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Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation
Profile of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, the 173-year-old firearms manufacturer.
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation
Smith & Wesson was founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson in Norwich, Connecticut, later moving to Springfield, Massachusetts. It became a publicly traded holding corporation in 2001, separating from the original operating partnership. The wealth originates from over a century of firearms manufacturing and sales. The company's strategy revolves around manufacturing handguns, long guns, and accessories for civilian, law enforcement, and military markets. It operates two primary facilities: the historic Springfield site and a newer plant in Maryville, Tennessee. Asset-class allocations are not disclosed publicly as it is an operating company. Known product lines include the M&P series, the Model 686 revolver, and the AR-15-style M&P15 rifle. Smith & Wesson employed approximately 2,100 people as of the 2025 proxy statement (per SEC filing, 2025). The company maintains an R&D arm focused on product innovation. In 2023, it moved its headquarters from Springfield to Maryville, Tennessee (per the firm, 2023). No philanthropic foundation or separate family-office structure is of public record. As a public company, Smith & Wesson is governed by a board elected by shareholders, not a family office. Its structural differentiator is its dual-class share structure — majority voting power is held by insiders, a legacy from the 2001 spinoff. This governance model insulates management from activist pressure, a rarity in the firearms industry.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1852
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Springfield
Corporate office
Springfield, MA, United States
Additional offices
Maryville, TN, United States
Principals
Mark P. Smith
President and CEO
Deana L. McPherson
CFO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Is Smith & Wesson a family office?
No. Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: SWBI) with a board of directors elected by shareholders. It operates as a manufacturing business, not a family-office investment entity.
Who controls Smith & Wesson?
The company is publicly traded, but a dual-class share structure gives insiders majority voting power. Mark P. Smith serves as President and CEO (per SEC filings). No single family controls the firm.
Where are Smith & Wesson's manufacturing facilities?
The company has two main facilities: its historic plant in Springfield, Massachusetts, and a newer production site in Maryville, Tennessee, which also houses its headquarters since 2023.
What products does Smith & Wesson make?
They manufacture handguns (including the M&P series and Model 686 revolver), long guns (including the M&P15 rifle), and accessories. Products serve civilian, law enforcement, and military customers.
Does Smith & Wesson have a philanthropic arm?
No public foundation or charity is directly tied to the corporation. The Smith & Wesson name is sometimes used for historical preservation, but no separate philanthropic vehicle is disclosed.
What is Smith & Wesson's relationship to family offices?
None directly. The corporation is an operating public company. However, some family offices may invest in SWBI stock or hold it as a thematic allocation, but there is no formal family-office structure behind it.
What is the dual-class share structure?
Established after the 2001 spinoff from the original partnership. Class A shares have one vote per share; Class B shares have 10 votes per share and are held primarily by company insiders. This gives them control over the board.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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