Posted: 10/22/2006 11:21:14 AM EDT
| Do all of the new revolvers made by Smith and Wesson have the internal lock? I know most of the J-frames I have seen lately have the lock. I was considering getting a new model 10 and was wondering if they come with the lock too. |
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If your willing to wait. Try looking at the gun auction/selling sites. If they dont say if it has a lock, ASK. you should be able to find a nice one if you try. by looking on the www site, you will also get an idea on cost. i just purchased 2 617s with the 4" bbl w/o the stupid locks. It took me about a year to find them but its worth it. Note that it took that long since i wasnt looking that hard and the 4" bbl versions are harder to find. |
| This all just sucks! Ruger has that tacky warning thing stamped on their revolvers, S&W has the stupid locks no one wants and you might as well say Colt doesn't even build revolvers these days. Perhaps Freedom Arms should explore the premium DA revolver market. |
well. if people werent so set on getting rich quick or blame someone else for being a FI then you wouldnt have all of the dumb safety devices on guns, yet alone other things. thats why my favorite saying is: "the tree of life is self pruning". its just too bad the pruning isnt faster. you cant even have a car accident w/o getting sued anymore. i guess you cant call and "accident" an accident anymore, its called "premeditated collision"? |
Actually, I never thought about buying a ruger before, but I would prefer thier warning over the internal lock. I might just have to look at one the next time I am in the shop. |
We're not talking about new guns that break - we're talking about a CHEAPLY ENGINEERED modification that makes the original designs malfunction. Even Springfield and Taurus have better lock systems.  |
 I woud like to see you back up your claims with some fact, instead of mere assertion.
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| The facts are out there for anyone to see. All one needs to do is a bit of online research. The Smith & Wesson forum illustrates many lock failures. E-mail Jim McLeod of the Firing Line (NH) range. Two of his guns were noted in an article on the subject by Ayoob in American Handgunner. |
OK  I don't own a SW with a lock but here's some people who do............ smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/500103904/m/228102718/p/1 Here's an article by Massad Ayoob in American Handgunner mag. www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_173_29/ai_n7578382 I DO have a Taurus snubbie .357 with a Lock - and it has never given me a problem - same with my GI Springfield.  |
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I own one locked handgun, SW 21. Will never own another, period. My guns are tools not toys. When I need one, I may very well NEED it. It is not a "non issue" as the SW website documents and I will say this about that site, most of the people there are real gentleman, it is a cut above most firearms websites. I tend to believe most of what I see there. People will say that theres is not a problem, hey, good for you! There were many thousands of Pintos that went to the scrap heap without incinerating their owners I'm sure. It's an unneccessary lottery that I won't play. |
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OK, so given that every single model of gun from every single manufacturer has a % of problematic units, what do you pick? And, if for CCW or SHTF (the whole "if I need one, then i really need one" thing) then one must put what, 500 rounds of the intended ammo through a gun before declaring it reliable enough to consider for defensive purposes, right? And, if a S&W passes that test, has it not proven itself? |
When it comes to S&W revolvers, the choice is clear. Get a pre-lock gun.
That's really intended more for feed/extraction/ejection reliability in autos than for revolvers. The issues with integral locks can appear at any point. It's not just a matter of newness. |
| It's very simple to take the lock out and grind off the tab with a dremel or whatever and then put it back in, to keep out dust and debri. You can then turn the lock all you want and it doesn't work, so there's no possibility of it accidently locking at a bad time. This modification doesn't affect anything else on the handgun, looks or function. Basically, it gives you a handgun with the little keyhole just like all the rest of todays S&W's, but without the stupid lock that potentially could malfunction. It took me about 20 minutes to remove the side cover, pull out the piece, and grind off the tab, and then put it back together. I'm not a gunsmith or a lawyer, I'm just telling you what I did. If anyone sees a problem with this, I would love to hear it. |
I did the same thing with my 642. |
ETA, I wish I had gotten the 642. |
And what I'm planning to do with my 686. |
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I've had been buying Smith and Wessons since the seventies. While I've been getting rid of a few of my Smith safe queens lately I've still got over 20 of them. I like Smiths but I will never buy one with the internal lock. Its not just the failure issue but mainly the aesthetics. I don't like having a ugly wart like the internal lock on the side of one of my revolvers. Some have called me some rathar uncomplimentry names on the Smith&Wesson forum because of my stance on the lock issue. However, its my money and I won't spend my hard-earned bucks on a Smith with internal lock. I feel it makes a difference to the majority of revolver buyers as well. Otherwise why would the majority of revolver buyers seek out the pre-locks guns. I know this for a fact as I have been selling some of my pre lock Smiths lately and they sell very quickly on that forum. |
Thanks for the links and the thread guys! I was planning on a S&W for my first revolver but now will past 100% on all S&W revolvers. What are my other options for no internal lock revolvers? ... American made revolvers that is. Thanks |
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yeah... the smiths are VERY nice. What power tool will I need to take the internal lock off myself? Or should I have a smith do it? |
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The 340 was made for a short time without the lock (I have one and NO it is not for sale) but they are hard to find on the used market. |
I'm not really sure the Lawyers are the only blame here. I belive the new owners of Smith&Wesson to be Safe-T-Hammer who made their money manufacturing those damn locks. Would not look good for business if they didn't install them. Chief |
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My S&W Model 60 in .357 mag engaged itself while at the range. It took me a moment or two to realize what had happened. Luckily I had the key with me. After unlocking the firearm I went back to shooting. I sold the pistol shortly thereafter and now only purchase older pre-lock guns. If I had been using that pistol in a "life or death" situation instead of blasting paper at the range...well...it's a good thing to always carry a backup. FWIW I've never had an issue with the ILS on my Springfield 1911 or any other pistol: just the S&W Model 60. |
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To heck with the locks, I don't have to worry. I only buy non MIM revolvers. All my guns still have the firing pin mounted on the hammer nose, where it belongs. Ever wonder why all the Performance Center guns are still using forged parts - hammers and triggers? Before MIM the hammer and trigger studs were screwed in, now they are a press fit. You need a machinist/gunsmith or the factory to do the repairs. So buy the older gun if you can. Generally speaking they are made better, fitted better, and can be had for less money. Giz |