It has been over 20-years since the company, made famous for it handguns, sold anything else. Smith & Wesson used to offer some shotguns and rifles and this month they announced they would start selling shotguns and rifles once again. Furthermore, they will not be licensing their name for “this project.” Apparently, they won’t have another manufacturer putting S&W on longguns, however, the question remains whether or not they will manufacture or sell them under a different name.

The last rifle sold with the name was the Model 1500 and 1700 in 1983. In 1984 Smith and Wesson discontinued importation of Howa manufactured shotguns and rifles that they were selling on the U.S. market. Mossberg then took over using leftover S&W parts as well as making their own.

Smith & Wesson has been in business 153 years selling a variety of products including firearms. During that time the majority of their firearms have been handguns. There were some very early longguns, such as the Model 320 Revolving Rifle manufactured between 1879 and 1887. Many decades later S&W offered bolt-action rifles starting in 1969. They apparently manufactured as well as imported firearms, bearing the S&W name up until 1984.

Two big announcements from Smith & Wesson made this month included not only their longgun plans, but also an agreement to license their name to safe builder Sentry Group. For 2006 Smith & Wesson’s projected revenue growth is forecasted to increase 13% to 15% after these announcements were made.