In video gaming the word nerf means a changes to a game which reduces the effectiveness of a particular element of a game. Often game designers “nerf” guns which are more powerful in the hands of players than they had intended.

S&W has just nerfed the S&W Model SD9 and SD40. When this gun was launched in 2010 it was a premium-budget self-defense gun. The company took the budget-priced S&W Sigma and gave it a slightly more modern frame with rail, a black melonite finish, tritium night sights and an improved trigger. It retailed for $530, about $150 more than the Sigma.

Smith & Wesson have just announced a new generation of the SD9 and SD40 saying “… we have taken the best features of the SD and Sigma pistols and evolved them into a new generation of firearms that meet our customers’ requirement in terms of both functionality and price.”.

What they actually did was remove some of the premium features from the SD9 and SD40, the melonite finish and tritium night sights and drop the price. The SD9/SD40 now retail for just $10 more than the old S&W Sigma.

The Model SD’s old price made the S&W M&P, priced only slightly more, a much better deal. At the new pricing, the Model SD is a better deal than the old Sigma. It is time for S&W to deliver the coup de grâce to the Sigma, a pistol never much liked by the gun community.

From the press release …

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (June 1, 2012) – Smith & Wesson Corp. today announced that it has unveiled two new handgun models designed to assist with self protection and home defense needs. Chambered in 9mm and .40 S&W, the new Smith & Wesson SD9 VE™ and SD40 VE™ semi-automatic pistols combine value with enhanced features that deliver top-grade performance into a reliable option for both home and personal protection uses.

Mario Pasantes, Smith & Wesson’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Global Professional Sales, said, “With the introduction of the new SD9 VE and SD40 VE pistols,

The foundation of each SD VE pistol is based on a lightweight polymer frame, designed to deliver in the areas of comfort and durability. On the stainless steel slide, the SD VE pistol features a distinctive two-tone finish along with aggressive front and rear slide serrations for improved firearm handling. Among the key features found on the Smith & Wesson SD9 VE and SD40 VE is the Self Defense Trigger (SDT™). Providing a smooth, consistent trigger pull, the SDT design helps to enhance accuracy while providing users with increased confidence. To further aid in accuracy, the SD VE is standard with a white-dot front sight and a white two-dot rear sight.

For optimal comfort and control, the SD VE pistol has been fitted with an 18° natural point of aim, ergonomic grip with aggressive front and back strap texturing. The Smith & Wesson SD9 VE and SD40 VE have both been built with a textured finger locator, which is placed directly above the trigger guard on the left and right side of the frame. Underneath the barrel, a universal Picatinny-style equipment rail is standard for optional tactical lights, lasers and other popular accessories.

The SD9 VE is available with either a 16+1 or 10+1 round capacity while the SD40 VE is standard with either a 14+1 or 10+1 magazine capacity. Both pistols have an unloaded weight of 22.7 ounces and a slender width of 1.29 inches. With a 4-inch barrel and an overall length of 7.2 inches, both models are fully compatible for personal protection or home defense measures. Each pistol comes with two magazines and the Smith & Wesson lifetime service policy.