Smith & Wesson Governor
Smith & Wesson · Pistol · In Production · 2011
Also known as: S&W Governor, Governor
Overview
The Smith & Wesson Governor is a six-shot, double-action/single-action revolver capable of firing .45 ACP (with included moon clips), .45 Colt, and 2.5-inch .410 bore shotshells in any combination from its elongated cylinder. Built on S&W's lightweight Z-frame with a scandium alloy frame and stainless steel PVD-finished cylinder, the Governor weighs only 29.6 ounces despite its multi-caliber capability. The 2.75-inch barrel provides manageable overall dimensions of 8.5 inches in length and 5.5 inches in height, making it viable for both home defense and concealed carry. The front sight features a dovetailed tritium night sight for low-light target acquisition, paired with a fixed rear sight. The Governor ships with a Hogue synthetic rubber grip that helps manage recoil across all three calibers, and full moon clips for rimless .45 ACP cartridges. The trigger provides a smooth double-action pull of approximately 8 pounds and a crisp single-action break at approximately 4.5 pounds.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 839 g (29.6 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 940 g (33.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 216 mm (8.50") |
| Barrel Length | 70 mm (2.76") |
| Height | 140 mm (5.51") |
| Width | 44 mm (1.73") |
| Action Type | Double Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Trigger Pull | 20 N (4.5 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 265 m/s (869 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 569 J (420 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 15 m (16 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 381 mm (15.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Scandium Alloy |
| Barrel Material | Stainless Steel |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- .45 ACP — also known as .45 Auto, 45 Auto, 11.43x23mm
- .45 Colt · primary — also known as .45 Long Colt, .45 LC, 11.48x32.6mmR
- .410 Bore — also known as .410 Gauge, .410 Shotshell, 36 Gauge
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Revolver Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Block Safety, Cylinder Latch
- Features: Z Frame, Scandium Alloy Frame, Stainless Pvd Cylinder, Tritium Night Sight Front, Fixed Rear Sight, Multi Caliber Cylinder, Moon Clip Capable, Six Shot Cylinder, Hogue Synthetic Grip, 2 75 Inch Barrel
Variants
- Smith & Wesson Governor with Crimson Trace Laser — Laser Equipped
Service history
Operators
- U.S. Civilian Home Defense Market · adopted 2011
- U.S. Civilian Concealed Carry Market · adopted 2011
Production
Production years: 2011-present
Continuous production since 2011; competes with the Taurus Judge in the multi-caliber defensive revolver market
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Notes
The Governor was introduced at the 2011 SHOT Show as Smith & Wesson's answer to the Taurus Judge, which had popularized the .45 Colt/.410 bore revolver concept. The Governor improved on the formula by adding .45 ACP capability via moon clips and using a lightweight scandium alloy frame versus the Judge's steel or polymer construction. The Z-frame is unique to the Governor and is sized between the medium L-frame and large N-frame to accommodate the elongated cylinder required for .410 shotshells. The rifling twist rate of approximately 1:15 inches (381mm) is a compromise between the slower twist needed for shotshell pattern consistency and the faster twist required for adequate .45 caliber bullet stabilization. With .410 shotshells, the Governor functions as an extremely close-range defensive tool; with .45 Colt or .45 ACP, it serves as a conventional revolver. The stainless PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) cylinder finish provides enhanced corrosion and wear resistance. An optional variant with Crimson Trace Lasergrips is available for enhanced target acquisition. Weight listed is 29.6 oz (839g) empty. The muzzle velocity and energy figures are for .45 Colt 225-grain loads from the 2.75-inch barrel; velocities from this short barrel are notably lower than from full-size revolvers.
Background
The Governor was Smith & Wesson's direct response to the enormous commercial success of the Taurus Judge revolver. By adding .45 ACP compatibility and using a premium scandium alloy frame with tritium sights, S&W positioned the Governor as the refined, feature-rich alternative in the .410 revolver category. The name 'Governor' was chosen to one-up the 'Judge' in the hierarchy of authority.