Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation Names NASCAR Drivers: Riggs and Hornaday

Racing Champions Will Drive New #30 Smith & Wesson Busch Chevrolet in '05

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Feb. 23 -- Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (AMEX:SWB) , the legendary 153-year old firearms manufacturer, has named NASCAR Nextel Cup Series regular Scott Riggs, the fourth-place finisher in Sunday's Daytona 500, and Ron Hornaday, two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, to share driving duties behind the wheel of the #30 Smith & Wesson Chevrolet at eight NASCAR Busch Series events in 2005.

Smith & Wesson announced its formal entry into the NASCAR racing ranks in November 2004 when it teamed with SKI Motorsports to promote an entry for the 2005 racing season. Smith & Wesson will support its NASCAR entry with a variety of fan and customer promotions and at-the-track activities, including safety educational initiatives.

Tom Taylor, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield, Massachusetts-based Smith & Wesson, said, "We are extremely pleased to have Scott and Ron join the Smith & Wesson family and play such a vital role in launching our entry into the exciting world of NASCAR racing. They are true competitors on the racetrack, and away from the track, they are active outdoorsmen, both traits that are in line with what the Smith & Wesson heritage is all about."

Riggs, 34, is the regular driver of the #10 Valvoline Chevrolet in the Nextel Cup Series and was a fourth-place finisher at the Daytona 500 on February 20, 2005. He will debut the red, white and blue Smith & Wesson racing machine in the Busch race at Las Vegas. He is also slated to handle driving duties in races at Charlotte (May 28), Bristol (Aug. 26) and Texas (Nov. 5). Riggs drove full Busch series seasons in 2002 and 2003 before moving up to Nextel Cup full time in 2004. He finished in the top 10 in Busch points both seasons and scored four victories during that time.

Hornaday, 46, is a two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion with four Busch series wins to his credit. He joins the Smith & Wesson team for Busch races this season at Atlanta (March 19), California (Sept. 3) and Phoenix (Nov. 12).

The #30 Smith & Wesson Chevrolet will feature several paint schemes during the course of its inaugural season. The red, white and blue theme that will debut at Las Vegas will be complemented at later races by designs that pay tribute to America's public servants. Riggs and Hornaday will wear the Smith & Wesson colors at seven of the eight Busch events beginning with the March 12, 2005 Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"From dust to racing in only 16 weeks is always a challenge; however, with everyone working together, we are very happy with the 2005 Smith & Wesson program and feel confident going into Las Vegas," said Chris Lencheski, president of Charlotte- and Bethlehem, Pa.-based SKI Motorsports, which will name a driver at a later date for the July 1, 2005 Busch race at Daytona, Florida.

About Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, through its subsidiary Smith & Wesson Corp., is one of the world's largest manufacturers of quality handguns, law enforcement products and firearm safety/security products. Smith & Wesson also provides shooter protection, knives, apparel, footwear and other accessory lines. Smith & Wesson is based in Springfield, Mass., with manufacturing facilities in Springfield and Houlton, Maine. The Smith & Wesson Academy is America's longest-running firearms training facility for America's public servants. For more information, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.

   Media Contact:
   Tom Taylor
   Smith & Wesson
   (413) 747-3372
   ttaylor@smith-wesson.com
   
   Investor Contact:
   Elizabeth Sharp
   Smith & Wesson
   (480) 367-5015
   lsharp@smith-wesson.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: High-resolution photos available upon request from ttaylor@smith-wesson.com