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Smith & Wesson Secures M&P Pistol Contract from Belgium Federal Police

Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm Pistol

Smith and Wesson

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--(Ammoland.com)- Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 159-year old company in the global business of safety, security, protection, and sport, announced today that it has recently received a contract from the Belgium Federal Police calling for 20,000 Smith & Wesson Military & Police (M&P) 9mm polymer pistols over a ten-year period.

The police agency, a force with 12,500 officers, has received an initial shipment of 2,500 pistols as part of the full department conversion to Smith & Wesson duty firearms.

After an open evaluation process that included numerous competitors, the Smith & Wesson M&P9 was selected for its performance and for the support services provided by the Company. A thorough test and evaluation process by the Belgium Federal Police indicated that the firearm’s reliability, interchangeable grips sizes and low perceived recoil were among the key drivers in the decision. In addition to duty pistols, the Belgium Federal Police also placed orders for simunition and dedicated training firearms based on the M&P platform. The firearms offered by Smith & Wesson were supported with a full range of services, including armorer’s training. The Company also provided the agency with product manuals in multiple languages in order to ease the transition process.

The pistols ordered by the Belgium Federal Police were based upon the well established M&P platform, which has been adopted by hundreds of police agencies and has achieved popularity with consumers as well. The M&P9 pistols were built to meet the exact specifications set forth by the police agency. Enhanced features included luminescent sights, a manual thumb safety with on/off red dot indicator, and a raised loaded chamber indicator on top of the slide that could be felt by hand. The M&P9 pistols retained the original design features and were supplied with two 17-round magazines along with cleaning materials.

Mario Pasantes, Smith & Wesson’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Global Professional Sales, said, “We are pleased to support the long-term needs of the Belgium Federal Police with our M&P pistols, which have become a sidearm of choice for law enforcement agencies in both the United States and around the globe.

Our M&P line includes a full range of calibers and is designed to meet the exacting standards and tough test criteria used by professionals, such as the Belgium Federal Police. At the same time, our M&P firearms have become popular with consumers who have come to appreciate the pistol’s professional-grade performance and features.”

About Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC) is a U.S.-based, global provider of products and services for safety, security, protection, and sport. The company delivers a broad portfolio of firearms and related training to the military, law enforcement, and sports markets. For more information on Smith & Wesson call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com

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Smith & Wesson Participates in Veterans Day Ceremonies
Company Recognizes M.O.S.T Graduates, Company Honored by State Veterans Services.

Smith and Wesson

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--(Ammoland.com)- Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation today announced that it will recognize graduates from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP) made available through the state’s Department of Veterans Services (DVS).

Offering military veterans employment opportunities, the DVS partnered with MassMEP and Smith & Wesson in order to provide training and certification for veterans in the workforce.

In a separate event, Smith & Wesson President and CEO James Debney, and Vice President of Human Resources William Lachenmeyer, will attend a special Veterans Day ceremony today, hosted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

CEO James Debney, said, “During this time when our nation honors its veterans, we are especially proud to support the M.O.S.T. program, which expedites jobs for returning veterans who bring extensive skills and a heightened sense of community and leadership to our workforce. At the same time, we are truly honored to be included in the Commonwealth’s celebration and recognition on Veterans Day. We actively support a number of programs and sponsorships designed to acknowledge the contributions made by these men and women and we will continue to look at new ways to show our allegiance.”

By joining with MassMEP and Smith & Wesson, the DVS provides certain veterans training programs that prepare men and women for jobs in the manufacturing industry. The Mobile Outreach Skills Training (M.O.S.T. ®) program is a fast-track, intensive skills training, recruitment, assessment and placement program that prepares unemployed and underemployed individuals, including returning veterans and minorities, for production jobs in less time than traditional programs. Those graduating on November 11 completed two weeks of training in a state-of-the-art, mobile training facility stationed by MassMEP on Smith & Wesson property. The successful graduates will be offered employment by Smith & Wesson.

As part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Annual Veterans Day Ceremony, Smith & Wesson will be honored by the DVS during a special presentation at the State House. The DVS will recognize Smith & Wesson for its contribution to veterans and their families as well as the Company’s contribution in raising awareness of the needs of returning veterans and the assets they bring from their military experience to the working world. Several members of the state legislature along with Senior Military personnel from the Commonwealth, as well as hundreds of veterans, are anticipated to attend this year’s ceremony.

For more information on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Annual Veterans Day Ceremony, please contact www.mass.gov/veterans. For additional information on the MassMEP M.O.S.T. program visit www.timewisemost.com or call 321-266-0677.

About Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC) is a U.S.-based, global provider of products and services for safety, security, protection, and sport. The company delivers a broad portfolio of firearms and related training to the military, law enforcement, and sports markets, and designs and constructs facility perimeter security solutions for military and commercial applications. Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation companies include Smith & Wesson Corp., the globally recognized manufacturer of quality firearms; Smith & Wesson Security Solutions, Inc., a full-service perimeter security integrator, barrier manufacturer, and installer; and Thompson/Center Arms Company, Inc., a premier designer and manufacturer of premium hunting firearms. Smith & Wesson facilities are located in Massachusetts, Maine, and Tennessee. For more information on Smith & Wesson and its companies, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.

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