Taurus Website Comments On Smith & Wesson

[357-RevolverGuy]

I was browsing around on Taurus’ website and under the history tab I found this written statement where Taurus claims that during the Bangor Punta years, they were “righting” a lot of the wrongs with Smith & Wesson. I wonder how much of this statement was just a marketing decision by a writer there? (To make the company look good to those visiting their site.)

Here is an excerpt from their website history page. If you’d like to read the entire page you can go to Taurus International Manufacturing Inc

“Smith & Wesson had been purchased by a conglomerate named Bangor Punta. In 1970, Bangor Punta also purchased 54% of Taurus. Thus, the two companies became "sisters". Smith & Wesson never owned Taurus. They were both independent companies. However, during the next seven years, a great deal of technology and methodology was passed between the two. What may come as a surprise to some is that more of what was "right" in Porto Alegre was sent to Springfield than was sent from Springfield to south of the equator.”

I still do enjoy the firearms Smith & Wesson manufactured during the Bangor Punta years, but even before the new ownership, I believe they were producing some of the finest firearms in the industry. My opinion is that if history proved anything it was that Smith & Wesson were the one's responsible in giving Taurus the knowledge and methodology that has made them what they are today. If not for the tradeoff in secrets, I don't think they would have gained as much success. Most of the guns I see designed by Taurus seem strikingly familiar to some of the older Smith guns.

What do you guys think? Any thoughts?

 

[charlie sherrill]

Sounds reasonable to me.

 

[longranger]

Yes,it is true that S&W and Taurus competed with each other,even to this very day.Equality based outcomes results in the quality you have today,S&W revolvers are mere shadows of what they were and could be.

 

[jaykellogg]

Taurus is a bit strange. They offer a lifetime warranty and it is good for subsequent owners as well. However their reputation for customer service is spotty at best. I wanted a .44 magnum snub and I didn't want to pay S&W prices for one. A like new Taurus 44C smiled at me in a pawnshop. I got it for $350 otd. It seems well made, but I wish it didn't have the internal lock.

 

[mtgianni]

"Smith & Wesson had been purchased by a conglomerate named Bangor Punta. In 1970, Bangor Punta also purchased 54% of Taurus. Thus, the two companies became "sisters". Smith & Wesson never owned Taurus. They were both independent companies. However, during the next seven years, a great deal of technology and methodology was passed between the two. What may come as a surprise to some is that more of what was "right" in Porto Alegre was sent to Springfield than was sent from Springfield to south of the equator.”
If they mean cheaper manpower, looser tooling and Gonclavo Alves wood I belive them. If they mean better blueing, metal fit and quality I have my doubts.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Is that around the time they put a coil spring in a J frame?

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

If they mean cheaper manpower, looser tooling and Gonclavo Alves wood I belive them. If they mean better blueing, metal fit and quality I have my doubts.

That's exactly how I feel about that statement on their site. I'm not trying to knock Taurus. They have a few good models I would maybe consider, but they really should give credit to whom credit is due. S&W was founded in 1852 and they have had generations of learning to do things right. Taurus started out in 1941, but didn't start distributing at a larger scale until 1968, and they expect us believe that they had to show them how to do things right in Springfield? I would be interested in someone from their company to back that statement up and give facts and details, and see if the guys in Springfield agree.

 

[k22fan]

Is that around the time they put a coil spring in a J frame?

No. The J frame was introduced with a coil mainspring in 1950.

 

[kennyb]

Taurus is a bit strange. They offer a lifetime warranty and it is good for subsequent owners as well. However their reputation for customer service is spotty at best. I wanted a .44 magnum snub and I didn't want to pay S&W prices for one. A like new Taurus 44C smiled at me in a pawnshop. I got it for $350 otd. It seems well made, but I wish it didn't have the internal lock.

its good they come with the lifetime warranty...if you own one...you will use it....a lot!

 

[GKC]

its good they come with the lifetime warranty...if you own one...you will use it....a lot!

The Taurus lifetime warranty means that they guarantee that you will spend a lifetime trying to contact Taurus, trying to get your gun fixed, waiting on it to come back, and then starting all over again when it still doesn't work.

The lifetime warranty also includes a subsection that guarantees that once you own a Taurus, you will never ever buy another in your lifetime.

 

[badguybuster]

Thats ****. I own several and know people who own lots more. If its broke they fix it. I've never had to send my in for repair. I've had more issues with my smiths than my taurus revolvers. I love how everyone poo poo's on taurus yet their sells are through the roof and they offer a bunch more options than any other manufacturer. The only trouble free brand I've ever had was ruger.

 

[GKC]

I own several and know people who own lots more. If its broke they fix it. I've never had to send my in for repair.

Then you are lucky...that was definitely not my experience.

 

[Titan]

That's rich!

So S&W is successful today, because they pilfered technology from Taurus that never managed to find its way into Taurus products?

HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!

 

[sipowicz]

What may come as a surprise to some is that more of what was "right" in Porto Alegre was sent to Springfield than was sent from Springfield to south of the equator.

That's because most of what was sent down by S&W fell off the donkey before it reached the Taurus hut factory.

 

[A10]

My wife's first gun was (not counting the Single Six she stole from me) a Taurus 85. She got it in 1983, and it's a good one. I had a newer 605 for a while and it wasn't built nearly as well, and the crane retention was just plain funky. I'll keep my Smiths.

 

[acropora]

i havent had one issue with my taurus PT 24/7 pro DS 9mm.i have heard of the .40 and .45 cals having some issues but not sure exactly what those issues were.i have fired well over 2000 rounds through my 9mm without one problem.i have never owned a S&W pistol so cant say anything good or bad about them.

 

[papajohn428]

I've owned four Tauri, two were fine and two had serious issues. I unloaded the two bad ones and enjoyed the good ones. And last week I helped a nice lady shop for a house gun, she picked up a 2" Taurus 445 in 44 Special, and in a complete tear-down I couldn't find anything wrong with it. It's not a Smith, but for under $400 it's not a bad gun.

 

[kennyb]

The Taurus lifetime warranty means that they guarantee that you will spend a lifetime trying to contact Taurus, trying to get your gun fixed, waiting on it to come back, and then starting all over again when it still doesn't work.

The lifetime warranty also includes a subsection that guarantees that once you own a Taurus, you will never ever buy another in your lifetime.

LOLOLOL...agreed!just this morning i spoke with my gunsmith who works for a large gun store...he hates them and says about four out of six that the store sells has to be sent back!

 

[mkk41]

I know several shops that won't carry Taurus revolvers. They won't take them in trade or buy walk-ins either.

When I was in the gun business , I had the same rules. I would only order one if the customer REALLY wanted one and would pay in advance , and with the understanding that yes , they had a lifetime warranty. And that meant when , not IF , but WHEN they had a problem with it , it was THEIR problem to deal with , not mine.
THEY dealt with shipping it back and dealt with the warranty dept.

 

[chief38]

I was never a Taurus fan - always thought of them as cheap S&W copies. It's true their quality has risen over the last decade but as they say.... "they ain't no Smith & Wesson".