59-551: Dan or Daniel Wesson may refer to: Daniel B. Wesson (1825–1906), inventor and co-founder of Smith & Wesson firearms Daniel B. Wesson II (1916–1978), his great-grandson, inventor and founder of Dan Wesson Firearms Dan Wesson Firearms , a firearms manufacturer in the United States Dan Wesson M1911 ACP pistol , a series of model 1911 semi-automatic pistols Topics referred to by
118-422: A 2008 conference call with investors. On November 7, 2016, Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation changed its name to American Outdoor Brands Corporation . The next years saw increased scrutiny by some due to the use of its firearms in mass shootings such as the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting , in which a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style rifle , the semi-automatic M&P15 was used. The same weapon
177-459: A caliber other than 5.56 NATO. The M&P15R is a standard AR-15 rifle chambered for the 5.45×39mm cartridge. In 2009, it released the M&;P15-22, chambered for .22 Long Rifle. Smith & Wesson manufactured a line of bolt-action rifles called the i-Bolt. These synthetic-stock rifles were available in .25-06 , .270 Win , or .30-06 caliber. In February 2023, Smith & Wesson introduced
236-591: A firearm that is true to the M1911 design, with additions that would normally be considered "custom", with a price similar to equivalent designs from other manufacturers. Smith & Wesson's Performance Center produces the top-of-the-line hand fitted competition version knowns as the P.C. 1911. While most 1911s run around 38 to 39 ounces (1,100 to 1,100 g), the PC 1911 is heavier, at approximately 41 ounces (1,200 g). The full-length guide rod adds some weight, and so does
295-727: A four-year illness, he succumbed to "...heart failure, superinduced by neuritis ." His wife had died the month prior. The Wessons are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Springfield. Wesson, a strong advocate of homeopathy , had funded a new building for the Hampden Homeopathic Hospital in Springfield through a donation of $ 100,000 in 1904. The hospital, later known as Wesson Memorial Hospital, switched from homeopathy to modern-day medicine in 1923, and became part of Baystate Medical Center through
354-512: A fraction of the US$ 112 ;million originally paid by Tomkins. Saf-T-Hammer assumed US$ 30 million in debt, bringing the total purchase price to US$ 45 million. Saf-T-Hammer, a manufacturer of firearms locks and other safety products, purchased the company with the intention of incorporating its line of security products into all Smith & Wesson firearms in compliance with the 2000 agreement. The acquisition of Smith & Wesson
413-654: A function hall. It was again put up for sale in January 2014, and closed to the public in December 2014. Due to lack of a buyer, it was scheduled to be demolished in 2016. However, the town of Northborough voted in April 2016 to purchase it. The town approved funds to purchase the property at 167 Main Street for $ 1.75 million, plus additional funding for future development, with a total allocation of $ 2.4 million. The house
472-525: A home there. Wesson’s primary home was located at 50 Maple Street in Springfield and was the city’s most extravagant mansion. Wesson hired New York architect Bruce Price to design his residence in the early 1890s. The design was published in The American Architect and Building News in 1893. The house was three and a half stories in height and constructed of pink granite with a red slate roof and bronze cresting and finials. Stylistically, it
531-605: A hybrid between the P99 and the Sigma series. In 2005, Smith & Wesson debuted a new polymer-framed pistol intended for the law enforcement market. Dubbed the M&;P (for Military and Police), its name was meant to evoke S&W's history as the firearm of choice for law enforcement agencies through its previous lineup of M&P revolvers. The M&P is a completely new design with no parts interchangeable with any other pistol including
590-452: A large frame revolver in heavier calibers ( .44 S&W American ). The U.S. Army adopted this new design, known as the Smith & Wesson Model 3 , as the first cartridge-firing revolver in U.S. service. In 1899, Smith & Wesson introduced its most widely used revolver, the .38 Military & Police (also known as the Smith & Wesson Model 10 ). With over 6 million produced, it became
649-410: A merger in 1976. Grandson Douglas B. Wesson worked in the family business and helped create the .357 Magnum in the 1930s. Great-grandson Daniel B. Wesson II followed the family tradition, working in the family business for 30 years and then founding his own company, which later became known as Dan Wesson Firearms . Wesson was involved in the construction of 13 houses. One that is still standing
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#1732797260451708-521: A more powerful handgun for law enforcement officers. The Registered Magnum started the "Magnum Era" of handguns . In 1957, when S&W started issuing model numbers to its revolvers, the revolver that had started as the Registered (and later the postwar .357 Magnum) became the Model 27. The high point was in 1955, when the company created the Smith & Wesson Model 29 chambered in .44 Magnum , after
767-504: A new cartridge design more suitable than the .22 Short that it had been using. At the same time, the company's design was being infringed upon by other manufacturers, which led to numerous lawsuits filed by Rollin White . In many of these instances, part of the restitution came in the form of the offender being forced to stamp "Manufactured for Smith & Wesson" on the revolvers in question. White's vigorous defense of his patent caused
826-677: A problem for arms makers in the United States at the time, as they could not manufacture cartridge revolvers. At the war's end, the U.S. Government charged White with causing the retardation of arms development in America. Demand for revolvers declined at the close of the Civil War, so Smith & Wesson focused on developing arms suitable for use on the American frontier. In 1870, the company switched focus from pocket-sized revolvers to
885-399: A result of the anticipated consumer boycott. The agreement stated all authorized dealers and distributors of Smith & Wesson's products had to abide by a "code of conduct" to eliminate the sale of firearms to prohibited persons, and dealers had to agree to not allow children under 18 (without an adult present) access to gun shops or sections of stores that contained firearms. In response,
944-585: A train accident on the Central Vermont Railway . Walter and Joseph became executives at Smith & Wesson. In 1854, Daniel B. Wesson partnered with Horace Smith and Courtlandt Palmer to develop a lever-action pistol and the first repeating rifle —the Volcanic. Production was in the shop of Horace Smith in Norwich, Connecticut . Originally using the name "Smith & Wesson Company",
1003-744: Is an American firearm manufacturer headquartered in Maryville, Tennessee , United States. Smith & Wesson was founded by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson as the "Smith & Wesson Revolver Company" in 1856, after their previous company, also called the "Smith & Wesson Company" and later renamed as " Volcanic Repeating Arms ", was sold to Oliver Winchester and became the Winchester Repeating Arms Company . The modern Smith & Wesson had been previously owned by Bangor Punta and Tomkins plc before being acquired by Saf-T-Hammer Corporation in 2001. Smith & Wesson
1062-517: Is arguably the most famous revolver in the world, the .38 Military & Police (renamed the Model 10 in 1957). This revolver has been in continual production since that year and has been used by virtually every police agency and military force around the world. Wesson remained active in the firm until his death. Wesson died at his home in Springfield, Massachusetts , on August 4, 1906—following
1121-400: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Daniel B. Wesson Daniel Baird Wesson (May 18, 1825 – August 4, 1906) was an American inventor and firearms designer. He helped develop several influential firearm designs over the course of his life; he and Horace Smith were the co-founders of two companies named "Smith & Wesson",
1180-654: Is known locally, and was operated as a restaurant and function hall, under the name "White Cliffs". The origin of the name has been attributed to the White Cliffs of Dover area in England. Either due to Wesson having a painting of those chalk cliffs that he placed over the mantle that faced the house's main entrance, or due to an Irish waitress who worked at the restaurant in its early years singing " The White Cliffs of Dover " while doing her prep work. Smith %26 Wesson Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. ( S&W )
1239-463: Is made by Smith & Wesson in the United States. Subcompact versions are available in 9×19mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Smith & Wesson introduced the SD VE series in 2012 to remake and improve the canceled Smith & Wesson SD . The SD VE design has an improved self-defense trigger and a comfortable, ergonomic, textured grip. The SD VE also features an improved stainless steel barrel and slide that
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#17327972604511298-785: Is now known as the Grand Army of the Republic Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts , which was built for his daughter Sarah and was designed by Calvert Vaux . It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Wesson also helped fund construction of the French Congregational Church and South Congregational Church , both in Springfield, Massachusetts. Wesson lived and worked in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, building hospitals and
1357-752: The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) organised a campaign over the issue of smart guns . Thousands of retailers and tens of thousands of firearms consumers boycotted Smith & Wesson. CEO Ed Schultz, who negotiated the deal, was forced out in September of that year. By December 2000, the company's stock price was 19 cents per share. Smith & Wesson dropped its smart gun plans after nearly being driven out of business. On May 11, 2001, Saf-T-Hammer Corporation acquired Smith & Wesson Corp. from Tomkins plc for US$ 15 million,
1416-503: The P99 line of pistols. Branded as the SW99 , the pistol is available in several calibers, including 9 mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, and in both full size and compact variations. Under the terms of the agreement, Walther produced the frames, and Smith & Wesson produced the slide and barrel. The pistol has several cosmetic differences from the original Walther design and strongly resembles
1475-487: The revolver was set to expire in 1856, Wesson began developing a prototype for a cartridge revolver. His research pointed out that a former Colt employee named Rollin White held the patent for a "bored-through" cylinder, a component he would need for his invention. Wesson reconnected with Smith, and the two partners approached White to manufacture a newly designed revolver-and-cartridge combination. After Wesson left Volcanic Repeating Arms in 1856, he rejoined Smith to form
1534-441: The slide and barrel use either stainless steel or carbon steel . In 1996, Smith & Wesson updated the Sigma by adding a compact model with a shortened barrel (from 4 1 ⁄ 2 to 4 inches) and again, in 1999, modified the series by changing the grip by adding checkering and adding an integral accessory rail for lights and laser targeting devices. S&W reached an agreement with Walther to produce variations of
1593-525: The " Smith & Wesson Revolver Company" upon obtaining the licensing of the Rollin White "rear loading cylinder" patent. In 1856, Smith & Wesson began to produce a small revolver designed to fire the rimfire cartridge they had patented in August 1854. This revolver was the first successful fully self-contained cartridge revolver available in the world. Smith & Wesson secured patents for
1652-673: The 1840s) in Northborough, Massachusetts . Wesson was married to Cynthia Maria Hawes, May 26, 1847, in Thompson, Connecticut . Hawes' father objected to the couple's engagement fearing that Wesson was a "mere gunsmith" with no future, forcing the couple to elope. Wesson's salary at Smith & Wesson amounted to over $ 160,000 a year by 1865. The couple had one daughter and three sons: Sarah Jeannette Wesson (1848–1927); Walter Herbert Wesson (1850–1921); Frank Luther Wesson (1853–1887); and Joseph Hawes Wesson (1859–1920). Frank died in
1711-539: The Army dropped its search and Smith & Wesson introduced its pistol to the civilian shooting market as the Model 39. The Model 39 would come to be known as a first-generation pistol. Since the Model 39 debuted, Smith & Wesson continuously developed this design into its third-generation pistols, which have now been discontinued. The first-generation models use a 2-digit model number, the second generation use 3 digits, and third-generation models use 4 digits. Along with
1770-557: The M&P apart from both the Sigma and the popular Glock pistols. The M&P is available in 9×19mm , .40 S&W , 5.7x28mm , .22 WMR , and .357 SIG . Also, a .22 LR M&P was developed with Carl Walther and is made in Germany. A .45 ACP model was released in early 2007, after making its debut at the SHOT Show . In addition, compact versions are available in .22LR, 9×19mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .45 ACP. The .22LR Compact
1829-529: The M&P15 and the M&P15T. The two are basically the same rifle, chambered in 5.56 NATO , with the T model featuring folding sights and a four-sided accessories rail. These rifles were first produced by Stag Arms but marketed under the Smith & Wesson name. Currently Smith & Wesson makes the lower receiver in-house while the barrel is supplied by Thompson/Center , a S&W company. In May 2008, Smith & Wesson introduced its first AR-variant rifle in
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1888-628: The M1911's well-known dimensions, operation, and feel while adding a variety of modern touches. Updates to the design include serration at the front of the slide for easier operation and disassembly, a high "beaver-tail" grip safety , external extractor, lighter weight hammer and trigger, as well as updated internal safeties to prevent accidental discharges if dropped. S&W 1911s are available with black finished carbon steel slides and frames or bead blasted stainless slides and frames. They are available with aluminium frames alloyed with scandium in either natural or black finishes. These updates have resulted in
1947-467: The S.D. did not include. The Smith & Wesson SD VE is available in 9×19mm and .40 S&W calibers in either a standard-capacity version (16+1-round capacity for SD9 VE and 14+1 for SD40 VE) or the low-capacity version (10+1-round capacity for both calibers.) In 2003, Smith & Wesson introduced their variation of the classic M1911 .45 ACP semi-automatic handgun, the SW1911. This firearm retains
2006-549: The Sigma series of recoil-operated , locked-breech semi-auto pistols in 1994 with the Sigma SW40F, followed by the Sigma SW9F 9 mm, which included a 17-shot magazine. Glock initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Smith & Wesson. The latter paid an undisclosed amount to settle the case and for the right to continue producing models in the Sigma line. The gun frame is manufactured from polymer , while
2065-465: The Sigma. The new design not only looks completely different from the Sigma but feels completely different with 3 different backstraps supplied with each M&P. Many of the ergonomic study elements that had been incorporated into the Sigma and the SW99 were brought over to the M&P. The improved trigger weight and feel, and unique takedown method (not requiring a dry pull of the trigger) were meant to set
2124-457: The Smith & Wesson Revolver Company, which would become the modern Smith & Wesson company. Rather than make White a partner in their company, Smith & Wesson paid him a royalty of $ 0.25 on every revolver they made. This arrangement left White responsible for defending his patent, which eventually led to his financial ruin, while it was very advantageous for Smith & Wesson. Smith & Wesson's revolvers came into popular demand with
2183-539: The acquisition by Saf-T-Hammer. The mechanism is relatively unobtrusive, is activated with a special key, and renders the firearm inoperable. Most gun enthusiasts prefer to keep their gun unlocked. In 1953 the U.S. Army was looking for a pistol to replace the Colt 1911A1 . To obtain a bid from the U.S. Government, Smith & Wesson began working on a design similar to the German Walther P38 . A year later
2242-527: The add-on magazine well. During the early years of WW2, Smith & Wesson manufactured batches of the Model 1940 Light Rifle under request from the British Government. It turned out to be a spectacular failure. In January 2006, Smith & Wesson reentered the rifle market with its M&P15 series of rifles based on the AR-15 . Unveiled at SHOT Show 2006, the rifle debuted in two varieties:
2301-629: The building on February 20, 1966. Wesson had apprenticed in Northborough, Massachusetts , at his brother Edwin's gunsmith shop, and met his future wife there. The business moved to Hartford, Connecticut , in 1848. Later, Wesson built a summer home in Northborough on land partially belonging to his wife's family, which was completed in 1886 a cost of approximately $ 300,000. It is an example of shingle style architecture . The house had 17 fireplaces and 32 rooms, along with elaborate carvings, stained glass windows, and gas-lit chandeliers. Water for
2360-549: The company declined by 41 percent In June 1987, Tomkins plc paid $ 112.5 million to purchase Smith & Wesson. Tomkins modernized the production equipment and instituted additional testing, which significantly increased product quality. However, new gun sales in the United States lagged in the 1990s, some of which were attributed to the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994. There were also numerous city and state lawsuits against Smith & Wesson. After
2419-471: The first digit of 6 indicated stainless steel. For most of the third-generation models, the first two digits identified the caliber (except for 59/69 for 9mm), the last two digits were for the action style and the material, respectively. Action style numbers were typically 0 for the standard double/single-action and 4 for double-action-only. Material numbers were commonly 3 for aluminium, 4 for blued steel, and 6 for stainless steel. Smith & Wesson introduced
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2478-545: The first of which was eventually reorganized into the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and the latter of which became the modern Smith & Wesson . Daniel Baird Wesson was the son of Rufus and Betsey (Baird) Wesson. Daniel's father was a farmer and manufacturer of wooden plows and Daniel worked on his father's farm and attended public school until the age of eighteen, when he apprenticed himself to his brother Edwin Wesson (a leading manufacturer of target rifles and pistols in
2537-407: The house and grounds was sourced from a nearby pond, with a pumping station and cistern, fed by approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of pipe. After Wesson's death in 1906, the house stayed in the family for a few years then was sold in 1910, and subsequently went through multiple owners. It was used as a restaurant as far back as 1946, as a restaurant and function hall until 1985, and later just as
2596-461: The late 1970s, these profitable moves made Smith & Wesson "the envy of the industry" according to Business Week. Despite these advantages, Smith & Wesson's market share began declining in the 1980s. As the war on drugs intensified in the United States, police departments all across the country replaced their Smith & Wesson revolvers with European semiautomatics (such as Glock , SIG Sauer , and Beretta ). From 1982 to 1986, profits at
2655-568: The myriad smaller configurations, the mid-sized 4516, 457 , the Chiefs Special CS45, and the decocker equipped, 4546, 4566 and 4576, and the 45 TSW, the 4553, still being issued to the West Virginia State Troopers. For many of the second-generation models, the first digit identified the material used in the frame; thus the first digit of 4 indicated an alloy, the first digit of 5 indicated blued steel, and
2714-433: The name was changed to " Volcanic Repeating Arms Company" in 1855, with the addition of new investors, one of whom was Oliver Winchester . The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company obtained all rights for the Volcanic designs (both rifle and pistol versions were in production by this time) as well as the ammunition, from the Smith & Wesson Company. Wesson remained as plant manager for eight months before rejoining Smith to found
2773-471: The outbreak of the American Civil War , as soldiers from all ranks on both sides of the conflict made private purchases of the revolvers for self-defense . The orders for the Smith & Wesson Model 1 revolver outpaced the factory's production capabilities. In 1860, demand volume exceeded the production capacity, so Smith & Wesson expanded into a new facility and began experimenting with
2832-424: The revolver to prevent other manufacturers from producing a cartridge revolver – giving the young company a very lucrative business. At the age of 65, Smith retired from the company and sold his share of the business to Wesson, making him the sole owner of the firm. In the late 1800s the company introduced its line of hammerless revolvers, a style that is still produced. In 1899, Smith & Wesson introduced what
2891-550: The round's creator Elmer Keith had encouraged Smith & Wesson to develop a revolver for his new ammunition. The Dirty Harry movies made this gun a cultural icon two decades later. In 1965, the Wesson family sold its controlling interest in Smith & Wesson to Bangor Punta , a prominent American conglomerate. Over the next decade, Bangor Punta diversified the company's civilian sales to include related gun products (such as holsters ), as well as offering additional police equipment (such as handcuffs and breathalyzers ). By
2950-455: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Dan Wesson . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dan_Wesson&oldid=995566555 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Human name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
3009-403: The small .32 frame, J to the small .38 frame, K to the medium .38 frame, L to the medium large .38 and .44 Magnum frame, and N to the largest .44 Magnum type frame. In 2003, the even larger X frame was introduced for the .500 S&W Magnum . Most Smith & Wesson revolvers have been equipped with an internal locking mechanism since
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#17327972604513068-407: The standard sidearm of American police officers for much of the 20th century. An additional 1 million of these guns were made for the U.S. Military during World War II. The post-war periods in the 20th century were times of great innovation for the company. In 1935, Smith & Wesson released the .357 Registered Magnum, which was the first revolver chambered for .357 Magnum . It was designed as
3127-457: The stock ticker SWBI and American Outdoor Brands becoming a new publicly traded company on the NASDAQ as American Outdoor Brands, Inc. As of January 2022 , SWBI had a market value of around $ 880 million, with revenues a little over US$ 1 billion Smith & Wesson has produced revolvers over the years in several standard frame sizes . M refers to the small early Ladysmith frame, I to
3186-509: The success of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement , municipalities thought they might be able to succeed through tort law against the gun industry as well. On March 17, 2000, Smith & Wesson made an agreement with U.S. President Bill Clinton , under which it would implement changes in the design and distribution of its firearms, in return for "preferred buying program" to offset the loss of revenue as
3245-465: Was a unit of American Outdoor Brands Corporation from 2016 to 2020 until the company was spun out in 2020. Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson founded the Smith & Wesson Company in Norwich, Connecticut in 1852 to develop the Volcanic rifle . Smith developed a new Volcanic Cartridge , which he patented in 1854. The Smith & Wesson Company was renamed Volcanic Repeating Arms in 1855 and
3304-719: Was adapted from the French chateaux of the Renaissance. Completed in 1898, the house cost between $ 350,000 and $ 450,000. Following Wesson's death, the mansion was turned over to the Connecticut Valley Historical Society in 1911, contingent upon the society raising $ 100,000 for maintenance of the property, which they were unable to do. In 1915, it became the clubhouse for the Colony Club of Springfield, remaining as such until fire destroyed
3363-539: Was chiefly brokered by Saf-T-Hammer President Bob Scott, who had left Smith & Wesson in 1999 because of a disagreement with Tomkins' policies. After the purchase, Scott became the president of Smith & Wesson to guide the 157-year-old company back to its former standing in the market. On February 15, 2002, the name of the newly formed entity was changed to Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation. In 2006, Smith & Wesson refocused its marketing on big box retailers , according to Smith & Wesson CEO Mike Golden in
3422-504: Was purchased by Oliver Winchester . Smith left the company and returned to his native Springfield, Massachusetts , while Wesson stayed as plant manager with Volcanic Repeating Arms for eight months. Volcanic Repeating Arms was insolvent in late 1856, after which it was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857, and eventually as the Winchester Repeating Arms Company by 1866. As Samuel Colt 's patent on
3481-415: Was used in the 2015 San Bernardino attack , as well as the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting . In 2017, Smith & Wesson saw a severe contraction in its sales as units shipped to distributors and retailers declined 38.3%. The company was forced to lay off one-fourth of its manufacturing workforce. On August 24, 2020, American Outdoor Brands was spun-off from Smith & Wesson, with S&W retaining
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