SWB Smith & Wesson Holding Corp

S&W Receives Follow-on Order for Shipment to Afghanistan National Army SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (AMEX:SWB), the legendary 153-year old company in the global business of safety, security, protection and sport, today announced it has secured an order to supply 5,530 pistols to the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASC) Special Projects Office for shipment to the Afghanistan National Army. The order is a follow-on to Smith &Wesson's initial shipment of 4,850 pistols for the Afghanistan National Army earlier this year. The current order, valued at approximately $1.2 million, represents the third award to the Company by the U.S. Army since April for security forces in Afghanistan and brings the Company's total military orders in 2005 to over 22,500 pistols. Michael Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We continue to execute on our strategy to increase our efforts to supply pistols to the U.S. government and military. This order reflects our success in making the Smith & Wesson brand synonymous with quality firearms for military and federal usage." Smith & Wesson, which competed with other leading firearms manufacturers, indicated that it won the order based on the features of the SW9VE 9mm pistol. The Company stated that it is scheduled to manufacture and ship the order in its entirety by December 2005. The pistols will be manufactured entirely in the United States. The SW9VE is a double-action-only pistol constructed with a durable polymer frame and a through-hardened stainless steel slide and barrel. The 9 mm pistol features an ergonomic design to accommodate various hand sizes. Unique features include simple operation procedures and tool-less disassembly. About Smith & Wesson Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., through its subsidiary Smith & Wesson Corp., is one of the world's largest manufacturers of quality handguns, law enforcement products and firearm safety/security products. The Company also provides shooter protection, knives, apparel, footwear and other accessory lines. The Company is based in Springfield, Mass., with manufacturing facilities in Springfield and Houlton, Maine. The Smith & Wesson Academy is America's longest-running firearms training facility for America's public servants. For more information, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to http://www.smith-wesson.com/. Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements under federal securities laws, and the Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's anticipated sales to the military and the federal government and sales into those respective markets, and the Company's ability to successfully meet manufacturing and shipping requirements. The Company cautions that these statements are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the demand for the Company's products, the Company's growth opportunities, the ability of the Company to engage additional key sales related employees, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. CONTACTS: Tom Taylor, VP Marketing (413) 747-3372 Liz Sharp, Investor Relations (480) 367-5015 x.115 DATASOURCE: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. CONTACT: Tom Taylor, VP Marketing, +1-413-747-3372, , or Liz Sharp, Investor Relations, +1-480-367-5015, ext. 115, , both of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. Web site: http://www.smithandwesson.com/

Copyright