History of Smith & Wesson Ownership
CFXRacer
1985 - S&W sold to Lear Siegler
1987 - S&W sold to Tompkins PLC
Can someone please fill-in details about
the history of S&W ownership. Who owned
S&W before 1965 ? Any comments on
ownership vs quality....etc.
Thanks
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rb...@my-deja.com
cfxr...@gateway.net (CFXRacer) wrote:
# 1965 - S&W sold to Banjor Punta
# 1985 - S&W sold to Lear Siegler
# 1987 - S&W sold to Tompkins PLC
#
# Can someone please fill-in details about
# the history of S&W ownership. Who owned
# S&W before 1965 ? Any comments on
# ownership vs quality....etc.
It was family owned for most of its history. If you read the fine
book by Jim Supica and Rick Nahas, you'll get the history. Also
good books buy Roy Jenks.
I hope this thread develops. The quality issue is the one that
interests me most. While many people will only have one or two
examples of production within a time frame, some truths will surface.
#From what I can see, quality was a roller coaster ride over the last
century. I'm not able to comment on the 1800s. It looks to me as
if there were peaks of quality (maybe quality control) several times.
#From what I can see, one high point occurred in the very early 1900s,
from the late single digits up thru a trough in WWI. The best example
of good quality was the Triple Lock/New Century. After WWI, quality
began to improve, and again peaked in the late 1930s, just before the
junk produced in WWII. Best examples of that are the Registered Magnum
and some of the K targets, like the K22. After WWII, quality again
came up pretty quickly, which was a suprise because of the high demand.
Finish quality didn't occur. Up thru the 1950s and early 60s, quality
was pretty good. Bangor Punta era was marked by variable quality.
I personally think they just had some lazy inspectors that would pass
about anything thru, and some assembly was very good, others bad.
There were some very good guns made in the 1970s, but some junk.
Recent quality and innovation has been very good, as best seen in the
new Titanium series. The automatics don't follow this trend. The
automatics are barely better than the Rugers, in service grade guns.
Surely not the equal of the Glocks, Sigs, Beretta's, etc. The exception
to that is the M52 and M41 target guns.
If you look at the grips, or stocks, you can pretty much see that same
evolution. Early wood was beautiful walnut. Nice coloration, spotty
checkering. The wood quality was usually great up thru the 60s, when
Bangor Punta allowed it to go to crap. Check out an early 1970s set
of walnut. It looks like plastic, or, as I prefer, petrified dog crap.
This is the one major area of gun finish that S&W consistently beat
Colt quality, hands down. Colt had terrible wood with a worse finish.
About the only time frame where S&W really had good blue was the late
1930s. Their idea of surface prep must have been a once over with
sandpaper in the Bangor Punta era. Same goes for the early post WWII
time frame.
Another thing to remember is that S&W seemed to spend time on their
flagship guns, and neglected the service guns. Examples might be
the difference between a M10 and the M29s. Also keep in mind that
guns that came from the custom shop, or had custom features were
usually much better than production guns.
Dick Burg
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Harold Leahy
1847 - Daniel Wesson, apprenticed to his brother Edwin, meets Sam Colt and
Captain Walker. E. Wesson & Company manufacturers barrels and conical bullet
molds for Colt.
1849-1850 - Edwin Wesson dies and leaves a patent application to his heirs,
including Daniel Wesson. The patent application was for an improved revolver
with a mechanically-operated cylinder. The heirs form the Wesson Rifle
Company to produce a rifle and sell the pending patent application to
Benjamin Warner. Wesson Rifle Company goes bust and is bought at auction.
#From the remains the Massachusetts Arms Company is formed to produce the
revolver. The stockholders of Massachusetts Arms include Benjamin Warner
(his descendents will found Warner Arms, which is eventually merged with
Davis and Crescent - which is all eventually bought by Stevens), Joshua
Stevens (founder of J. Stevens, now ownerd by Savage), DB Wesson and Horace
Smith.
1850 - Orville Perciva and Asa Smith receive patent for a magazine-loaded
pistol. Firearms is manufactured by Horace Smith
1851 - Horace Smith receives a patent for a 'Magazine Firearm'
1852 - Colt sues over a claimed patent infringement and wins, effectively
shutting down the Massachusetts Arms Co. Dan Wesson learns a lesson that he
will not forget about patents and will make Colt suffer in the future.
1853 - First S&W partnership. Produces the Volcanic lever action repeating
pistol.
1854 - Patents 22 rimfire cartridge. Smith & Wesson receive a second patent
for a magazine firearm. Tyler Henry of Henry rifle fame is a silent partner.
The first S&W corporation formed, located in Norwich, CT.
1855 - Rollin White patents bored through cylinder. Samuel Colt refuses to
manufacture the revolver. Volcanic lever action production turned over the
Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., Oliver Winchester is a partner/stockholder. As
part of the sale to Volcanic , S&W gave Volcanic the right to manufacture
ammo, royalty free, that falls under their patent.
1856 - White sells his patent to S&W, apparently as individuals not as a
company.
1857 - Colt patent on revolving cylinders expires. Volcanic Arms Co. goes
into receivership, Oliver Winchester buys all of its assets and forms the
New Haven Arms Co.
1858 - Second S&W partnership and company. First S&W revolver. Plant located
on Market St.
1860 - New plant located on Stockbridge St. , manufactured guns and ammo in
the plant.
1862 - S&W file patent infringement suit against Manhatten Fire Arms
Manufacturing and wins.
1865 - New Haven Arms Co. becomes the Henry Repeating Rifle Co.
1866 - Henry Repeating Rifle Co. becomes Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
Winchester firearms and its famed lever action can trace its corporate roots
to the first S&W company. Union Metallic Cartridge Company licensed to
produce ammo by S&W. UMC eventually becomes part of Remington.
1867 - Wesson Fire Arms Company formed. The owners are Horace Smith and
Daniel Wesson as individuals and Frank Wesson. The firm was to manufacture
double-barreled shotguns.
1868 - S&W and E. Remington & Sons sign a contract allowing Remington to
modify their percussion revolvers to 46 Rimfire. All of the guns are to be
sold to B. Kittredge & Co. of Cincinatti. Ammo patent expires.
1869 - Rollin White patent expires. S&W sells off all of their interests in
the ammo business.
1870 or 1871 - Wesson Fire Arms Company ceases business and sells all of its
assets.
1873 - Horace Smith retires and sells his interest to D. B. Wesson
president. DB Wesson and his family have full control of S&W. Wesson
creates a partnership to run the company, composed of himself and his sons.
1880 - first double action revolver. Wesson Sewing Machine Company formed
then sold within 2 months to Farmer and Gardner Manufacturing Company.
1886 - first safety hammerless - forerunner of Centennial model
1893 - Horace Smith dies
1896 - first hand ejector revolver
1906 - D. B. Wesson dies, Walter Wesson president. The partnership that runs
S&W is converted into a trust.
1908 - first N-frame
1918 - 6/3/1918 - 2/6/1919 US Army takes over management of plant for WW1
production of the .45 Hand Ejector Model of 1917, due to poor management by
the Wessons..
1921 - first S&W handcuffs made
1922 - the Wesson family trust is dissolved and a corporation is formed.
Harold Wesson is president.
1937 - first 357 Magnum
1939 - CR Hellstrom hired to run the plant. He demands and gets full autonmy
from the Wessons.
1946 - CR Hellstrom president. First non-family member to run the company.
1950 - first J-frame
1957 - model numbers introduced
1963 - Hellstrom dies of a heart attack. Will Gunn president.
1965 - Bangor Punta buys S&W with a stock tender offer. The Wesson family is
no longer connected with the firm. Cynthia Wesson, a granddaughter of DB
Wesson, took the money she received from the stock sale and returned it to
the company for disbursement to the employees who had loyally served the
company. First stainless steel handgun.
1971 - Model 59, first 'wonder nine'
1981 - first L-frame
1982 - first second-generation semi-auto
1984 - Sold to Lear Siegler
1987 - Sold to Tompkins plc
1988 - first third generation semi-auto
1990 - 40 S&W introduced
2000 - S&W sells out
Sources:
Neal & Jinks - Smith & Wesson 1857-1945
Jinks - History of Smith & Wesson
Supica & Nahas - Standard Catalog of S&W
McHenry & Roper - Smith & Wesson Handguns
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