S & W nabs CHP contract

[nearthebeach]

Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Gun maker Smith & Wesson has landed a lucrative contract to supply the California Highway Patrol with nearly 10,000 hand guns over the next 18 months.

The law enforcement agency has ordered 9,700 of the Springfield company's stainless steel tactical pistols for current and future officers, the company said Monday.

The guns sell for about $850 each, making the order for the Smith & Wesson model 4006TSW weapons worth about $8 million.

The new pistols will be delivered over an 18-month period beginning in June and will replace earlier versions of the model 4006, which the California department officers have carried since 1990, Smith & Wesson said.

"They are an extremely high-profile department," company spokesman Paul Pluff said.

The pistol ordered by the California Highway Patrol is a heavy stainless steel model chambered for .40-caliber Smith & Wesson ammunition. Highway patrol officers often want a durable, long-lasting steel model of pistol instead of the newer plastic-frame versions, Pluff said.

Smith & Wesson announced earlier this month it had landed a deal to sell more than 1,000 plastic-framed 9 mm models to the Cincinnati Police Department.

 

[MadMercS55]

Logical choice given their history with the 4006 model. Makes sense to me!

 

[D-Man]

Good for S&W, though when I saw the article, I figured it meant that it would be talking about their new M&P model, not the older 4006TSW.

 

[10-Ring]

Seems like S&W has served the CHP well...funny, I too thought they would have gone w/ the lighter M&P

 

[Revolver Justice]

This sounds like a good choice of pistol, however I think they would be better served with something in .357Sig or .357 Mag. I guess it is my personal prejudice towards the .357 Mag showing through. But the Sig round has done well here in Virginia for the State Police and many local departments.

 

[Devonai]

Somebody should have told that reporter that nobody, especially not law enforcement agencies, pays MSRP.

 

[SaxonPig]

As a S&W stockholder I am pleased at the deal. I wonder if the old guns will be sold or crushed? Some revolvers from the CA state penal system were sold a year or two ago but had to be sold outside CA.

As for them passing on a lighter gun, the CHP don't walk beats, they ride in cruisers so a few extra ounces don't mean much.

 

[BozemanMT]

Go stock go.
Been a pretty good winner so far, and I think it has room to run.
Now, they have an in Kali and can sell more
i do like taking the liberal's money.

 

[Logan5]

MSRP for the 4006TSW is $850? I haven't paid that much for any of my Performance Center guns; Shorty .45, 586 L comp, etc, NIB. I think that price point almost has to be a mistake.

 

[Jguy101]

They use S&Ws?

I have a relative who's a CHP officer, and he has a Glock 22 (and possibly a 27 for backup), and I heard that they were getting S&W99s.

 

[DevLcL]

I think they can use a number of various handguns so long as they are approved for duty use. These 4006's are what the CHP will issue to those who don't have (or want to use) their own. Lots of officers I know signed up before ever shooting a gun.

-Dev

 

[Henry Bowman]

Somebody should have told that reporter that nobody, especially not law enforcement agencies, pays MSRP.

Contract price could very well(and is likely to) include holsters and other gear.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I should have bought the stock months ago when I was thinking about it!

Sadly, I spent that $$ on more guns (ok, not sadly, but you get the point).

Need to buy some soon either way.

On a side note: happy with info packet Ruger sent me for buying their stock, neat stuff.