The Firearm Blog

One of the major product launches at SHOT Show was the launch of the S&W Bodyguard Series.

Smith & Wesson have applied the Bodyguard name to a variety of lightweight wheel guns over the past 50 or 60 years. The latest iteration of the Bodyguard brand again includes a light weight revolver but also, cleverly, a light weight pistol (offering something for everyone).

The Bodyguard 380 pistol and Bodyguard 38 Revolver were both designed with similar objectives in mind. Both are lightweight compacts, both are chambered in low-powered .38 caliber cartridges, both have a similar black finish and, notably, both come standard with a built-in laser sight.

The laser sight is a feature S&W will be marketing heavily. The INSIGHT manufactured lasers feature ambi control, constant and pulse modes, windage and elevation adjustment and three hour continuous operation.

The booth was lit up with red lights (emphasizing the laser capability)

S&W Bodyguard 380 Pistol

This pistol is a brand new design. It is lightweight at 11.85 ounces, although not quite as light as the Kel-Tec P-3AT which weights in at just 8.3 oz. Its polymer frame with integral laser has a cool futurist look to it.

It is double action, has an external safety and can hold 6+1 rounds of .380 ACP ammunition.

S&W Bodyguard 380 Revolver

The Bodyguard 380 is a lightweight J-Frame with aluminum/polymer frame and steel cylinder. While less exciting than the above autoloader, it is a decent compact revolver. It features an ambidextrous cylinder release on top and fully enclosed hammer for snag-free drawing. The laser is mounted on the left side (laser switch is mounted on top for ambidextrous use).

An FBI agent posed as a representative of an Africa nation. An S&W executive (and others) attempted to bribe the government official!

WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - An executive of Smith & Wesson (SWHC.O) and 21 others have been charged with violating U.S. bribery laws after an undercover sting in which federal agents posed as arms-buying representatives of an African defense minister.

The defendants, including a senior Smith & Wesson sales official Amaro Goncalves, were accused of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and conspiracy to commit money laundering tied to the sale of guns, body armor and other law enforcement equipment.

[ Many thanks to Jeffrey for emailing me the link. ]

UPDATE: S&W make a statement ...

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Jan 19, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Smith & Wesson(R) Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., today made the following statement in response to Justice Department enforcement actions that were announced today regarding one of its employees.

Through media reports today, we became aware of the Justice Department enforcement actions which were taken yesterday and which made reference to an employee of our company. We have no information beyond what has been reported and are prepared to cooperate fully with law enforcement in their investigation into this matter.

The Smith & Wesson Model 638 and 637 are now available from the factory with Crimson Trace laser grips installed.

Model 637CT Revolver

The .38+P Models 637CT and 638CT both feature a stainless finish and 2.5" barrel. They will retail for $924.

Express Police Supply have a win-a-gun-a-month competition. In May the prize is a M&P in .380!

SayUncle also blogged about the competition.

After a nearly 6 months hiatus I was very pleased see a new post at Tam's The Arms Room. Her latest blog post in the Sunday Smith series covers the S&W Number 1 revolver.

S&W Number 1

Over at my blog post about the Walther PK380, readers have anxiously awaiting the arrival of the pistol that was announced in January. S&W have finally announced that it is shipping.

Limited "First" Edition

More more about this .380 ACP pistol here.

Steve Doran proves that any gun can be accurate if you take the time to practice with it. He takes his Smith & Wesson Model 60 snub nosed revolver (1 5/8 inch barrel) and, firing 158 grain .38 Special factory ammunition and manages great accuracy at 100 yards!

Steve has a write up about the shoot over at his website.

S&W have made a special run of S&W 642 and 442 revolvers with ported barrels. These must make one heck of a bang when the trigger is pulled! Both are chambered in .38 Special.

Model 642


Model 442

Smith & Wesson have developed a Banger’s exclusive Model 627 chambered in .38 Super. I really love the stainless glass bead finish along with the short black cylinder.

The reason for the big gap between the cylinder and the frame is because the original Model 27 was designed to chamber the .357 Magnum cartridge. A .38 Super case is about 30% shorter than a .357 Magnum case, hence the gap.

Specs:

Capacity: 8 Rounds (Same as the .357 Magnum models)
Action: Single/Double Action
Barrel Length: 5 1/2″ Angled
Front Sight: Patridge
Rear Sight: Adjustable
Weight: 45.5 oz.
Material: Stainless Steel Frame and Cylinder
MSRP: I am not sure. Ask you local gun dealer to call Bangers about pricing.

.38 Super is a slightly weaker round than the .357 Magnum. Its advantage lies in the fact that it has just enough power to be classified as a Major cartridge in IPSC competitions. I know it is very popular among semi-auto IPSC competitors but I am not sure how popular it is with the revolver crowd. Caleb and Tam, do you know how?

Hat Tip: Gun Holsters and Gear

CNBC’s Fast Money show talks to Michael Golden, CEO of Smith & Wesson, about the gun market and how S&W is faring.

He says that the gun market is cooling but S&W’s M&P rifles and tactical rifles are selling well. I do not dispute that S&W is doing well, but I find it hard to believe S&W, or Ruger, will be able to maintain their current stock prices. Both stocks have more than doubled since February courtesy of the gun buying frenzy.

Golden mentions the M4 competition. I expect they will have sometime more interesting up their sleeve than the M&P4, a pretty standard direct gas impingement M4 clone, which the Military Times reported a while back that S&W would be entering.

S&W are now selling a version of the .22 AR-15 patterned M&P15-22 that is compliant with Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and New York law.

It has been made compliant by fixing the stock so it cannot be adjusted and supplying a 10 round magazine. The MSRP is still $499.

The pistol grip and removable magazine prevent it from being California compliant. .22 Rifles are exempt from California Assault Weapon laws.

Smith and Wesson have announced a recall of the S&W 22A Pistol.

Smith & Wesson has identified a condition that may exist in certain model 22-A pistols. Based on our ongoing product review, we have determined that the slides of certain pistols manufactured from August 1, 2008 to February 19, 2009, may not meet the design specification. This can create a situation where insufficient headspace exists creating a risk of unintended discharge.

STOP USING YOUR PISTOL AND RETURN IT TO SMITH & WESSON AT ONCE.

Any unintended discharge of a firearm has the potential for causing injury, and we ask that you stop using your pistol immediately

Over at GunNuts, VegasChris posted a link to photos of his 22A pistol which self-destructed

You can see the raw metal where the piece was blown off

Hat Tip: Caleb @ Gun Nuts Media
.

“PooFire” was using his car as a barrier to practice shooting over (NOT a good idea) with his AR-15 but forgot his revolver was placed on the car roof. His S&W Model 442 Airweight took a 5.56mm bullet to the chamber.

Click to expand the images.

He knows what he did was idiotic, and as someone at AR15.com said, he has balls of steel posting it on the internet. So don’t mock him for it!

Thanks to Jay for the link.

Smith & Wesson have produced a Model 629 revolver to commemorate Alaska’s 50th anniversary of Statehood.

The 4″ barreled gun will be available chambered in .44 Magnum or .44 Special. A very nice look piece and with enough power to keep hungry bears at bay!

More info.