Case Study: Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson is the largest firearm manufacturer in the United States and the leading manufacturer worldwide. A partnership was formed in 1852 in Norwich, Connecticut by Horace Smith (October 28th, 1808 – January 15th, 1893) and Daniel B. Wesson (May 18th, 1825 – August 4th, 1906). Due to unyielding financial issues, they were forced to sell their company to a shirt manufacturer by the name of Oliver Winchester. By 1856, they formed their second partnership to produce a small revolver designed to fire the Rimfire cartridge they patented in August, 1854. The name of that revolver was known as the “Model One.” Prior to the Model One, revolvers were loaded in an immensely similar way to the Revolutionary War rifles were. This issue was addressed …show more content…
Thompson/Center Arms, Incorporation is a partnering company with Smith & Wesson that is a premier designer and manufacturer of premium hunting rifles, black powder rifles, interchangeable firearms systems and other accessories under the brand. By being in a partnership with the company, Smith & Wesson benefits by licensing shooter eye and ear protection, knives, apparel, and many more accessories. Smith & Wesson are suppliers of products that almost every police agency and military force around the world. Also has the longest running training facilities for law enforcements, military and security professionals in every state and some foreign countries. The company is dedicated to hard work, research and development. After seeing the first double action auto-loading pistols, stainless steel firearms and perimeter security systems, they have shown that they push product development for over 175 years. Smith & Wesson play a huge role in the market share in the United States. They have a 70% market share in the handgun segment of the firearms industry of the United States. This enormous share set trends for the company in the future. Despite the economic depression in the United States, sales grew 13.2% in 2008. A major award granted to the Smith & Wesson company in 2009 included the first ever ASIS Accolades Award for the Expeditionary Mobile Barrier (EMB). This was in the category of Most …show more content…
There are a vast number of weaknesses that Smith & Wesson has to offer. For example, although that Smith & Wesson is the leading firearm distributer in the United States, there are very few sales that occur internationally. Only 7% of sales are international and for the company to be placed in a foreign country, the foreign market is low. Although they are the leading manufacturers for firearms in the world, Smith & Wesson does not dominate the hunting market. Also, from 2004 to 2009, the sales of revolvers dropped about 40% of the company’s