DATE:         April 10, 2000

TO:             All Smith & Wesson Distributors and Massachusetts State FFL Dealers

FROM:        Smith & Wesson

RE:             Smith & Wesson Compliance with Massachusetts Attorney General’s Regulations 940 CMR 16.00

We have reviewed the Massachusetts Attorney General’s regulations and determined that all current production Smith & Wesson handguns, other than those noted below, are to the best of our understanding, in compliance with the standards of the regulations.  Smith & Wesson is currently working on design changes that are intended to make all our handguns compliant with the regulations.  We will notify you when the models listed below are compliant with the standards of the regulation.

·         Any Smith & Wesson 3^rd Generation Pistol (i.e. 5906, 4006 3953, 457, 908, etc.) manufactured after September 30, 1998* that has the serial number stamped – not laser engraved, on the frame.  Note that any 3^rd Generation Pistol that has the serial number laser engraved on the frame does comply with the regulations – as it indicates the presence of additional serial numbers on the frame. Contact our Customer Service department for instruction on sending back any 3^rd Generation pistols, manufactured after September 30^th, 1998 with a stamped serial number, for modification to meet the standards of the regulations (additional Serial Number).

·         Any Smith & Wesson 3^rd Generation Pistol (i.e. 5906, 4006 3953, 457, 908, etc.) manufactured after January 15, 1998* without a Magazine Disconnect feature. These models were sold almost exclusively to Law Enforcement agencies and are marked on the slide: “CAUTION: Capable of firing with magazine removed.”

·         On some Smith & Wesson 3^rd Generation D.A. Only Pistols (i.e. 5946, 4046 3953, 5943, etc.) manufactured after January 15, 1998* there is a slight possibility that the trigger pull could be under the required 10 lb minimum.  Contact our Customer Service department for instructions on sending back any of the DAO pistols that you deem non-compliant, for modification to meet the standards of the regulations.

·         All Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 945 pistols. Contact our Customer Service department for instruction on sending back any Model 945 pistols in inventory for modification to meet the standards of the regulations (addition of a Loaded Chamber Indictor).

·         All Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 952 Pistols.

·         All Smith & Wesson 3^rd Generation model Super 9 Pistols.

·         All Smith & Wesson Sigma Series Pistols (SW9E, SW40E, SW9VE, SW40VE, SW380, etc.) manufactured after January 15, 1998*.

·         All Smith & Wesson Model SW99’s. Contact our Customer Service department for instruction on sending back any SW99 pistols in inventory for modification to meet the standards of the regulations (additional Serial Number).

·         All Smith & Wesson model 2213 and 2214 .22 caliber pistols manufactured after January 15, 1998*.

Even though the models listed above do not currently meet the new Massachusetts Attorney General’s Regulation, by no means does this indicate that they are a defective product.  As previously noted, Smith & Wesson is making changes to the above products to ensure that future production will be compliant.  As of the this date, we are unable to provide modifications through our Customer Service department, except as noted on the specific models, above.

Note that all Smith & Wesson revolvers comply with Massachusetts Attorney General’s Regulations 940 CMR 16.00.

* NOTE: Date of Manufacture can be determined by the Julian Date on the label on the Smith & Wesson box.

Location of the Julian Date on our labels is noted as below.  A firearm manufactured after January 15, 1998 will have a Julian date 8016, or later.  The first digit, “8” – refers to 1998.  The last three digits refer to the specific day of that year – 016 indicates January 16^th.  A four digit Julian date beginning with “0” indicates product manufactured in 2000. (See item #1)

A firearm manufactured on or before January 15, 1998 will have a Julian date 8015, or earlier.

NOTE:  Certain special order handguns with product codes starting with “14” will require that you contact our Customer Service department with the serial number of the handgun to determine the date of manufacturing. (See item #2)

Our Customer Service Department can be reached at 1-800-331-0852.  Press “Option 2” when prompted.

Smith & Wesson will do everything possible to assist Massachusetts dealers with implementation of these very burdensome regulations.