Taurus may have created a category with its Judge revolvers, but Smith & Wesson just upped the ante in Las Vegas. At American Shooter’s during the Smith & Wesson Shoot Out, the Governor made its debut.

Despite the superiority the marketing one-upsmanship moniker implies (who appoints judges in many states?), the Governor is of the pattern set by the Judge. It is a double-action/single-action revolver with its cylinder stretched to accommodate a .410 shotshell.

What’s really different about the Governor is its ability to accept not only .410 shotshells, .45 Colt and .45 Schofield, but its rear cylinder face is recessed to accept either full-, half- or two-shot moon clips. Why? America’s pistol cartridge—the .45 ACP—was adapted to the S&W Hand Ejector and Colt New Service (as the U.S. M1917 Revolvers) by the addition of a flat stamped steel clip that grabbed the cartridge rim, keeping the rimless case from dropping into the cylinder. It was also one of the first effective speedloaders, and, of course, designed by Smith.

The Governor accepts only 2 1/2-inch, .410 shells at present—no 3 inch—but its cylinder increases the odds with six chambers. The gun is based on a new frame, basically a stretched N-frame with a K-frame butt, Smith calls the Z frame. The Springfield maker might hit the wall soon on frame names unless it doubles up on letters as it is out of alphabet at this point.

The American-made gun has 2 3/4-inch barrel, a Scandium frame, a black stainless cylinder and weights a reported 29.6 ounces. Options include a Tritium front sight dovetailed into the frame and a Crimson Trace Laser Grip. In the hand it points well, and if it’s a Scandium alloy frame, I’m pretty sure I don’t want a 3 inch. Sometimes a little mass is a good thing.

It was only a matter of time before Smith answered in the shotshell revolver arena, and it appears Taurus will have some competition when it comes to the .410/.45 game. Taurus is way out front with a big lead, but the Governor is promising, and samples are promised by mid-February.

Mark Keefe