Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation

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Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (SWHC) is the parent company of subsidiary Smith & Wesson Corp. (S&W), the United State’s largest handgun manufacturer (Answers.com). SWHC is a diverse global aerospace and defense industry business that overcame frequent obstacles in attaining success. In addition to producing firearms SWHC offers metal processing services, and professional training to law enforcement agencies at Smith & Wesson Academy (BusinessWeek).

S&W evolved from the company founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson, the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company. In 1856 Smith, and Wesson, left Volcanic to start a new company based on their previously established patent for a center-fire revolver and associated cartridge. Smith & Wesson, with the start of The Civil War five years later, realized considerably increased demand for their products. (Wikipedia).

US military adoption of S&W products prompted a labor force expansion from 25 to 600 employees (Answers.com). As the war abated, arms demand plummeted. S&W responded by expanding globally, exhibiting their product line at the international exhibition in Paris in 1867 (Answers.com). After the exhibition many European, South American, and Asian countries became customers, “[T]he Russian government alone placed an order for 200,000 revolvers” (Answers.com).

Despite S&W’s increasing success Smith retired in 1873, selling his interest in the company, and dying heirless twenty years later. Wesson remained as lone principal for a decade until joined by his two sons as partners, in 1883 (Answers.com).

In 1887 Wesson secured a patent for a handgun designed to prevent unintentional firing, introducing the arm in 1889. The gun, the .38 Military & Police revolver became the...

... middle of paper ...

...most current, an ERISA class action suit resulting from charges SWHC allegedly violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. From its humble beginning SWHC has evolved into a profitable conglomerate, despite its incessant legal and ethical tribulations, embodying both the virtues and the failings of corporate America.

Works Cited

Answers.com. 11 May 2010 .

BusinessWeek. 12 May 2010 .

China Analyst. 30 April 2010. 11 May 2010 .

Smith & Wesson Corporate. 31 January 2010. 19 May 2010 .

The White House Office of the Press Secretary. 17 March 2000. 19 May 2010 .

Wikipedia. 7 May 2010. 11 May 2010 .

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