Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation,
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.: Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 155-year old company in the global business of safety, security, protection and sport, announced today that it is has received an order for the company's M&P45 pistols from the New Hampshire Department of Safety. The contract calls for a total of 500 of the company's Military & Police (M&P) pistols chambered in .45 ACP to be issued to officers in the New Hampshire State Police and Highway Patrol divisions. The Smith & Wesson M&P45 pistols will replace competitive duty weapons currently used by the agency.
Officials at the New Hampshire Division of State Police and Highway Patrol indicated that the M&P45 pistol will provide their officers with several valuable features including interchangeable grip sizes, ambidextrous controls and proven safety features. The agency added that the M&P45's enhanced ergonomics, magazine disconnect safety, and ease of maintenance, were primary factors in their decision. The Smith & Wesson M&P45 pistol was selected by a committee representing multiple units of the New Hampshire State Police.
“After a close evaluation, it was evident that the M&P45 pistol provided our officers with the best combination of features for use in duty,” said Colonel Fredrick Booth, Division Director of the New Hampshire State Police. “Along with its consistent reliability, the M&P45 proved to be very accurate and its unique internal design aided in reduced recoil and improved shootability. As we begin our transition to the Smith & Wesson polymer pistols, we are confident that the M&P45 will prove to be a valued asset to our officers.”
“We are very pleased to be working with the men and women of the New Hampshire Department of Safety,” said Leland Nichols, President and Chief Operating Officer of Smith & Wesson Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation. “Since we first debuted the M&P45 in February 2007, the pistol has been selected by numerous law enforcement agencies and has won various industry awards. We believe that the M&P45, along with the other models in the M&P Series, offers law enforcement and military professionals an ideal choice when selecting a duty firearm.”
The M&P45 is manufactured with a traditional black or dark earth brown frame and is available with or without a frame-mounted ambidextrous thumb safety. With an empty weight of 29.6 ounces, the polymer pistol features a 4.5-inch barrel with an overall length of 8.05 inches. Providing one of the smallest grip sizes available on any .45 ACP pistol, the M&P45 comes standard with three interchangeable grips, allowing the user to customize the pistol to their preferred hand size. The M&P45 utilizes a steel dovetail mount front sight and a steel Novak® Lo-Mount carry rear sight. Tritium sights are available for low light conditions and a universal Picatinny-style equipment rail allows for tactical lights and lasers. The new frame-mounted ambidextrous thumb safety acts as a passive safety device allowing the slide to be pulled toward the rear, clearing the firearm without disengaging the safety. The M&P45 also incorporates a specially designed lanyard attachment for use by military and police.
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, a global leader in safety, security, protection and sport, is parent company to Smith & Wesson Corp., one of the world's largest manufacturers of quality firearms and firearm safety/security products and parent company to Thompson/Center Arms, Inc., a premier designer and manufacturer of premium hunting rifles, black powder rifles, interchangeable firearms systems and accessories under the Thompson/Center brand. Smith & Wesson licenses shooter protection, knives, apparel, and other accessory lines. Smith & Wesson is based in Springfield, Massachusetts with manufacturing facilities in Springfield, Houlton, Maine, and Rochester, New Hampshire. The Smith & Wesson Academy is America's longest running firearms training facility for law enforcement, military and security professionals.
