead of design a new one from scratch.. By the way I like the hammer system in the M&P .22 smooth clean and crisp break. George