Just seven years after its introduction, the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield arguably has become one of the best known and most popular self-defense firearms in the industry.

Thanks to its size, light weight and reliability, the Shield has found a home in more than 3 million pockets and holsters since then. Smith & Wesson announced the milestone in June.

The Shield is a striker-fired pistol designed for personal protection. Its slim design tucks neatly into concealed carry holsters and often is found at attractive prices.

According to the company, the M&P Shield pistol series has grown and expanded with new features, calibers, and configurations, including the newest additions to the M&P Shield family, the award-winning M&P380 Shield EZ, and the Performance Center M&P Shield M2.0 pistol series.

“Over the past seven years, the M&P Shield pistol has continued to be the handgun of choice for personal protection," said Lane Tobiassen, President of Smith & Wesson. "The M&P Shield pistol design hits the sweet spot between shootability, concealment and power to provide a reliable personal protection pistol.

"Over the years, we’ve expanded the M&P Shield family of pistols to meet a variety of consumer needs, incorporating integrated lasers, M2.0 enhancements, Performance Center upgrades, and a new EZ version – the first of its kind.  We are honored to be the firearm of choice for consumers across the country who have chosen the M&P Shield pistol for their personal protection needs.”

The M&P Shield pistol series is available in 380 Auto, 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 Auto and features a slim profile and 18-degree grip angle for a natural point of aim. 

All M&P Shield pistols ship with two magazines and are available with an MSRP from $399 to $854, depending on configuration.