Smith & Wesson was founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson as the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company. It became Smith & Wesson in 1856. The building we visited dates to 1946. Built with the Cold War looming, it was made to be bombproof, at least by WWII standards. There is enough space in hardened basement rooms with thick concrete ceilings supported by massive pillars that the entire gunmaking operation could be moved below ground in the event the Russians bombed the factory.