SMITH &WESSON ~ MODEL 1000 ~ 12 GAUGE

The Smith & Wesson Model 1000 semi-automatic shotgun entered production in 1973, marking the company's initial foray into gas-operated autoloading shotguns. Manufactured in collaboration with Japanese firm Howa Machinery under strict S&W specifications, the Model 1000 was offered primarily in 12-gauge with barrel lengths of 26, 28, or 30 inches, and later variants included 20-gauge options. Production continued steadily through the 1970s and early 1980s, with serial numbers indicating output in the tens of thousands, though exact figures remain unpublished by the manufacturer.