New, From Smith & Wesson: M&P FPC Folding 9mm Carbine

Pistol calibre carbines continue their growth as the Next Big Thing from the US firearm industry, with announcement today of the M&P FPC folding carbine, a 9mm semi-auto rifle from Smith & Wesson.

As the name implies, this carbine is based off the M&P pistol design but with a longer barrel. At 16.25 inches, that tube would be restricted-status in Canada, but it makes for a very compact design. When the carbine is folded, overall length is only 16 3/8 inches.

Of course, it's a blowback action; most of the rifle should be very familiar to M&P users. There's a neat trick with the charging handle—it doubles as a retainer when the rifle folds. The carbine's frame is aluminum, and the forend has M-LOK slots on the sides and a Picatinny-style rail on top, for optics. There are no iron sights shipped with the carbine, but S&W does ship it with a 17-round magazine and two 23-round magazines for the US market. Another clever touch: The buttstock will hold two of those magazines while the third is in the magwell.

Obviously 10-round mags would be expected if it ever came to Canada. There would certainly be interest if this rifle was offered here, although that interest would greatly increase if Smith & Wesson added a couple of inches of barrel length so the carbine came in as non-restricted.

As it is, we'll probably see some early examples come in under restricted status, if border-crossing private import businesses are able to get regulatory approval from the RCMP. Already, the recently-announced Henry Homesteader rifle has buyers lined up waiting for the Mounties to grant an FRT to importers. Expect the M&P FPC to join that list soon, especially as its $659 MSRP in the US makes it a very economical purchase for interested buyers, even with the exchange rate what it is today. For American buyers, this carbine will fly off the shelves as quickly as they're manufactured, at that price.

Find more details on the M&PC FPC at Smith & Wesson's website here.