This photo, sent to me by a friend of the blog, is purported to be the upcoming Smith & Wesson Shield. I can’t verify the original source of this photo but it does seem to reflect much of the “informed” speculation that I have seen around the web. Again, I can not verify this photo’s source or veracity.
Obviously, someone’s hand has been edited out of the photo. Other than that, it looks convincing. What do you think? Is this what S&W has up its sleeve?
why would they put out another polymer 9? seems like this will only eat into the sales of thier other pistols….Glock fans will stick as will LCP9 guys etc….
i just don’t see the market.
If it is indeed a single-stack 9, it will pull in Glock fans that have been begging for one for years.
If that safety is on all models I have no interest.
I agree with the above. The safety configuration is a no-no. And yes, the Ruger LC9 peopke are going to stay with them. Ruger will most likely be better priced anyway. Cmon, Smith and Wesson…think like an American company !
I don’t know that a single stack 9mm will eat into non-single stack sales. The industry is moving toward single stack this year, in all caliber options. Springfield-Armory has the XDs coming to market, and it is my understanding from Shot Show that SA intends to bring 9 and 40cal versions to market as well. I guess we’ll see when sales numbers are released at shot show 2013.
It needs to be slim.. No more than 1.0″ wide.. Preferably 9.0″ wide..
Looks like photoshop to me.
I believe this to be a fake. The placement of the safety makes no sense. Why would this one m&p have a safety when most of them don’t? Besides, the safety looks way to small to actually be functional.
Although…that trigger does look slightly different from a standard M&P……..hmmmm.
“Preferably 9.0″ wide.” 9 inches would be like three phone books…I hope it’s more like .9 inches.
I had access to one of these in January and put about sixty rounds through it. The ergonomics are good and the feel is similar to it’s M&P big brothers. For reference, I have short fingers and big palms- XDs and M&Ps fit me very well. It cycled all sixty rounds and another hundred or so from another shooter without fail. I don’t recall it being as slim as the Kahr 9s but it was slimmer than the XDs (not saying much!) This is a solid little pistol that would make a great carry piece if I didn’t own and HK P7.
Looks good I don’t think it needs a safety but I don’t mind one, it just comes down to training. I own some guns with a safety and some with out. As long as they are all in the same place it’s all good. I train to sweep the safety of and still make the motion on guns without one. That way if it’s there it goes off if it’s not there no big deal. So all I can say is train, train, train.
The fact that it has a cut in the receiver as if it would have a useless rail is what me thinks it’s just a photoshopped compact. Why would they design it with an unfunctional feature right off the bat. I do love how any time something comes out (whether real or not) someone has always had a chance to give one a try before they’re even off the design floor.
To naysayers claiming this was Photoshopped- care to eat some crow now?