Smith & Wesson is one of the largest gun makers in existence. A true American company, Smith & Wesson produces numerous models of firearms across virtually all categories, including rifles, semi-automatic pistols, and revolvers.
Smith & Wesson is also known for producing high quality firearms, to the point that Smith & Wesson has become a house should name. Many first time gun owners in particular feel comfortable buying a Smith & Wesson product because it’s a brand that they’ve heard of before.
Several of their firearms are made specifically for the purposes of concealed carry. We’ll go over some of the top examples here:
Smith & Wesson 1911 .45 ACP
The 1911 .45 ACP may be a big pistol, but it has one big thing going for it when it comes to concealability: it’s very slim and therefore easy to hide in your waistband. It’s for this reason that there are many concealment holsters made specifically for the 1911, and these will all be compatible with the Smith & Wesson 1911 as well. Smith & Wesson offers a variety of 1911 pistols in their lineup, and each are high quality and compete directly with Colt, Ruger, Springfield, Kimber, and other manufacturers. Additional advantages to the 1911 as a concealed carry piece include the stopping power of the .45 ACP round, the slick single action only trigger, and the fact that the all-metal frame reduces recoil.
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380 ACP
The Bodyguard .380 ACP represents Smith & Wesson’s pocket pistol entry. This is a 6-shot .380 ACP pistol that is very easy to conceal. Even though the Bodyguard can easily disappear in a pocket or ankle holster, it can also be carried in an IWB holster where it can be easier to access. The Bodyguard competes directly with the Ruger LCP, Ruger LCP II, Kel-Tec P3AT, Colt Mustang, Springfield 911, and the Kimber Micro. It does have a long double action only trigger that will admittedly take some time getting used to, and is available either with or without a safety.
Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact
The M&P 2.0 Compact is a scaled down version of the full size M&P 2.0 pistol. It comes with a 15 round magazine 9mm or 13 rounds in .40 S&W. The M&P 2.0 itself is the second generation version of the M&P pistol line, and comes with two specific improvements: aggressive stippling over the grip to help ensure that the gun remains stable in slippery hands, and a vastly improved trigger. The M&P 2.0 Compact is roughly the same size as a Glock 19 pistol, and is very easy to conceal carry. It will be best suited for carry in an IWB holster.
Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Subcompact
The M&P 2.0 Subcompact is the Glock 26 competitor in the M&P lineup. It comes standard with a 12 shot magazine, and either with or without an extended pinky release. With the exception of the Shield, the M&P 2.0 Subcompact is the easiest M&P pistol to conceal carry. It will be fully compatible with all holsters that are made for other M&P pistols, although also with the exception of the Shield. The 2.0 Subcompact will also accept the larger full size and compact magazines. This means that you can carry a large magazine as your spare reload for extra firepower, although it will protrude beneath the grip of the gun. For this reason, use the standard subcompact magazine in the firearm while you are carrying it.
Smith & Wesson Model 442/642 .38 Special
The Model 442/642 .38 Special snubnose revolver. These are among the most popular snubnose revolvers out on the market now for concealment, and represent some of Smith & Wesson’s highest selling guns. The 442/642 comes a 5 shot cylinder and a weight of 15 ounces. It’s light and small enough to conceal carry in a pocket, but it can be easily carried in an IWB holster as well. Versions exist either with or without a safety lock present on the side of the frame just above the cylinder release.
Smith & Wesson Model 640 .357 Magnum
The Model 640 is another snubnose revolver that Smith & Wesson offers. It’s essentially a hammerless version of their Model 60 .357 Magnum revolver, which as with the 442 and 642 means that it is far less likely to snag on clothing while drawing the firearm. The 640 is a heavier revolver than the 442 and much larger, but the tradeoff is that the weight manages to reduce the recoil considerably, at least when you’re shooting .38 Specials. It also is made out of more durable materials than the 442 and 642 as well.
Smith & Wesson Shield 2.0
The Shield is a single stack version of the M&P pistol. It’s available in the 9mm, .40 S&W, and the .45 ACP calibers. The 9mm version is the most popular, and comes standard with a 7 shot flush fitting magazine and an 8 round extended magazine. The magazine capacities are reduced by one round each for the .40 and the .45 ACP respectively. There are numerous holster options available for the Shield, as it is easily one of the most popular concealed carry firearms on the market today, competing directly with the Glock 43, SIG Sauer P365, and the Walther PPS M2.
Conclusion
The above Smith & Wesson handguns represent the very best that the company as to offer when it comes to concealment firearms. Each of these firearms are easily concealable, reliable, and very high quality.