Mine was from the first run of spring 2012. Its all good

That's a reasonable question.

On a similar topic....It seems per S&W that the extent of how well it works is black and white (ie. it either works or it doesn't). Those of you who own more than one Shield should pay attention to how well the lower trigger resets on each weapon. You may find that one resets better than the other (ie with more authority and exposing a little more of the "tab"). I would suggest that if there is any question on how well the lower trigger is resetting (that includes those who only have one Shield and nothing to compare it to) ....to have it inspected by a qualified armorer or send it in.

Sounds like a great episode for Mythbusters!

I just got an email from a friend that S&W has issued a notice on their site regarding the Shield, but have not had time to check it out. For those who have one (I don't) it concerns a firing pin block that ensures the pistol will not fire if dropped.

For those who do own one it might be worth a trip to their site to check this out.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Actually, it concerns the lower portion of the trigger and extension of the tab which blocks inertial movement of the trigger bar.

Thanks for this alert. Tested mine and it is fine. How is one supposed to know the date of manufacturer without calling SW?? I have the fired case, so I know when it was tested.

The only "funny" thing about this is the :

"Your firearm will be returned within 5 to 7 business days." Yep sure it will.

I sent back a perfectly functioning SW Walther 380 for the drop recall. It was more like 5 months and the gun did not work when returned. It went back 3 times.

But I digress, I still think SW CS is tops. They had a lot and lot of those Walthers out there.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Fire date of 2/5/13....works fine.

Since this includes "ALL M&P Shield™ firearms manufactured before August 19, 2013" that was built prior to this Monday, so basically everything.

On another note you can tell the build date by the 4 digit number on the box under the sku# the first digit is the year, the next three are the day of the year. Example, 2145 would be 2012 145th day of the year, (May 25th).

Your interpretation is correct except in one way. That number is not the build date, but the ship date. That is supposed to be the date the gun left the factory. The test casing is a better indication of build date.

Before the current panic buying, the dates on the fired casing and the box have been known to differ by as much as a couple months. This is probably due to the gun sitting at S&W for a while before being shipped to an FFL.

Yeah, this info may not make much difference to the recall, but I figured it was worth clearing up.

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Freedom isn't free.

Cabelas CS is on the ball. Paid for my shield on wed, safety alert on thurs, pickup date is tomorrow (sat) after the 3 day waiting period. They have already been working to receive replacements for affected inventory and I should receive my firearm on time. Didn't have to do a thing.

Did not know that. Thanks

I talked to the S&W rep at the demo days event today. Both the event and the rep were pretty useless. The shields were however back on sale after inspection. I thought I would at least be able to maybe get some mags and maybe some M&P paraphernalia but nada. They had zero shield mags and the other compact and fullsize mags were for the buy a gun get an extra mag deal. Whole event consisted of a pile of M&P's on a couple tables and one guy in the range letting people pop a couple rounds with store rental guns. Place was a little off beat with the Biohazard cleanup truck "the blood cleanup specialists" parked out front from the apparent shooting last night. I had driven past last night and the whole store/range complex was crime taped off and cops still there. Aside from any accidental shootings I don't know about they have had at least two suicide/homicides on the range in past couple years.

M&P Shield Safety Alert - Smith & Wesson

This seems the most logical to me. The gun would probably even shatter with the force needed to fire the gun by impact.

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John

POTATO/ TOMATO, semantics. the FACT is there IS an issue. IMO a classic example of trying to build something faster for less $ and the heck with quality and what would work best.

Does this mean that they checked all the Shields they had in inventory all were found to be defective, or did they simply do a 'chicken little' and send them back without checking?

Other LGSs out there have simply been testing their inventory, only sending back defectives (if/when found).

If you have the original box, the manufacture date is encoded on it.

It seemed like they checked to see if they were defective and were replacing the ones that were. They confirmed that mine was defective.

The cool part about this is that all you have to do is call up Gaston Glock, Joe Bergeron over at S&W, Dave Williams at Springfield and the engineers at Ruger, Walther, and all of the other companies that make striker fired pistols.

You can present your information and I am sure they will realize how silly it was to build in this obviously unnecessary feature.

Since having an articulating trigger or a little hinge in the trigger requires extra little springs, pins, etc. the devices add unnecessary cost to the pistol, and conceivably increase the chances of a parts breakage or malfunction.

I bet as soon as you show them your theory, these "dim bulbs" who designed all of these pistols will wonder why they did not hire you to consult on the design of their pistols, and they will redesign their models to take out the obviously superfluous parts.

I mean if it truly is impossible, the parts are not necessary, right? Even as a precaution?

Did you look at the link? Here it is again: M&P Shield Safety Alert - Smith & Wesson
S&W has explained every aspect of this issue in there.

So, let me get this straight, you believe that it is impossible for an M&P to fall or be struck on the rear with enough force to generate 22g's, is that right?

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Freedom isn't free.

Errors occur even with the finest of manufacturing techniques and components. There is a phenomenon known as "diametric tolerance" wherein two interconnecting pieces can each be within tolerance, but if one is at the extreme minimum and the other at the extreme maximum, it doesn't work out. This is a classic example of the fact that things are not always perfect. And anyone expecting absolute and total perfection in a firearm and zero mistakes in a million units should be prepared to spent much more than $450.

And there is a HUGE difference between a safety bulletin and a recall. You know it as well as I.

But I waste my breath. Too many folks need to feed the drama and will perpetuate the myth until the next news cycle brings something else bigger and juicier.

RECALL RECALL RECALL

YOUR SMITH AND WESSON WILL SELF DESTRUCT IN 5 SECONDS

RECALL RECALL RECALL

THROW THEM ALL AWAY BEFORE YOU HURT YOURSELF

I'm out.

I checked mine earlier and it is functioning perfectly. For reference HBB***
Off to the range I go.

Is it really a big deal? I was told not to even shoot the gun. I really don't want to send my baby in. Are any of you taking this with a grain of salt?

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I just bought one and just got a phone call from my dealer. Its on the Smith&Wesson web site as well under safety.

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A friend sent me an email that S&W put a notice on their site. I don't have a Shield, but there is a batch that have a problem that can cause the gun to fire if dropped. Check out the S&W site.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

see here's the thing, there's lots of people like you who would rather believe what you just know to be true than to listen to reason and data and come to an educated conclusion. Lots of people like you think these things are necessary parts of a drop safety and can't fathom that they'd be included for other reasons. It's a lot easier for S&W and others to keep on including these things in case some people like you end up on a jury, or don't buy their stuff because it doesn't have that thing like the glock does....

I could just as easily ask you to call up those who make striker fired pistols without these things and explain to them how foolish they are. Bet they'll invite you in to design a fancy trigger that satisfies you ASAP as well. After that, call S&W and ask why such a necessary feature with potential flaws isn't actually being recalled across the board? It's almost like they know it's not actually an issue....? If you're still not convinced, and actually believe this is about the inertia of the trigger, call up every gun manufacturer ever regardless of action and ask why they don't have a hinged trigger. If it's really about the inertia of the trigger... hammer fired guns have triggers.... better not drop an LCR, no fancy trigger!!!

As to your question of whether or not the parts are necessary... to keep the thing from firing when dropped? Not a chance... To appease folks? yes, apparently. I've also said before they could provide some element of safety in a situation where something like a drawstring gets caught on the trigger.

and for whoever asked, I'm sure you're about to quote to me some nascar crash that recorded X number of G's greater than 22.... now tell me how long that was sustained for? I'm not about to do the math, but given the way the situation would actually play out with parts moving and time passing, the amount of force needed to fire would be far greater than the 22g. as someone pointed out, this force would likely destroy the entire pistol anyway.

Mine has a test fire date of 1/8/2013, HAS####, and no problems.

Go to the S&W website, look at the recall notice and inspect your pistol the way they show you how to in the notice. Mine doesn't need to go back. Yours might. Problem solved.

M&P SHIELD Safety Alert and Inspection Prodedure - YouTube

I found this video.

Good grief. I would have thought this horse would have been buried by now. I thought I heard what I thought I think you said. Enough already. Nobody on here can do thing one about another persons weapon. It is about the Shield and NO other S&W or other brand. Rant over, Babble On

Thanks for the tip you saved me about 2 hours of my day tomorrow, I was going to stop in at the event by me.

I googled the possible shooting there but couldn't find anything recent, it's crazy how many are on the net that they have had there in the past though.

Did you find out if last nights happened inside or outside?

I could not find one back in June ended up buying a Beretta Nano

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... --- ... ..- ... .-

If I dropped a gun, and it discharged and killed someone, I would feel completely responsible. I would also try to weasel out of my responsibilty, and shift the blame somewhere else. Like it or not, That's the American way.

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Why, I aughta.....

It is not a recall, it is a Safety Alert.

You people need to learn the difference before hand.

Just checked my shield. I am good to go.

Assuming this was Shoot Straight in WPB? I was there today as well... Didn't see or hear about any of this before now, you're saying there was a shooting there last night???

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unrepentant M&P fanboy

WRONG!!! Not a recall, not all Shields.

Actually he was at the one in Apopka. They had the event as well.

I am willing to speculate that there are going to be a lot of negligent discharges as a direct result of owners obsessing over this problem. Some poorly trained people will check out the trigger the first time or two with the gun empty but then check it again later on (obsessing) while forgetting the gun is loaded.

I wish my Shield had this problem and not all the other far serious problems that required me to return it to S&W.

Test fire date of 7/3/13 and functions as the S&W notice says it should.

If the slide is locked open (as the video shows). Then they shouldnt have a loaded round in the chamber. And even if they decide to drop a loaded round in the chamber (with the slide open). It still isnt going to fire until the slide is released......Then again, ive seen some stupid people in my life time.

Has anyone heard a 40 fail? So far everything I've seen shows only 9's failing

They were pretty tight lipped about what happened. They have gotten enough bad publicity in the past and even stopped renting guns for quite a while after the mom rented a gun and popped herself and teenage son a while back. Another guy apparently used the range to commit suicide not so long ago. They might not be talking and I could not find a blotter online but the crime scene last night and the cleanup crew today were a pretty good give away. Guess it par for the course on a public range. I've personally seen a 9mm through the foot and a 45 shatter a lower leg at an outdoor range. Those events didn't make news either.

mine was test fired in june 2013. tested mine per S&W instructions and mine is fine. Mine has a HPExxxx serial number

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handlebar-proud to be American

I doubt it matters as both probably used the same parts that could fail.

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unrepentant M&P fanboy

True but still haven't seen any 40's with failure. And since they are making it fairly clear it seems to be with recent guns, its fairly safe to say they are from a smaller batch from the line, then taking into account one line would handle 40's another 9's and only 9'sare having issues so far. I say it may be only 9's

Both of mine (9mm) test fired 17JUL13 are good to go.

maybe it's late & I'm cranky, but I for one don't need to know if every single shield owners gun tested OK or not, (we could be at this a long time). I hope they did, but it makes for a lot of reading.

If the testing is correct, and this is not something that could show up after more rounds going through it, Then My My 9 is good. 4/19/2013 test fire date. Guess it is something to periodically check from time to time

The guy that called me said it was a recall. I wish the Springfield XDs came in a .40, then I could just off load this should.

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