New product announcements coming from Smith

[dwhite]

You know what S&W is long overdue for? A polymer-frame Revolver. I know that some of you will boo me for speaking such heresy, but the fact of the matter is that polymer-framed Revolvers would be lighter in weight and less likely to develop stress fractures like their Scandium alloy frames, not to mention be substantially lower in cost.

You mean like the abomination that is the S&W M&P Bodyguard 38? No thank you. (Sorry -- nothing personal meant; but the BG 38 was loaded with problems).

On a more positive and fairer note - perhaps S&W have learned a lot from the BG 38 and will strike a home run with a 2.0 version.

 

[Bumpus13]

You know what S&W is long overdue for? A polymer-frame Revolver. I know that some of you will boo me for speaking such heresy, but the fact of the matter is that polymer-framed Revolvers would be lighter in weight and less likely to develop stress fractures like their Scandium alloy frames, not to mention be substantially lower in cost.



Unfortunately, they don't make .380 ACP pocket pistols striker-fired for a reason, there's just not enough length of travel for the striker spring to compress enough to deliver a proper strike to the primer.

Ruger once said as much in an interview when asked about the possibility of a striker-fire LCP. The Taurus Spectrum 380 is striker-fire, but you'll never guess what, it has issues with light primer strikes and requires careful ammo selection with softer primers to run reliably.

 

[deadduck357]

Keep hoping SW introduces a 9mm AR15 carbine version of their AR15 Sporter 2 with quick change mag well adapters that is priced around the same.

I don't care about any quick change magwell but I've been wanting S&W to make a 9mm AR-15 for years now.

 

[CH4]

And without the lock I'm sure!

Or two piece barrel.

 

[stansdds]

I know what it will be and it won't be another polymer revolver (I just threw up a little by saying "polymer revolver").

It will be....


Wait for it...


A belt!

A genuine imitation leather belt with a genuine nickle plated zinc S&W belt buckle.

Now think about that along with the notion of another polymer revolver and just lean over the toilet!

 

[shocker]

My take is this, and I firmly believe this, having 3 mechanical engineers and a master mechanic as lifelong buddies. If they let the engineers design the pistol without interference, it will get done fast. It's the interference that causes the issues.

"Prototypes are easy, volume production is hard, positive cash flow is excruciating"
Elon Musk

 

[always_an_eagle]

Just saw this on Reddit

New mp 9 shield "plus" 13+1 : SmithAndWesson

It looks like the shield is getting the 43x/P365/hellcat treatment.

BUT WHERE IS THE METAL FRAME SEMI-AUTO HANDGUNS GONNA BE REINTRODUCED!!!

 

[dwhite]

Timing is everything. I just bought a Shield 9mm 2.0 (to compliment my 45) about 2 weeks ago. I haven't had enough range time to put the new Shield into the rotation; and they introduce this one.

Oh well. I'm very pleased with my (now obsolete) 2.0 9mm and won't be upgrading it anytime soon. I will be anxious to see the first actual shooting reviews of the the Shield Plus though.

 

[MetalGunGuy]

An upgrade to the Shield with a "plus" version was a necessity, otherwise they were going to fall behind.

I think another upgrade that is due would be a "J plus" frame revolver - a J frame size revolver than can accommodate a K frame cylinder. That would be a hit!

 

[smithra_66]

Removing locks from all new revolvers

Wouldn't that be nice!?

 

[shocker]

And 3-inch Model 65s too.

Seriously, they might be wise to refocus on CCW revolvers given some of the rumblings. Reintroducing K frames in 3 inch barrels but with more visible fixed sights would seem logical. At least to me.

Even if the rumblings turn true, I don't think revolvers would get a big jump in market share. Semis by their nature are lighter and more compact, and that matters for CCW. Picture attached is a 66 snub superimposed over a Glock 19X, a very easy to shoot gun. Even if the magazines were restricted it's still an 11 shooter (and I have a lifetime supply of normal capacity magazines for it).

 

[Echo40]

Assuming that the new M&P9 Shield is real, (I take "news" that comes from Reddit with a grain of salt...) then I have to admit that I'm surprised at how high capacity they made it. I mean, from a marketing standpoint it makes sense to 1-Up the competition, but considering all the rumblings of a forthcoming push for a reinstatement of an Assault Weapons Ban it seems rather bold. I mean, in the event of the passage of such legislation, the new Shield will have to be sold with 10 round magazines, thus rendering the overall size/dimensions of the pistol excessive, likely eliminating the only advantage it had over the competition.
Assuming that it is also available in .40 S&W, then it might still be okay, since it may hold 10 rounds by default, and the cartridge may get a resurgence in popularity in the event of a new AWB, but otherwise...Ouch.

Oh well, hopefully that won't be an issue and thusly the new Shield will be a huge success.

On the subject or metal-framed Revolvers and especially Semiautomatic Pistols, don't hold your breath, fellas... Like it or not, Polymer-framed handguns dominate the market these days because those who haven't shunned them for the past 40 years have discovered that their light weight makes them much easier to carry and that polymer actually holds up much better than anyone expected it to.
Revolvers will remain in production, but don't expect them to make any new Revolvers. (Just as well, you'd probably hate them anyway if the R8 was any indication...) Semiautomatics? Unfortunately, they're most likely gone for good. It's a shame because the 3rd Gens were awesome, but terribly underappreciated, so unlike the Beretta 92 and various SIGsauer pistols which have become so iconic that they remain in production, with Competitive variants, the S&W 3rd Gen pistols are history, only the SW1911 remains.

 

[quikdraw67]

It's going to be a Phase Plasma Rifle in the 40 Watt Range.

You heard it here first.

Yeah.

 

[Jim Watson]

Ammo shortages, power politics.
S&W is getting back into the airgun business.

 

[jurek]

Assuming that the new M&P9 Shield is real, (I take "news" that comes from Reddit with a grain of salt...) then I have to admit that I'm surprised at how high capacity they made it. I mean, from a marketing standpoint it makes sense to 1-Up the competition, but considering all the rumblings of a forthcoming push for a reinstatement of an Assault Weapons Ban it seems rather bold. I mean, in the event of the passage of such legislation, the new Shield will have to be sold with 10 round magazines, thus rendering the overall size/dimensions of the pistol excessive, likely eliminating the only advantage it had over the competition.
Assuming that it is also available in .40 S&W, then it might still be okay, since it may hold 10 rounds by default, and the cartridge may get a resurgence in popularity in the event of a new AWB, but otherwise...Ouch.

I like the option with Shield with more rounds. This might be S&W's response for G43X which became quite popular as carry pistol.
I won't be surprised if this will be a "new announcement".

 

[ken158]

Removing locks from all new revolvers

OR adding a second lock more likely...

 

[deadduck357]

New mp 9 shield "plus" 13+1 : SmithAndWesson

It looks like the shield is getting the 43x/P365/hellcat treatment.

Well if that's it I'm underwhelmed. Capacity matching the Hellcat but no accessory rail for lights or laser and no optics cut for micro red dot. Like they tried but didn't want to compete. Yawn

 

[Dave Lively]

New mp 9 shield "plus" 13+1 : SmithAndWesson

It looks like the shield is getting the 43x/P365/hellcat treatment.

If true, it looks more like a subcompact with a slimmer slide. Which would means it would not require a new magazine and less redesign. It also means it would be bigger and heavier than a P365/Hellcat.

 

[Echo40]

I still cannot fathom for the life of me why certain folks want to mount a holographic sight on a subcompact or especially a micro pistol.

Honestly, it wasn't long ago that folks complained if sight posts were too large on subcompact pistols based on the rationality that subcompacts were for close-range combat at distances in which aiming was practically unnecessary, but now everyone wants to mount a huge holographic sight on top of their pistol for precision shooting.

I have a hard enough time understanding wanting such a thing on a full-size pistol unless it's strictly for Home Defense.

Laser sights just make way more sense to me.

 

[seldon14]

More pics and descriptions of the new models.

Smith & Wesson New Shield Plus | Indiana Gun Owners - Gun Classifieds and Discussions

No long slide with them safety currently, which is a bummer.

 

[Echo40]

More pics and descriptions of the new models.

Smith & Wesson New Shield Plus | Indiana Gun Owners - Gun Classifieds and Discussions

No long slide with them safety currently, which is a bummer.

This definitely looks real to me. I presume that the 10 round model with a 10lb trigger is the MA Compliant model.

Impressive that they found a way to squeeze 13 rounds into the M&P9 Shield without making any immediately apparent external modifications to the frame, so I imagine that they've probably just made the grip length a bit longer, maybe a smidgen wider.

The new trigger looks good. Seems like S&W is finally dropping the hinged trigger and adopting a more standard Glock-style trigger safety, a pity they didn't add a rail to the frame while they were at it.

It will be interesting to see what the exact dimensional differences are between the standard M&P9 Shield and the new Shield+. It would be handy if all they did was lengthen the grip, that way the new magazines could simply be inserted into older M&P9 Shields with an adapter.

It's a shame that there's no M&P40 Shield+, (yet) as that would make for a decent replacement for the recently discontinued M&P40 2.0 Subcompact, with a 10 or 11 round magazine.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

If you type the sku numbers into google it shows where S&W has already created a page for them that is password protected.

 

[cbunix23]

And here I was hoping they'd finally do something with Gem-Tech.