Ok...stupid question time...

[Glock 'em down]

I picked up my very first Smith & Wesson revolver about 24/25 years ago. It was my dad's old Victory model Military & Police .38 Special and I was 12/13 years old. I didn't know all of that at the time, and quite honestly, I never knew what a Victory model M&P revolver was until just a couple of years ago!

Anyway...

I bought my very first S&W revolver in the summer of 1989. An L frame 681 with a 4 inch snout. I've owned several others since then, bought/sold/traded a million times and I now own three: a J frame model 38 no dash (circa 1985) Airweight Bodyguard, a K frame model 12-2 Airweight snubbie (circa 1970) and yes, dad's old Victory model M&P.

My stupid question is this:

What does "Bangor Punta" mean? And while we're at it, what does "Marcas Registradas" mean?

 

[Amici]

My stupid question is this:

What does "Bangor Punta" mean? And while we're at it, what does "Marcas Registradas" mean?

1. Bangor Punta is the holding company that owned S&W in the '70's.

2. "Marcas Registradas" means Registered Trademark.

 

[45Wheelgun]

Bangor Punta was the name of a holding company that bought S&W from the family in the 60's. I think 1969, but someone will probably correct me.

I just like saying the name because it sounds "dirty" when you say it out loud.

As far as "Marcas Registradas" someone will give a better answer,but basically it is spanish for "Trademark Reserved". Had to do with Spanish copies in the early 1900's.

 

[Glock 'em down]

Aha! So that would mean my model 12-2 snubbie is from the Bangor Punta era...right?

Is this good or bad?

 

[45Wheelgun]

Aha! So that would mean my model 12-2 snubbie is from the Bangor Punta era...right?

Is this good or bad?

Good or bad. I guess that depends on when you asked the question. When I first got interested in Smiths and their history (80's) anyone you asked would tell you anything after the family owned them was junk.

Today Collectors value and love the BP guns, they had "pins" and were "recessed", traditional wood grips and were built with love. Of course they didn't have locks in them either.

It seems to a degree that the most recent guns are junk and anything 20 or 30 years old was always better, and it has been that way since I have been collecting. I'm sure in the 50's those newfangled "model numbered" guns were junk and the only good Smith as a pre-war smith.