Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (SWHC) is the parent company of subsidiary Smith & Wesson Corp. (S&W), the largest handgun manufacturer in the United States (Answers.com). SWHC is a diversified global aerospace and defense company that has overcome frequent obstacles to achieve success. In addition to producing firearms, SWHC provides metal processing services and professional law enforcement training at the Smith & Wesson Academy (BusinessWeek). S&W grew out of the company founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson, the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company. In 1856, Smith and Wesson left Volcanic to form a new company based on their previously established patent for a centerfire revolver and associated cartridge. Smith & Wesson, with the start of the Civil War five years later, realized a greatly increased demand for its products. (Wikipedia). The U.S. Army's adoption of S&W products resulted in an increase in the workforce from 25 to 600 employees (Answers.com). As the war subsided, the demand for weapons collapsed. S&W responded by expanding globally, exhibiting its product line at the 1867 Paris International Exhibition (Answers.com). After the exhibition, many European, South American and Asian countries became customers: “[T]he Russian government alone placed an order for 200,000 revolvers” (Answers.com). Despite S&W's growing success, Smith retired in 1873, selling his interest in the company. business, and dying without an heir twenty years later. Wesson remained alone as director for a decade until he was joined by his two sons as partners, in 1883 (Answers.com). In 1887, Wesson was granted a patent for a handgun designed to prevent unintentional shooting, introducing the weapon in 1889. The weapon, the .38 army and police revolver, became the... middle of paper......most recent, an ERISA class action resulting from accusations that SWHC violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. From its humble beginnings, SWHC has evolved into a profitable conglomerate, despite its tribulations relentless legal and ethical issues, embodying both the virtues and failures of American business.Works CitedAnswers.com. May 11, 2010. BusinessWeek. May 12, 2010. Chinese analyst. April 30, 2010. May 11, 2010. Smith & Wesson Corporate. January 31, 2010. May 19, 2010. Office of the White House Press Secretary. March 17, 2000. May 19, 2010. Wikipedia. May 7, 2010. May 11 2010 .