SWB Smith & Wesson Holding Corp

Innovative Pistol Delivers Safety, Durability, Versatility SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (AMEX:SWB), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 153-year old global provider of products and services for safety, security, protection and sport, today announced that it has begun shipping the company's new Military & Police (M&P) Series of advanced-design polymer pistols, a new product line with performance, safety and durability features engineered to the exacting standards of global military and police personnel. The Company began shipments today of the M&P40, the first pistol in the series. The M&P40 is currently available in a full-size model, with a compact model scheduled to follow. The full-size pistol is chambered in .40 S&W ammunition, with a capacity of 15 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. Future products in the M&P series are scheduled to include a 9mm pistol and a .357 pistol. Both the 9mm and the .357 will also be available in compact models. By incorporating a number of unique features, the M&P pistols offer versatility in usage along with enhanced durability and safety. "We believe the M&P series sets a new global standard for service pistols," said Tom Taylor, Smith & Wesson's Vice President of Marketing. "By incorporating input and feedback throughout the design-cycle from more than a dozen law enforcement and military organizations, we have specifically engineered the M&P to become the pistol of choice for global law enforcement and military personnel. Its features provide a superior level of performance and safety, both of which are critical in the day-to-day duties of law enforcement and military professionals. Feedback we have received so far indicates that the feature-rich M&P 40 provides them with that superior capability." The M&P Pistol Series offers distinctive features, including a polymer, reinforced frame and stainless steel barrel and slide for durability; a passive trigger safety designed to prevent the pistol from firing if dropped; and a unique trigger mechanism, which eliminates the need to press the trigger in order to disassemble the firearm. A loaded chamber indicator is located on top of the slide. An internal locking system is a standard feature, but is optional for law enforcement and military agencies. The pistol's innovative ergonomic design is enhanced with three interchangeable grip sizes, allowing the user to customize grips. The firearm also features an ambidextrous slide stop and magazine release, as well as an enlarged trigger guard designed to accommodate gloves. A universal Picatinny style equipment rail allows the addition of tactical lights and lasers. Duty holsters for the M&P series are also available. The Smith & Wesson lifetime service policy is standard with each pistol. A comprehensive M&P marketing program, launched in August, included a DVD-based sales/training program, banners, counter displays and materials promoting user safety and product knowledge. Initial M&P40 shipments are slated for delivery to military and law enforcement agencies for test and evaluation purposes, as well as shipments scheduled to support the company's sporting goods distribution channel. About Smith & Wesson Smith & Wesson Corp. is a global provider of products and services for the safety, security, protection and sport markets. The company manufactures firearms and handcuffs and is home to America's longest-running firearms training facilities for America's public servants. The company also markets a variety of products for sport shooters including firearm safety/security devices, shooter protective gear, knives, apparel, footwear and other accessory lines. The Company is based in Springfield, Mass., with manufacturing facilities in Springfield and Houlton, Maine. Contact (800) 331-0852 or log on to http://www.smith-wesson.com/. Certain statements contained in this document may be deemed to be forward-looking statements under federal securities laws, and Smith & Wesson intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements include the engineering, features, performance, capabilities, durability, and safety of the M&P series of pistols; the feedback received by the Company with respect to its M&P series of pistols; the ability of the M&P series of pistols to set a new standard in the firearms industry; and the Company's plans to introduce additional models within the M&P pistol series. The Company cautions that these statements are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Such factors include the acceptance of the M&P series of pistols by military and police personnel and other customers; the performance, capabilities, durability, and safety of the M&P series of pistols in actual use; reviews of the M&P series of pistols by the media and industry publications; the Company's ability to manufacture M&P pistols in accordance with its intended features and performance; as well as other risks as identified from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and Annual Reports on Form 10-K. Contact: Elizabeth Sharp VP, Investor Relations 480-949-9700 x.115 DATASOURCE: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. CONTACT: Elizabeth Sharp, VP, Investor Relations of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., +1-480-949-9700, ext. 115, Web site: http://www.smith-wesson.com/

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