If you google "Bangor Punta and Smith and Wesson" you get a good deal of information.

Bangor Punta was one of those conglomerates that specialized in buying up company's going through financial difficulties and in essence "flipping" them for a profit. The cost cutting measures that they employed at S&W and at Criss-Craft (the boat maker) irritated a good many fans of both. In terms of S&W BP got rid of a good deal of the hand fitting, pinned barrels, recessed cylinders, beveled cylinders, etc. This brought on a boycott and many today still cuss BP.

tipoc