I had a problem with my Shield 40. After many emails to S&W I got a phone call from an Executive at S&W. After discussing the problem about my Shield, I was told that S&W is taking serious consideration to stopping sales of all gun parts that relate to the firing operation of their guns. This would include items such as: trigger; trigger bar; hammer; striker; sear; blocker safety; related springs; etc. If those parts do not get installed properly, and the gun is: inoperable; dangerous; or prone to malfunction, S&W is concerned about their liability for selling those parts. I was told this policy could soon be in place for all gun lines, not just the Shield. I was also told that S&W may again sell those parts, once they have detailed instruction, as to how those parts should be installed, available on paper or through the internet.

S&W would also not make these parts available to companies such as: Brownells; Midway; etc., as these companies sell those parts to the public. This Executive wanted this policy to take effect as soon as possible. I have not named this Executive as I was told something that I likely shouldn’t have heard.

This is not the current S&W policy and at this point not everyone at S&W agrees with this policy, since they still sell those parts to the public, except for the Shield. Other gun manufacturers such as Glock, Ruger, Springfield, and others have policies that those parts are factory installed only. The Executive did not say S&W would never sell those parts to the public, but that they were considering stopping sales until they had specific installation instruction, for those parts, available to the public.

Just passing on what I was told.

Bob