SWB Smith & Wesson Holding Corp

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (AMEX:SWB), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 154-year old global provider of products and services for safety, security, protection and sport, today announced that it has agreed to support the Combat Weapons Team of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The Company will provide the team with donated pistols and will support future competitive shooting events. "There is a natural fit between the Military Academy at West Point and Smith & Wesson, both organizations with deep roots in American history. In addition, Smith & Wesson has a rich history of supporting military academies and competitive shooting teams throughout our 154 years of operation," said Ernest Langdon, Smith & Wesson's Director of Law Enforcement and Military Sales. "Our support of the West Point Combat Weapons Team reflects our continuing commitment to developing our country's future leaders. It also allows us to give these highly skilled competitors an opportunity to experience, early in their careers, the quality and craftsmanship that we build into our standard and custom pistols." Smith & Wesson will donate 45 firearms to the cadets of the Combat Weapons Team. The handguns consist of 10 custom Performance Center 1911 pistols chambered in .45 ACP along with 35 9mm Military & Police (M&P) polymer pistols. In addition, on April 7-9, 2006, the Smith & Wesson Academy in Springfield, Massachusetts will host the Joint Service Academy Weapons Competition, at which the West Point Combat Weapons Team will compete against both the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Naval Academy. The Combat Weapons Team trains cadets in the tactics, techniques and protocols of military units, domestic police forces, government agencies, and civilian security services to create a comprehensive foundation of skills in urban warfare and to promote creative solutions to the problems involved in close quarters battle. Throughout each school year, the Combat Weapons Team competes in five to ten practical shooting events across the United States. Lisa Strine, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the Association of Graduates, USMA was delighted to work with Smith and Wesson to secure this gift for the Combat Weapons Team. "Currently, annual donations are the life-blood of clubs like the Combat Weapons Team; but the funds available do not come close to meeting their annual needs. The result is that cadets must pay out-of-pocket expenses in order to participate with the team. This donation will allow Major Brandon Raymond, the Officer-in-Charge of the team, to minimize these out of pocket expenses. We truly appreciate this generous gift from Smith and Wesson. I look forward to continuing our relationship with them." About Smith & Wesson Smith & Wesson 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/. Liz Sharp, VP Investor Relations Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (413) 747-3304 Contact: Gary Giudice Blue Heron Communications (800) 654-3766 DATASOURCE: Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation CONTACT: Liz Sharp, VP Investor Relations of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, +1-413-747-3304, ; or Gary Giudice of Blue Heron Communications, +1-800-654-3766, , for Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation Web site: http://www.smith-wesson.com/

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