Smith & Wesson Smith & Wesson Smith & Wesson (S&W) is an American manufacturer of firearms, ammunition and restraints. The corporate headquarters are in Springfield, Massachusetts. Smith & Wesson was founded in 1852 and after various corporate changes is now a unit of American Outdoor Brands Corporation. 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 was purchased by Oliver Winchester. Smith left the company and
Smith & Wesson Model 4506 Smith & Wesson Model 4516: Compact version with a 3 " barrel on a smaller frame accepting 7 round single column magazines. Smith & Wesson Model 4546: Double-action-only version of the 4506 with a rounded, stubby hammer. Only produced in 1992. Smith & Wesson Model 4563: Midsize version with a 4" barrel on a full-size alloy frame. Smith & Wesson Model 4566: Midsize version with a 4" barrel on a full-size steel frame, the 4566 was formerly the issued sidearm of the New Hampshire State Police. Current issue (June 2015) with West Virginia State Police, in DAO (Double-Action-Only; TSW version),