The Big Day
I normally don’t talk about the whole “visit the factory” thing as it’s just the vehicle to get info to us. But this time was different. Oh, the arrangements were standard, the “Harrumph-Harrumph” handshakes normal, even the meeting room had a PowerPoint waiting breathlessly to get our attention. But it’s what happened over the next couple of hours that stands out.
Oh, and here’s the part where I say what an idiot I am, by the way.
After the smiles and a few new products were shown, there was a sort of hush, then Jan Mladek, general manager of Smith & Wesson and M&P brands, held the PowerPoint remote button up, pointed it at the computer — there was a collective bit of breath-holding — and he mashed the button.
A black polymer-framed semi-auto appeared magically on the screen.
The breaths were held for a micro-second longer, then a long, sad-sounding sigh escaped about 15 writers and editors.
But we were all wrong. And some, like me, were more-wronger than others.
Jan expected this I think. He smiled broadly and announced, “The new M&P .380 SHIELD EZ.”
A .380? But it was big. This wasn’t like the Bodyguard at all, or the two dozen pocket .380s currently offered “out there.” It was like a regular Shield, sorta’ (but it had a funny bump on the back of the grip) and might have even been a bit longer. But it was in .380 — begging the question hanging in the air in the room:
“But why?”
There were mutterings, muffled coughs as throats were cleared — and no small amount of shoulder shrugging going on. Including me.
“Mike,” I said, speaking behind my hand, “am I being stupid or is this a silly idea for a new gun?”
“I sure don’t get it,” whispered Mike. But he may have just been being kind to me since I’m technically his boss. Or he honestly didn’t get it. Which turned out to be the case. Just like me.
Read the full article here