Live Free Arms (LF Arms) announced a pair of new magazine release buttons for the Smith & Wesson M&P line of pistols. Â One release is a standard length, while the second is an extended length release button.
The LF Arms release buttons are machined metal – not plastic – and have a Melonite finish. Â MSRP is $26.95 for either button. Â The buttons will fit all of the M&P pistols except the Shield and Bodyguard models.
Fresh off record breaking profits in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, Smith & Wesson is looking to the future, reducing operating costs and gearing up for increased production of the M&P pistol line.
According to a press release from Smith & Wesson, Q1-2013 (ending August 31, 2012) was quite good for the company with record net sales and profits plus a reduction in operating costs.
Smith & Wesson announced a record quarter and record year for sales and income. Â Here are the highlights:
For anyone who tracks Apple stock, these numbers seem anemic, but for Smith & Wesson, they are very good indeed.
According to a Smith & Wesson press release, these records were driven largely because of the popularity of the M&P line of pistols and rifles. Â The M&P continues to nibble away at Glock’s share of the law enforcement market, and more and more consumers are flocking to the guns. Â Read a few of the popular gun blogs out there and you’ll see that everyone is drinking to Kool-Aid.
Smith & Wesson is launching a new offensive in an effort to expand the M&P pistol line’s market share according to recently released documents. Â New advertising and new guns are a significant part of the company’s new marketing push.
In an PowerPoint presentation dated February 2012, Smith & Wesson lists as their “Major Focus” the growth of the M&P pistol’s market share. Â Part of their growth strategy includes “increased consumer advertising” and “increasing capacity to satisfy growing orders.”
An example of the increased advertising in shown on the right. Â This is a S&W ad from the current issue of American Cop magazine. Â The full page advertisement highlights many of the features that both individual shooters and law enforcement agencies would be interested in.
Additionally, according to the presentation, Smith & Wesson will increase support of their dealers with “strong merchandising materials,” training for armorers and something they call the “On-The-Hip Program.”
Smith & Wesson announced a new AR-style pistol chambered in .22 LR: the M&P15-22P. The M&P 15-22P is a polymer framed semi-auto pistol based on the S&W M&P 15-22 rifles.
The new S&W handgun has a 6″ carbon steel barrel with a 1:15 twist, and weighs 51 ounces (unloaded). The detachable magazine holds 25 rounds of .22LR ammunition.  This is the same standard capacity magazine that is used in the M&P15-22 rifle.  So, if you have one of those, you can swap mags between the two guns.
The M&P 15-22P features a full-length optics rail along the top of the gun, and a mini-quad rail for lasers, lights, can openers and Romulan cloaking devices. A swivel point attachment is also included for attaching a single point sling.