Hi:
When was this era?
Thanks,
Jimmy

I believe 1965 to 1984.

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Georgia On My Mind

1965 ~ Feb, 1984; when Lear Siegler bought S&W

Back in the early/middle '70s, when I was first had a little disposable income (not much!) to buy a few S&Ws, the "word" was that the BP era guns were less quality than earlier guns. It is ironic that now, we look back on those guns as some very desirable specimens, and rightly so, I think.

I remember when my store had a bunch of Model 10s, a few j-frames, a Model 29 maybe once every two months. I had to wait a couple of weeks to get a Model 39. I lusted after a Model 60. Just about every magazine had a Model 29, or a collection of stainless revolvers on the cover. Skeeter and Bill extolled the virtues of N-frames and K-frames with regularity. Y'all didn't know we had shortages back then, did you?

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Georgia On My Mind

I had to trade 4 guns (including a 19-3) for this BP junk in 1980. Got the 6" because the 4" was Unobtanium. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

No question that quality took a nosedive under BP leadership, but I'm not so sure it was because of who owned the company. In 1965, the Vietnam War went into high gear and S&W was soon swamped with military orders for, among other things, the M15 for the Air Force. In 1971, the Dirty Harry craze hit, and finding a M29 was like looking for Spanish Doubloons in your front yard. Every S&W was in short supply and I think the pressure of military orders drove quality down.

Hi:
Thank you all for the information.
Somewhere in my closet clutter I have a NIB Model 17 and a NIB Model 18 from that era.
Jimmy

Hi:
Found them!
1. Model 17-3 #K957901 6" Blued
2. Model 18-3 #5K8955 4" Blued

Bangor-Puna era??
Thanks,
Jimmy

dang...must not have been to cluttered...took you..lets see..6-7 minutes to find em??!!

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Hi, KennyB:
Luckly I presently have several Grandsons visiting that is very willing to locate "Pop Pop's" firearms.
Jimmy

Back in the late 60's and early 70's the popular S&W's were hard to find. Dealers were only alloted just a few. I wanted a model 19 nickel with target hammer and had to go out of state to get and was lucky to find it then. I wish I still had it. I was on a waiting list for a model 60 for several months before I got it in 1971. I still have it and shot it last Sunday. It's the most accurate snubby I own. I finally got around to getting an action job on it a couple of weeks ago. Another hard to get gun was a blue 2 1/2" model 19. I carried it on duty for years. Most of the blue was worn off of it so I sent back top Smith and had it nickeled about five years ago. I put a set of Grasshorn stags on it and haven't shot it since. My brother Louisiana Joe is coming up Friday. Maybe I'll shoot it then. Some things you just don't hurry.

very true charlie....i would add to your list the 29-2 6.5"many grew tired of waiting i simply found the M57...i just cleaned a 92d beretta that i carried for a number of years

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO