
If you want a big-name brand gun, but do not want to pay the big-name brand price, the Smith & Wesson value-priced Sigma is worth a second glance. The Sigma was Smith & Wesson’s first venture into the world of polymer pistols and like most polymer pistols the Sigma operates on a striker fired system. Smith & Wesson had it rough in the 80s and 90s. They had been feeling backlash from an agreement that many felt Smith & Wesson was supporting the Assault Weapons Ban (we all have a skeleton in our closet, right?), rumors had gotten started that Smith & Wesson quality was going downhill, and they were seriously lacking in bringing innovative new products to the market. Needless to say, when Smith & Wesson released the Sigma in 1994, it quickly got a bad, albeit undeserved rap. To put salt on the wound, Glock quickly brought a lawsuit up against Smith & Wesson for patent infringement. The two settled out of court and Smith & Wesson redesigned the Sigma by removing the surface under the sear.
In 1999, Smith & Wesson improved the design, and current production runs of the Smith & Wesson40VE are accurate and reliable. In fact, many police forces around the United States carry a Smith & Wesson Sigma.
The Smith & Wesson SW40VE is chambered for .40 S&W, a highly sufficient self-defense round, especially since it holds 14 rounds. It comes standard with white three-dot sights and has no external safeties. The 18-degree angle gives the shooter a natural, ergonomic grip. Behind the mechanics of the gun is the striker firing system. When the chamber is loaded, the hammer will set in a partially cocked position. Pulling the trigger back releases the hammer, thus firing the gun. The striker fire system has many advantages. It gives you a consistent trigger pull, a shorter trigger reset for quick, accurate follow-up shots, and has fewer parts making the Sigma a reliable pistol.
I am a huge fan of Smith & Wesson guns. I currently have three of them. None of them has failed me, and one is even over 30 years old. If I can get a semi-automatic pistol from Smith & Wesson for half the price I’ve paid for my others—then I’m in!
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Features and Specifications
- Front Sight: White Dot
- Rear Sight: Fixed 2-Dot
- Firing System: Striker
- Grip: Polymer
- External Safety: N/A
- Frame: Large
- Finish: Two-Tone Black
- Overall Length: 7.25″ / 18.4 cm
- Material: Polymer Frame
- Stainless Steel Slide
- Weight Empty: 24.3 oz / 688.9 g
At Academy sporting goods store, in Brownsville, TX. , they have them in stock most of the time.
They have both calibers 9mm & 40 s&W., but I think it’s the sdve model.,or something to that effect.
The ones I’ve seen there are most of the time for $ 299.00 + tax.
If money
I owned one for approx a week. Its a real pain in the fingers to field strip, inaccurate and over all not a good product. Save your money and buy a glock.
You forgot to mention the 12 lb trigger pull, known as the New York trigger which is why they have their Police departments use them. F.Y.I. my shotgun only has a 7-8 lb trigger
What’s the msrp?