The S&W Sport 1 has always appealed to me. No Forward Assist, no Ejection Port Cover and the 1-8 barrel is my ideal AR.

Years ago I handled one that a LGS had and really like it. I didn’t buy because it was close to Christmas and wanted to make sure I had enough money to finish buying gifts. I went back after Christmas but unfortunately they had sold it. Since then I have never come across another one.

Would some of the knowledgeable members tell me the history of this gun?

This thread covers it...

S&W sport vs sport 2

Sport 2006-2016. Sport II 2016-present.

The Sport wasn't released in 2006. It was late 2011. I joined this site in early 2012 because I was interested in getting a Sport and was trying to find one.

Between the release in 2011 and the time I got my Sport, probably March 2012, they had already changed the rear sight from the fixed sight to the Magpul sight.

You're correct, my bad. It was the M&P 15 that was introduced in 2006.

I read that thread but it really isn’t very informative. Where they reliable? Apparently S&W agreed with Stoner that the Forward Assist was not necessary. The link talks about the quality of the barrel.

Any ideas on how many where manufactured? Was it customer demand for a gun that looked more closely like the ones used by the military that caused S&W to discontinue it and market the Sport 2?

Have I just not looked hard enough to find one for sale? I have built several AR’s so building one with a smooth upper and 1-8 barrel isn’t difficult (well other than the panic is making finding the parts difficult).

The Sport 2 actually seems to be a step backwards to produce a lower quality gun that satisfies the market.

My Sport was purchased new 5/21/11. More like mid 2011.
Also mine had an A2 rear sight, adjustable for windage and elevation.
Just an added note. The rifles fore end sales wrapping still used "Melonite" as a feature.
Jim

You didn't ask about reliability, you asked about the history. They were poo poo'ed in the beginning as being a "budget gun" that "cut corners". The barrel wasn't 4150 CMV and it wasn't chrome lined. The BCG was not a full auto type. The bolt was not individually HPT and MPI tested, they were thought to be batch tested. The lower receiver extension (buffer tube) was of mil-spec dimensions, but possibly not of the same type of aluminum. They didn't have the forward assist or the ejection port cover. And finally, the hand guards were not lined. All of these things were said to be cutting corners to meet a price point.

Despite all of these "short comings", those of us who purchased a Sport back in the day found that we bought a simple, reliable, and accurate semi auto carbine that made a fine HD, hunting, and recreational shooting firearm. Even some small police forces without a large budget used them for patrol rifles.

As time went on, S&W made changes to the original Sport, as covered in the other thread, with the biggest change being the move from the 1:8 twist to the 1:9 twist barrel.

Once Ruger came out with the AR-556, which was considered to be a "full featured" budget rifle, S&W moved to the Sport II and included the forward assist and the ejection port cover. I believe the quality is the same, but I am happier with the 1:8 twist from the older Sport rifles.

Mine still said Melonite as well... I couldn't remember exactly when they came out in 2011. I know I was looking for one hard in late 2011 and they were hard to find. I ended up getting mine at Academy and paying a little more than most of the guys on here, but I was finally able to get one.

I bought mine on sight as the 2011 price was better than any of the AR rifles being sold new at that time. It is actually the only one I saw on sales racks. I have only encountered 2 in private hands up here.
The Sport that I bought in 2011 has been very accurate and totally reliable. I wasnt an AR guy until IDPA opened up 3 gun. It performed very well. It stands as one off my favorite rifles.
Jim

I don't have a lot of rounds through my Sport. Maybe less than a thousand all totaled. However. I have found it to be extremely accurate (for me anyway) and have not had one single issue. The target in the picture is ten rounds fired at 60 yards which is about the longest shot I can get here without shooting across a canyon.

Attached Images

DSCN2210.jpg (65.7 KB, 65 views)

Thanks to all of you.

What is the barrel profile on the Sport 1? I just happen to have a unused stripped Lower and smooth Upper so building one isn’t difficult if I can find a 1-8 barrel.

I think the Ladies in my family will like it’s lighter weight.

I bought an M&P15 in Jan. 2007. I sold it to my cousin July 2020 for $700.

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Not sure what you would call it. It doesn't have the M4 cut out like a Government profile barrel. I've heard it referred to as a full profile barrel.

If you are building, just buy the barrel you like... because you aren't building a true 1st gen Sport.

Oh, forgot to mention that the Sport also has an integral trigger guard, part of the forged lower.

In addition to the Upper and Lower I have Mission First Tactical stock, grip and handguard on hand. A lightweight 16” barrel will make a nice combination. I am curious what lead to the Sport 1 being discontinued. The comments and link show it wasn’t a result of the design.

The only problem is finding the right barrel. I have 1-7 and 1-9 barrels so I would like to try a 1-8 16” barrel. I am on the notify me list with several companies so maybe I will get lucky sometime this year.

My Sport does not have a light contour barrel like the original Colt SP carbines did. I’ve never measured mine but if anything it might be a very slightly heavier contour than an M4 barrel.

The biggest complaint about the Sport was that it didn't have the forward assist or dust cover. Many just didn't consider it as a "real AR" without those features. When other budget rifles hit the market with those features, S&W really had no choice but to add them in if they wanted to be competitive.

Well, nothing in 5.56 but a couple of maybe interesting calibers:

BCA | AR Barrels | AR-15, AR-10, & AR-9

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I have a 16” 1-7 pencil barrel I can take off another AR but I am not sure I want to use it. The MFT handguard does not have heat shields (to save weight) which according to some reports means it gets hot to handle quicker than handguards with heat shields (which stands to reason). This is not intended to be used for rapid shooting. I have a AR with M4 stamped lower and M4 16” barrel for that.


This panic is really limiting choices.