Smith & Wesson to Discontinue Shield 1.0 Models Effective Immediately

Fans of the original Smith and Wesson M&P Shield are getting a bit of sad news today as Smith & Wesson has opted to discontinue the original Shield design effective immediately which includes existing orders. According to the discontinuation notice, this decision was reached in an effort to contend with the demand for the new M&P Shield Plus that was released just last month.

The original M&P Shield pistol platform was introduced in 2012 and has since become one of the best selling concealed carry pistol lines on the market. To meet customer wants and needs, we have continued to adapt and evolve the M&P Shield product line with offerings such as the M&P Shield M2.0, M&P Shield EZ, and now the new M&P Shield Plus. To focus on meeting the tremendous demand for the new M&P Shield Plus, we will be discontinuing the original M&P Shield pistol SKUs to allow for additional production of current M&P Shield offerings.

For our California-only dealers, we will continue to offer the following CA-compliant M&P Shield SKUs until further notice: 187021, 11905, 187020, and 11906.

All existing orders will be cancelled.

We appreciate and value our business relationship and look forward to your continued support of our brands and products. Please contact your sales representative if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,

Sue Cupero

Vice President, Sales

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.

I purchased a Shield 1.0 model myself shortly after they were released as one of my first carry pistols and still own it today. Even though the pistol has seen a fair bit of abuse and wear, it’s still going strong. Although I completely understand the reasons behind why the original Shield is being discontinued, I can’t help but be a bit saddened by the news. However, I’m grateful that Smith & Wesson gave us a great replacement before retiring the original.