What Is M&P Smith and Wesson: History and Evolution

There are hundreds of gun manufacturers worldwide. Some are lesser known, some are more popular, and some have become a synonym for guns.

One such is the famous Smith & Wesson. Founded in 1852 by inventors Horace Smith, and Daniel B. Wesson, the company has gone on to become a staple of the firearms industry.

Smith & Wesson guns are very recognizable for gun enthusiasts, but they are also known by people who have never used a gun.

Today, we will be talking about one specific line of guns – the M&P by Smith & Wesson. Stay tuned as we mark the most significant improvements throughout its history.

What Is M&P by Smith and Wesson?

First off, we know that you are wondering what M&P stands for. M&P means Military and Police.

The M&P Smith & Wesson is a semi-automatic pistol with a polymer frame, short recoil operation, and a Browning-type locking system.

It is used by military and police forces around the world, including the USA, Canada, Belgium, Australia, India, and Pakistan. It is also commercially available so anyone can purchase it.

History of the M&P Pistol

.38 M&P (Model 10)

The very first M&P was introduced way back in 1899. The .38 Military & Police, known today as the Model 10, was introduced alongside the .38 S&W Special cartridge. To this day, over six million units have been produced.

.357 Magnum

In 1935, Smith and Wesson police revolvers continued to evolve with the new .357 Magnum, based on the .38 Special cartridge. At the time, it was labeled as “the world’s best revolver”, and is still being produced to this day.

Apart from law enforcement, the .357 Magnum is also excellent for hunting big game as well as self-defense.

Interesting fact: Did you know that Smith & Wesson is responsible for the development of many of today’s most popular cartridges? These include .22 Short, .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32-44, .38 S&W, .38-44 S&W, .38 S&W Special, .357 S&W Mag., .40 S&W, .41 Mag., .44 American, .44 Russian, .44 S&W Special, .45 S&W Schofield, .460 S&W Mag. and .500 S&W Mag.

The Victory

The Victory M&P model was chambered in .38 Special and had a 4-inch barrel. It was released in 1942 specially for the United States Women’s Naval Reserve, better known as WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service).

They were tasked with carrying valuable, confidential messages between various section units. The Victory was also used by United States Navy cadets and was usually carried in a leather shoulder or hip holster.

Over 800,000 of this model were used by the Allies during World War II. After that, the M&P began to resemble more of what we know today.

Modern Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols

M&P Pistol Series

In 2005, Smith & Wesson officially launched their M&P Pistol Series – a new line of polymer pistols designed for law enforcement officials. In just a year, over 100 police departments equipped themselves with M&P pistols.

Nowadays, this line incorporates different firearms such as polymer-framed, and striker-fired pistols, revolvers, and some rifles.

To be more exact, these are the guns included in the S&W M&P Pistol line:

M&P 5.7 FDE
M&P 22 Magnum with Thumb Safety
M&P9 Pro Series
M&P40 Pro Series
M&P45 Full Size
M&P9c (Compact, 3.5-inch barrel)
M&P9L (5.0-inch barrel)
M&P9 (Full-Size, 4.25-inch barrel)
M&P45c (Compact, 4.0-inch barrel)

M&P M2.0

The second generation of M&P pistols, known as the M&P M2.0, aimed to be an enhanced version of the first generation. These are very versatile firearms, well suited for self-defense, law enforcement, and sports shooting alike.

Here are some of the guns in the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0:

M&P M2.0 45 Full-Size (4.6-inch barrel)
M&P M2.0 9
M&P M2.0 9L
M&P M2.0 Metal
M&P M2.0 40c
M&P M2.0 9c (Compact, barrel length varies)
M&P 10mm M2.0 Full-Size (4.6-inch barrel)

M&P Shield

Launched in 2013, the M&P Shield is another variant of the M&P line. These guns are made to be suitable for concealed carry and thus are more compact than the previous ones, so they are easier to carry with you.

Furthermore, designs like the M&P Shield EZ 9mm, and M&P 380 Shield EZ were specially made for shooters with weaker hands or arthritis.

M&P Shield are:

M&P M2.0 Shield
M&P Shield EZ 9mm
M&P 380 Shield EZ
M&P Shield Plus

In Conclusion

Hopefully, after reading this article, you will all know a little more about what an M&P Smith and Wesson is, and how much of an important role they have played in the history of our country.

Have you ever owned a Smith & Wesson? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

At Arms Directory, we are all very excited about Smith & Wesson guns, and will most definitely continue to carry their new models <- Remove, we don’t sell or carry weapons.

Naturally, we will not only keep you up to date about everything Smith & Wesson, but also about everything firearms-related, so keep visiting our blog regularly.

Before we go, just a quick reminder that you can join over 72,000 businesses, and supercharge your growth by claiming your business on our ever-growing platform.

What Is M&P Smith and Wesson: History and Evolution

What Is M&P by Smith and Wesson?