It seems like about every 10 years or so S&W comes out with a substantially new firearm design. Their all metal semi-auto handguns went through at least 3 generations of changes. Their first polymer framed, striker fired, Sigma series came out around 1994 and the M&P about 2005.

Does anyone know or heard anything in the rumor mill about a successor to the M&P or a new design lurking in the shadows? I absolutely love my M&P handguns and find them to be about as perfect a firearm as I've ever had the pleasure to own. I'm sure there's been plenty of technological advancements in the last 10 years and someone at S&W has to be chomping at the bit to make us want to go out and buy the newest and greatest thing.

At one time, mostly those in law enforcement/security/military or the outdoors-man type buyer were S&W's bread and butter. The cross section and level of American gun ownership has shifted dramatically over just the past few years with a much higher percentage of average homeowners and buyers with personal protection as a priority. I'm just wondering what they will bring us next and whether it will be a new generation M&P or if they're working on a totally different design platform for a full size, service handgun possibly geared more towards their newest generation of buyers.