Did a Spanish company own S&W during the 1970's?

[Frank121]

I was speaking with a fellow today regarding S&W Model 36 revolvers. He said he stays away from the 1972-1978 models because a Spanish company owned S&W during this time and the quality of the guns was not good.

I know there have been Spanish (and other) companies who made Smith-like models, copies, or knock-offs but have never heard about a quality issue from S&W being Spanish owned.

Guess one way or another I will learn something today...either from him or my Forum friends.

Thanks!

 

[old tanker]

Are you thinking of Bangor Punta? Bangor Punta - Wikipedia

 

[bigggbbruce]

Sounds like he knows his stuff...

 

[Frank121]

That may be what he was referencing. He said the quality went down on the 72-78 year models, so maybe he was basing that on S&W being owned by BP.

Are you thinking of Bangor Punta? Bangor Punta - Wikipedia

 

[Old_Cop]

Bangor Punta was the parent company of S&W from 1965 until 1987 according to SCS&W 4th edition. BP was an American conglomerate in existence from 1964 until 1984. Some confusion on dates but not Spanish owned.

 

[Nightowl]

In general, I agree with his assessment of the quality during that period, although I have several fine Smiths from that time period.

 

[Gunhacker]

When S&W added the "MARCAS REGISTRADAS" (registered trademark) to the address line frame stamping, there were many that thought there was now a Spanish connection to S&W.

I have many revolvers from the 72 - 78 period, I just don't see a big quality drop off.... the 80's era guns, that's a different story.

 

[Absalom]

You will find a lot of overhyped scuttlebutt about the Bangor Punta years.

The fellow with whom the OP talked is a good example; his use of random years 1972-1978, which correlate to nothing, indicates the quality of the sources for his "expertise".

I've owned several, and still own a few, revolvers made during the spread of that era, late 60s to early 80s, and have never found anything wrong with any of them.

The specific complaints I remember from the time, and they were indeed a thing, all related to quality control issues. That is, the problems apparently were not inferior materials, looser tolerances in manufacture, etc., but guns that made it into the box and out the door with scratched stocks, screws not tightened, actually missing parts, etc.

There: that's my contribution to the scuttlebutt

So if you come across a gun from that time frame which you like, it works and all is well with it, forget about Bangor Punta.

 

[Protocall_Design]

From the guns I've seen during that time, I would say that the Bangor Punta and Lear Seigler eras both had their share of problems. There were guns that were perfectly fine to ones that were pretty bad, and everything in between. Most of the problem ones could be fixed fairly easily with some quality gunsmithing or a new part or two. The new ones we have now are not problem free, either.

 

[Jack Flash]

I never thought about it like this before, but I believe I have S&Ws from almost every decade of the last century. Certainly at least one per decade from 1950 on. The fit and finish may vary, but I don't think I have a single one that I consider a lemon.

People often complain that quality slipped in the BP and / or LS eras. Or the gripe is that all the old craftsmen retired only to be replaced by lesser qualified "assemblers".

There may be some truth to some of that but you could never prove it by me. I believe that if anything left the factory with problems, it was sent back and reworked / replaced or simply fixed by a qualified 'smith at the point of sale. The ones that survived to make it into my hands are very fine revolvers indeed.

 

[gman51]

The guy that talked bad about that time S&W was owned by BP could have been because Rossi at that time was with S&W under the same BP parent company. Oh my gosh mentioning Rossi as S&W were once under the same company is like blasphemy against S&W. I own two of the Rossi clones of S&W 36 and 60 models and they are excellent revolvers.
S&W never was and never will be considered scrap metal junk.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Well, I'd have to say that THESE S&W revolvers MIGHT be junk.

Oh, wait a minute. These aren't S&Ws. They're Taurus revolvers, vintage unknown. I have them on indefinite "loan" from the widow of the guy who owned them. She's not a "gun person."

I don't know why he bought them - maybe because they were less expensive than real S&Ws. Or maybe he bought them for a song because the previous owner(s) found them lacking for whatever reason.

All I know is that although they look and feel like Smith & Wessons, I wouldn't bother to try to shoot them, or worse, rely on them as self-defense guns. Maybe they're OK, maybe not. I do know that the S&Ws I have from the '70s work perfectly.

John

 

[ancient-one]

I don't remember the year but I went to Murf's guns at Duncan OK to buy a 686. He had a bunch but I did not buy one because of the dents and scratches. I looked at all that he had.

 

[UncleEd]

As I recall, BP did have a few problems and LS
amplified them by insisting higher production
with the same or fewer employees.

 

[ancient-one]

This didn't start out to be a bash Taurus thread but since it was changed I will chime in. No, Taurus was never meant to be the same as S&W, nor were they priced as high. I have the same Model as the top one pictured (had it a long time)and it has not had one problem. It is easy to pocket carry but now resides in my center console. I have stooped to carrying a Taurus G2C 9mm. So far it has also been problem free.

 

[hittman77]

Some I know have confused Astra as being owned by or made by S&W.

 

[gman51]

It always seems to amaze me how someone can refer to any gun as possibly being junk when they haven't even shot it or in many cases even held it.

 

[Frank121]

I bought a Rossi M88 stainless Interarms revolver with wood grips new from Murph's Guns in Duncan way back in maybe the late 1980's.

I could't afford a more expensive S&W and I think I remember the fellow saying it was Rossi's version of a S&W Model 60.

I shot it some over the years and never had any issues with it. I kept it for home defense until I sold it in 2016. It was in great condition and I even still had the box.

Now that I have a S&W Model 60 I can definitely see the external similarities.

 

[Waveski]

I carried and shot a Taurus 85 ss for about a year and it was totally reliable .....
Oh wait - This ain't a Taurus thread!!!

 

[Laketime]

It always seems to amaze me how someone can refer to any gun as possibly being junk when they haven't even shot it or in many cases even held it.

Agreed. It's also like saying ...I wouldn't trust my life driving a Kia.