Smith & Wesson: History and Ownership

Smith & Wesson is one of the oldest names in American firearms, founded by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson in the 1850s and long associated with Springfield, Massachusetts. The company is now Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., a publicly traded firearms company with principal executive offices in Maryville, Tennessee, while Springfield remains important to its engineering and manufacturing work.

Founders and the 1850s origin

Smith & Wesson’s 2026 Form 10-K says the company was founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson. The company’s own history timeline says Smith and Wesson formed an 1852 partnership to manufacture a firearm that could fire a fully self-contained cartridge.

Springfield Museums adds an important detail about the later Springfield company: it says Smith and Wesson formed the Smith & Wesson Company in Springfield in November 1856. The museum describes both men as bringing gunsmithing expertise learned through apprenticeships.

That is why short histories may use two dates. The 1852 date refers to the founders’ original partnership, while Springfield Museums and the Library of Congress frame the continuing Smith & Wesson story as beginning in Springfield in 1856.

The Springfield, Massachusetts era

Springfield was central to Smith & Wesson’s identity for more than a century. Springfield Museums says the early 1856 company operated in rented space on Market Street. The Library of Congress research guide describes the post-original-company Smith & Wesson history as beginning in 1856 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Smith & Wesson’s 2021 relocation announcement said the company had been based in Springfield, Massachusetts since its 1852 incorporation. That same announcement said the company would move its headquarters and significant elements of operations to Maryville, Tennessee in 2023.

The headquarters move did not remove Springfield from the company’s footprint. Smith & Wesson’s 2026 Form 10-K says the company manufactures products at facilities in Maryville, Tennessee, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Houlton, Maine. The filing also says the Springfield facility houses the company’s principal research, development, engineering, and design functions.

Revolver lineage

Smith & Wesson’s early reputation is closely tied to cartridge revolvers. The company timeline says the Model 1, originally called the Seven Shooter, was introduced in 1857. Smith & Wesson describes it as a .22 rimfire revolver and the first practical cartridge revolver.

Springfield Museums describes the Model 1 as having a seven-shot cylinder for .22 caliber short rimfire cartridges, and dates its Model 1 First Issue object to 1857 to 1860. The Library of Congress says orders for the Model 1 outpaced factory production capability in 1860.

Model 3 American

Smith & Wesson’s timeline says the Model 3 American was introduced in the summer of 1870. The Library of Congress says the Smith & Wesson Model 3 was adopted by the U.S. Army as the first cartridge-firing revolver in U.S. service.

That makes the Model 3 another key step in the company’s revolver history, especially because the Library of Congress ties it directly to U.S. Army adoption.

Military & Police, later Model 10

Smith & Wesson’s timeline says the .38 Military & Police was introduced in 1899, and that it is now known as the Model 10 revolver. The Library of Congress says the .38 Military & Police became the standard sidearm of American police officers for much of the 20th century.

For readers trying to connect older and newer names, this is one of the most important examples. The .38 Military & Police name belongs to the earlier identity of the revolver, while Smith & Wesson’s own timeline identifies it as the Model 10 today.

.357 Magnum and the Registered Magnum

Smith & Wesson’s timeline places the .357 Magnum revolver in 1935 and says it quickly drew interest from law enforcement agencies. The Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation says the earliest .357 Magnum revolvers are known to collectors as the Registered Magnum.

Ownership history

Smith & Wesson’s 2026 Form 10-K says Daniel B. Wesson purchased Horace Smith’s interest in 1873. That marks an early change in control from the original two-founder arrangement.

The same filing says the Wesson family sold Smith & Wesson to Bangor Punta Corp. in 1965.

Smith & Wesson’s 2026 Form 10-K lists the company’s common stock under ticker SWBI on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

Headquarters move to Maryville, Tennessee

Smith & Wesson announced in 2021 that it would move its headquarters and significant elements of its operations to Maryville, Tennessee in 2023. Its 2026 Form 10-K gives the company’s current principal executive office as 1852 Proffitt Springs Road, Maryville, Tennessee 37801.

The Maryville facility is not only an address for corporate leadership. Smith & Wesson’s 2026 Form 10-K says the Maryville facility houses management, administrative, assembly, distribution, and plastic injection molding functions, with exceptions for certain products assembled in Springfield.

The same filing describes a three-location manufacturing footprint: Maryville, Tennessee, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Houlton, Maine. In that current structure, Maryville is the principal executive office and a major operations site, Springfield remains the principal research, development, engineering, and design location, and Houlton is part of the manufacturing network.

Quick timeline

Year	Event
1852	Smith & Wesson’s 2026 Form 10-K says Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson founded the company.
1856	Springfield Museums says Smith and Wesson formed the Smith & Wesson Company in Springfield in November.
1857	Smith & Wesson’s timeline says the Model 1 was introduced.
1870	Smith & Wesson’s timeline says the Model 3 American was introduced.
1873	Smith & Wesson’s 2026 Form 10-K says Daniel B. Wesson purchased Horace Smith’s interest.
1899	Smith & Wesson’s timeline says the .38 Military & Police was introduced.
1935	Smith & Wesson’s timeline places the .357 Magnum revolver in this year.
1965	Smith & Wesson’s 2026 Form 10-K says the Wesson family sold the company to Bangor Punta Corp.
2021	Smith & Wesson announced the planned headquarters and operations move to Maryville, Tennessee.
2023	The 2021 announcement described the planned move to Maryville as occurring in 2023.

What to verify for current information

For current corporate status, stock ticker, executive office address, and manufacturing footprint, check the latest Smith & Wesson SEC filings and investor materials. For historical details, compare the company’s official history with museum references such as Springfield Museums, the Library of Congress, and the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation.