Hi to everyone, this is my first post. My brother & I bought two Smith & Wessons Model 27 & Model 19 back in the 70's. On the model 27 the shell ejection rod would stick when you are opening up the cylinder. I had to get it polished down some. On the model 19 the cylinder would bind a little, making the hammer sticky when pulling back. Did Smith & Wesson have problems with the revolvers in the 70's, possibly when they had them made in Cuba? My friend has a Model 17, 22 caliber and he is interested in selling it to me. It is new in the box serial #SK896xx. Do you have any idea when this one was made? I don't want to buy it and have any problems with it. Thanks in advance for your help.
Smith & Wesson revolver 1970's
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Mickey D
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Cuba? 
OFT II
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Yep. It's a well kept secret that S&W had them manufactured in Cuba by someone named Goncalo Alves.
There was also a plant in Bangor Punta, Maine.
There was also a plant in Bangor Punta, Maine.
I suppose I may be uninformed, but to my knowledge, S&W never manufactured any of their products in Cuba.
Bill
Bill
Yes, Smith & Wesson had the revolvers made in Cuba in the 70's. That is why a lot of the guns that were mfg. there had poor quality control. Example, mine & my brothers. Once again, does anyone have any idea when my friends Model 17 was made? Thanks.
They were also made at the North Pole. I know this because I received a S&W for Christmas once. 
ogilvyspecial
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Maximumbob54
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Duhh...
That's why it's got that Spanish marcas registradas down the side...
Don't you know Spanglish???
That's why it's got that Spanish marcas registradas down the side...
Don't you know Spanglish???
wewaslim
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Sorry to add a correction. Bangor Punta is in South Florida near Boca Raton, which moved to Florida from Cuba in 1973.
Stu Honea
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There was an employee at S&W,don't know if he was cuban or not.I think his name was Marcas Registradas.
Every time I bought a new revolver I knew it was going to be a good one even before I fired it,because I could see that it was assembled by that same guy named Marcas.
Seriously though,there were some QC issues during the Bangor Punta days with the new guns.
Every time I bought a new revolver I knew it was going to be a good one even before I fired it,because I could see that it was assembled by that same guy named Marcas.
Seriously though,there were some QC issues during the Bangor Punta days with the new guns.
The U.S. has had a trade embargo against Cuba since Castro took power in the late 1950's. It prohibits U.S. companies from engaging in any kind of commerce with Cuba which is why there is no way S&W ever had any revolvers manufactured there.
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Welcome to the Forum. I believe the SN on the model 17 begins with the number 5, and if so it probably shipped from the factory (Springfield, MA) in 1974. There is another S & W facility in Maine, but as Bill noted they have never had a manufacturing plant outside the US. If the model 17 in question seems to work normally I would buy and enjoy it. Hope this is helpful.
CAJUNLAWYER
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Bangor Punta ran that little sporting house in Havana next to the factory. Goncalo Alves, her husband, was also the plant manager overseeing the Cuban operations. Rumor is that Castro was a frequent visitor to the sporting house and that as a favor to Bangor, he allowed the factory to stay open and did not nationalize it. The guns were imported into the US through Brazil to avoid the embargo that was in existance at the time between Cuba and the US. Fascinating bit of Smith & Wesson history.
And the world is full of comedians. Larry
elm_creek_smith
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I've shared the story elsewhere on the site about a gun dealer's minion who was telling a nice young couple that all Smith & Wesson revolvers are made by Taurus in Brazil. I asked the young lady to pick up the Smith & Wesson and read what was on the right side of the frame below the cylinder. When she got to "Made in U.S.A," I thanked her and walked away.
ECS
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You guys are crazy, crazy, crazy. These are real good, made my morning.
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James
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James
To your question about the sticky cylinder - toward the end of the -3 run (for example 19-3, around S/N 8Kxxxxx), S&W moved the gas ring from the cylinder to the yoke. The firing gas and debris would then get into the cylinder bearing gap and start to cause the cylinder to drag. I sent a couple guns back to S&W and they put a cylinder gas ring on them and that fixed the problem. I doubt if they still do this, but you might check. On your 19, remove the front side plate screw which will let you remove the yoke and cylinder. Then slide the cylinder off the yoke and clean the bearing surfaces for a temporary fix. I don't know if S&W ever put the gas ring on the yoke of N frames. Eventually the -4's fixed this problem. Hope this helps.
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