Well, if you are going to put a safety on it (the military requires it for guns submitted for the new trials), let's set it up so that you can work the action with the safety engaged. Way cool. |
Yes, there will be a .45 M&P. It's being made, and if you look
closely, you'll that this one is different. How about a manual
safety, in the style of a 1911? |
The M&P Compact - this one in 9mm. They are cranking out this little
sweetie. |
Here is what $80 million of equipment looks like! Row after row after row of seven-axis CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines, making guns to tolerances which were unthinkable in the "good old days." Smith used to buy Bar-Sto barrels for its Performance Center guns -- to get the needed accuracy. Now, the
production barrels made with CNC machines are more accurate than
"custom" barrels. These are the barrels everyone gets now. |
Yes, these are stamped with the Smith & Wesson name. Note the nice
wood and finish. They tell me the bluing will be even better on
production guns. |
Not a lot of engraving on the Elite Gold, Grade 1, but it's done tastefully, in my eyes. |
Just another look at the 20-gauge double. The safety is a non-
automatic (very nice), with no barrel selector (fine with me), and
everything about it is trim. |
It's hard to see in this photo, but the action is rounded, and it feels great in the hand. |
Nice, trim action on the 20-gauge double gun. This pre-production
gun has cyanide color case hardening, but the production guns will
have the richer bone charcoal variety. |
Another goodie I found at Smith. How about the M&P pistol with a
suppressor and cool coil cord rubber bungie thingie? Makes me want to watch "The Unit" again. |
This is how the Smith & Wesson plant used to look. Heck, it's how
ALL gun factories used to look. This area still is used for a few
special things, but this old stuff is being replaced with modern, expensive, CNC machines. |
A look at the bottom of the Smith & Wesson over/under shotgun. Kind
of a rounded bottom to the action. Should be great when holding in
one hand, chasing pheasants. |
Pardon the fingerprints. This was quick and dirty photography with a
slim digital camera. This is the action of the O/U. |
