CajunBass
Member
When did Smith and Wesson stop pinning barrels and recessing cylinders? (Model 19 specifically if that matters.)
Pinned and recessed
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The Lone Haranguer
Member
Give or take a year, c. 1982. Around this time they had been taken over by Bangor Punta, who instituted cost-cutting measures.
No, Bangor Punta bought S&W in 1965 and started a period of poorer quality and cost cutting then. After their sale in 1984, things seemed to pick up noticeably. I have a few mid and late 80s guns, and on average they exceed the quality of those guns I own/have owned in the time range 1970 to 1982.
The investment in new tooling and management practices really improved AFTER the P&R decision was made. Also keep in mind, "P&R" were just styling choices, not major engineering changes or features. Especially the pinning, which was more traditional and cosmetic than necessary. Crush fitting was what was holding the barrels in since the 50s, not the pinning.
Your best bet in a model 19 is to individually inspect each one you are considering buying, testing for mechanical condition, b/c gap, endshake, and fit and finish. I would prefer to have a 19, 19-1, 19-2, or 19-5, or 19-6 over the 19-3 or 19-4 ON AVERAGE.
Note the third post in this thread currently running (the one by Hawk). I have to agree with it, things had picked up by the late 70s, the late 60s early 70s seemed to be the nadir of unpredictability in quality:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=378457
The investment in new tooling and management practices really improved AFTER the P&R decision was made. Also keep in mind, "P&R" were just styling choices, not major engineering changes or features. Especially the pinning, which was more traditional and cosmetic than necessary. Crush fitting was what was holding the barrels in since the 50s, not the pinning.
Your best bet in a model 19 is to individually inspect each one you are considering buying, testing for mechanical condition, b/c gap, endshake, and fit and finish. I would prefer to have a 19, 19-1, 19-2, or 19-5, or 19-6 over the 19-3 or 19-4 ON AVERAGE.
Note the third post in this thread currently running (the one by Hawk). I have to agree with it, things had picked up by the late 70s, the late 60s early 70s seemed to be the nadir of unpredictability in quality:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=378457
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CajunBass
Member
Thanks. I looked at a (what to my very uneducated eyes) near mint condition, P&R, 4", Nickled, Model 19, yesterday. Gun doesn't even look like it's been fired although the dealer made no such claims. I didn't have my reading glasses with me, so I didn't even make an attempt to read the S/R number or the dash number. They were stamped much too close to the metal. 
I'll be going back tomorrow, so I'll take a look again if it's still there. If not, there'll be another one sooner or later.
I was just trying to get an idea for now. You know how you look at something, hand it back, THEN think of a million questions. The salesman, who I've known for years, (he knows his stuff) did tell my wife it was made "before 1971" but didn't say how he knew that. I was talking to someone else then, and didn't think to follow up.
Thanks for your help. 'Preciate it.
I'll be going back tomorrow, so I'll take a look again if it's still there. If not, there'll be another one sooner or later.I was just trying to get an idea for now. You know how you look at something, hand it back, THEN think of a million questions. The salesman, who I've known for years, (he knows his stuff) did tell my wife it was made "before 1971" but didn't say how he knew that. I was talking to someone else then, and didn't think to follow up.
Thanks for your help. 'Preciate it.
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