Guns.com recently was invited to visit Smith & Wesson’s brand-new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Maryville, Tennessee. Along with a factory tour, we got a sneak peek at a few upcoming releases, including one that officially dropped today: the new 9mm M&P Shield X. 
 

Evolution of the M&P Shield

Since its introduction in 2012, the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield consistently has been one of the top concealed carry handguns in the United States. 

A few years ago, as the micro-compact phenomenon exploded and smaller sub-compact handguns gained capacity and traction, Smith & Wesson took the M&P Shield line back to the drawing board. Released in 2021, the M&P Shield Plus increased the capacity from seven or eight rounds to a double-stack 10 or 13 rounds. 
 

Today, the micro-compact has taken on a new look. Starting off as a basic, light, small handgun, the micro-compact lines are growing into compact handguns with lots of modern features. For example, SIG Sauer developed the P365 into the XMacro, and Springfield introduced the Hellcat Pro. Now, building off the popular Shield design, Smith & Wesson has evolved one of its most popular handguns into the new M&P Shield X. 
 

M&P Shield X Design

The new 9mm M&P Shield X is designed for those who want a feature-rich concealed carry option. The first and most notable design change comes in the grip. The Shield X has a deep beavertail cut in the grip for a deeper purchase and a more secure grasp, also lowering the bore axis for the shooter. The redesigned grip texture is aggressive without being overly coarse. 
 

An integrated tactical rail under the barrel is perfect for mounting flashlights and lasers. The new Shield X feeds from flush-fit 13-round magazines, and an extended 15-round magazine is included. 
 

The Shield X also features a new slide design with front slide serrations for those who like to press check or charge the handgun from the front. The pistol comes with an optic cut in the slide, as red dot sights are an integral part of modern handgun shooting. The iron sights are metal, featuring a blacked-out rear sight with a bright green night sight post in the front. 
 

Summary

With a new facility in the great state of Tennessee, Smith & Wesson strives to be at the forefront of firearm design just as it was in 1852 with the first metallic cartridge revolver. Few companies have as storied a history of firearms manufacturing as Smith & Wesson, giving the new M&P Shield X the backing of an all-American resume.