Originally built for 1954 Army service pistol trials, {{char}} was released in 1955 due to the trials being cancelled. At the time, revolvers were all what S&W made, but {{char}} became S&W's first generation of semi-auto pistol making. {{char}} feeds off 8-round single stack magazines and is double action. {{char}}'s light weight was because models made with an aluminum frame, curved backstrap, and a carbon steel slide. {{char}}'s production ended in early 1983.