Internal lock?

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It's what it says. A locking mechanism that's built into certain guns. The only ones I've seen are in the Smith and Wesson revolvers. There's a keyhole on the left side with an arrow (and some lettering) indicating which way to turn the key.

If they had appointed a committee to come up with the ugliest way to do that, they couldn't have succeeded any more than they did.

Not only is it ugly, but there have been documented cases of the Smith lock spontaneously engaging to where the owner had to send it back to the factory. The Smith and Wesson forum had over 30 pages of such failures, but when the new owner took over, he deleted them. I suspect maybe he's got some kind of PR deal with S&W. He insists it was an accident and that it's unrecoverable. Odd that he could recover everything else, though.

Ruger has also started putting a lock into some of their guns, but it's under the grips, out of sight, I think. Haven't heard of any of them magically engaging though.
 
The S&W lock can be removed, BTW.

I haven't had mine engage, but that doesn't mean others haven't.
 
"30 pages of such failures"!!!

Just when I was about to finalize my purchase of an S&W 642 for concealed carry I read this!!!

Something happens once and it is called an "accident"; twice, and it is called a "coincident"; thrice, and it could well be a "HABIT". "30 pages of such failures" is far past that...I think.

Perhaps I should get a Taurus 85 instead. Or is there a "habit" there too?
 
No safety in sight on my M&P .45 auto. The only possible is just the slide lock bar that holds the slide back when the gun is unloaded and is being cleaned.

Anything that adds to complexity or complicates gun operation is prone to failure.
 
Regarding the "30 pages of such failures" I have to wonder how much of those 30 pages were filled with pure commentary, vs. actual reportings. I guess we'll never know.
I have read elsewhere that of those legit reported cases, the culprit was predominately the Airlight (12oz. .357) version.
 
Too bad the new owner didn't do away with the locks as easy as he did with those 30 pages. :rolleyes:
 
the problem (far as I'm aware) has only happened in the super light weight ti and sc revolvers when fired with supper hot loads, so far as I have heard firing 38s or even plus p hasn't caused any issue in them. I still see no point in buy a 340 just because of how uncomfortable 357s would be and even more dislike them because of the lock, whats the point of owning it if you fear it failing you.

just my 2 cents, personally if you want a s&w 357 I say just find an older prelock like a 640 or somethin similar.
 
I'll avoid the S+W till they fix the problem.
Click to expand...

There are thousands of 357 pre lock Smith and Wessons for sale on gunbroker, gunsamerica, the Smith and Wesson forum, et al. If you want a S&W without the lock, get it.
 
Readyrod,
If the only thing keeping you from buying a new S&W is the internal lock, be advised the internal lock is very easy to remove, eliminating any chance of accidental lock up. This is a fact, because I have removed one from a new 67, 686, and 629. You just take off the side plate, remove the hammer, and lift out the locking bar. In my opinion the new SS S&W's are a work of art and extremely well built, beautiful and precise. It is too bad they have the ridiculous internal lock, but it does not effect the function of the revolver, especially when removed.
 
Remove the lock???

So, one is to buy a BRAND new gun - at TOP price - "a work of art and extremely well built, beautiful and precise "then have to "take off the side plate, remove the hammer, etc"? And THIRTY now-removed web pages discussing the "accidental lock up" - and I'm to buy one with confidence? I don't think so.
 
I purchased a new 638 with the offending lock; I didn't like it, but I wanted a +P rated J frame (I have an older S&W airweight made before +P approval).

After removing the sideplate and inspecting the way the internal lock works, I applied a prevenative amount of "super glue" to the mechanism to insure it doesn't "accidently" engage.
 
Some of the pictures I've seen of S&Ws on this site are so fine looking. I'll probably get one but I'm too much of a beginner to do any modifying. I'll prob get one second hand. It's cheaper that way. But I'll keep all options on the table. They are nice looking guns though. Where do you guys get those beautiful grips?
 
Where do you guys get those beautiful grips?
Click to expand...
Don't forget ebay and gunbroker. Plus the gun shows, although those sellers think that factory Smith grips are made of gold.


http://www.ahrendsgripsusa.com/
http://www.ajaxgrips.com/ajax/ajax
http://alumagrips.com/
http://www.badgercustomgrips.com/
http://www.boonetrading.com/Grips-Ruger.html
http://carboncreations.com/
http://www.clccustomgrips.com/
http://www.eaglegrips.com/styles.htm
http://www.esmeralda.cc/
http://www.grashornsgunworks.com
http://www.grips4guns.com/
http://www.gungrips.net/
http://www.herrett-stocks.com/herretts.htm
http://www.hogueinc.com/
http://www.inventorscolony.com/colli...rips/index.php
http://www.kelleyarms.com/SWDA.htm
http://nill-griffe.de/cms_usa/
http://www.t-grips.com/
http://www.pachmayr.com/
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...59&trai ning=
www.wickedgrips.com
http://www.woodgrips.com/
 
harmonic-

Thanks for this list!

This should be a sticky. This question comes up daily.
 
I love both my Smiths, but like my Colts they are vintage.

No locks for me.

Ever.

I used to have a couple of Taurus revovlers, and one had the internal lock on the hammer. It had this tiny little key, easily lost, easily bent, easily broken. I promptly lost it. No matter; when I sold the gun the buyer had several spares, as his kept breaking, bending or getting lost, too.
 
Benzene, I wouldn't sware off the option of buying a s&w all together, if the lock is such an issue with so many it would seem to me the simple soloution is buy one without the lock (if you are against disabling the lock on a newer revolver) they are quite plentiful.
 
harmonic-

Thanks for this list!

This should be a sticky. This question comes up daily.
Click to expand...


If you like that, you oughta love this.


(Belts)
http://www.gouldusa.com/
http://www.looperleather.com/KydexBelt.html
http://www.miltsparks.com/
http://www.mitchrosen.com/
http://www.raftersgunleather.com/
http://www.rfholsters.com/rfholsters/default.asp?
http://www.sunriseleather.com/
http://www.tedblocker.com/
http://www.taurisholsters.com/index.cfm
http://www.thebeltman.net/
http://thewilderness.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/3
http://www.tuckergunleather.com/
http://www.usgalco.com/Default.asp


(Grips)
http://www.ahrendsgripsusa.com/
http://www.ajaxgrips.com/ajax/ajax
http://alumagrips.com/
http://www.badgercustomgrips.com/
http://www.boonetrading.com/Grips-Ruger.html
http://carboncreations.com/
http://www.clccustomgrips.com/
http://www.eaglegrips.com/styles.htm
http://www.esmeralda.cc/
http://www.grashornsgunworks.com
http://www.grips4guns.com/
http://www.gungrips.net/
http://www.herrett-stocks.com/herretts.htm
http://www.hogueinc.com/
http://www.inventorscolony.com/colli...rips/index.php
http://www.kelleyarms.com/SWDA.htm
http://nill-griffe.de/cms_usa/
http://www.t-grips.com/
http://www.pachmayr.com/
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...59&trai ning=
www.wickedgrips.com
http://www.woodgrips.com/

(Gun dealers)
http://www.adcofirearms.com/
http://www.aimsurplus.com/
http://www.ajcsportshop.com/
http://www.armchairgunshow.com/
http://auctionarms.com/
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php
http://www.bullocksguns.com/
http://www.calssportingarmory.com/
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/dowournewcat.html
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/
http://www.dallasguns.com
http://www.discountgunsales.com/
http://www.eastcountyguns.com/
http://www.empirearms.com/
http://www.galleryofguns.com/
https://www.gilbertsguns.com/
http://gunbroker.com/
http://www.gunlist.net/
http://gunsamerica.com/
http://www.impactguns.com/store/
http://www.interordnance.com/
http://www.kyimports.com/
http://www.lisc.net/p90.htm
http://oldguns.net/
http://www.ozarkguns.com/index.htm
http://www.sportingarms.com/
http://www.simpsonltd.com/
http://www.summitgunbroker.com/index.html
http://www.the-armory.com/
http://www.thegunsource.com/default.aspx
http://www.ordnanceoutsellers.com/index.htm
http://www.pof-usa.com
http://www.warrelicsshop.com/sys-tmpl/door/





(Gun manufacturers)
http://www.accuracyinternational.com/
http://www.armalite.com
www.barrettrifles.com
http://www.benelliusa.com/
http://www.berettausa.com/
http://www.bersafirearmsusa.com/
http://www.browning.com/
http://www.bushmaster.com/
http://www.caspianarms.com/
http://www.cavalryarms.com
http://www.coltsmfg.com/
http://www.cz-usa.com/
http://www.dpmsinc.com/
http://www.essexarms.com/
http://www.fnherstal.com/
http://www.globaltrades.com
http://www.guncrafterindustries.com/
http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/
http://www.kahr.com/
http://www.kel-tec.com/
http://www.kimberamerica.com/
http://www.knightarmco.com/
http://www.lewismachine.net/
http://www.majesticarms.com/ma4.html
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/
www.mkssupply.com
http://www.mossberg.com/
www.naaminis.com
www.navyarms.com
http://www.olyarms.com/
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/
http://www.rockriverarms.com
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/
http://www.sigarms.com/
http://www.sviguns.com/
http://www.springfield-armory.com
http://www.stiguns.com/
http://www.taurususa.com/products/gunselector.cfm
http://www.savagearms.com/
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...&content=11001
http://www.steyr-mannlicher.com/
http://www.tromix.com/
http://www.vectorarms.com/
http://www.waltheramerica.com/index.html
http://www.weatherby.com/support/
www.winchester.com


(Gun parts)
http://www.brownells.com/
http://www.barsto.com/
http://www.calicohardwoods.com/
www.clipdraw.com
http://www.e-gunparts.com/
http://www.gun-parts.com/index.html/
http://www.gunsprings.com/
http://www.jackfirstgun.com/
http://www.midwayusa.com/
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
http://www.natchezss.com/
http://www.opticsplanet.com/
http://www.riflescopes.com
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstor...List_Retail.pdf
http://tacstar.com/tacstar/index.htm

(Holsters)
http://www.5shotleather.com/
http://www.akerleather.com/
http://www.alessileather.com/
http://www.andrewsleather.com/
http://www.bearclawholsters.com/
http://www.bellcharteroakholsters.com/
http://www.bianchi-intl.com/
www.blackhawk.com
http://www.blackhillsleather.com/main.html
http://blade-tech.com/
www.bluegrassholsters.com
http://www.brigadegunleather.com/
http://www.brommelandgunleather.com/
http://www.bulmangunleather.com/
http://www.campingsurvival.com/ind.html
www.cheaperthandirt.com
http://www.c-rusty.com/pages/home.html
http://www.comp-tac.com/
http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/index.html
http://www.delfatti.com/
http://www.desantisholster.com/
http://dillonprecision.com/template...&tocp=Holsters&
http://www.donhume.com/
http://www.epsaddlery.com
http://www.fist-inc.com/
http://www.fobusholster.com/
http://garritysgunleather.com/
http://www.ghostholster.com/
http://www.gouldusa.com/
http://www.grahamholsters.com/
http://www.grandfatheroak.com./
http://www.gun-holsters.com/holsters.html
http://www.haugenhandgunleather.com/
http://www.hbeleatherworks.com/
http://hedleyholsters.com/
http://www.highnoonholsters.com/
http://www.hillsmanholster.com/
http://www.hoffners.com/products.htm
http://www.holsters.org/index.htm
http://www.intercomm.com/hersey4way/
http://www.jagwear.com/
www.kdholsters.com
http://www.kirkpatrickleather.com/
http://www.klnullholsters.com/
http://www.kramerleather.com/
http://www.kytac.com/
www.LawmanLeatherGoods.com
http://www.lightningarms.com/
http://www.littlefeatherleather.com/
http://www.m2tactical.com/
http://www.miltsparks.com/
http://www.mitchrosen.com/
http://www.natchezss.com/
http://www.politesociety.com/
http://www.raftersgunleather.com/
http://www.rfholsters.com/rfholsters/default.asp?
http://www.rmholsters.com/
http://www.safariland.com/
http://www.shado.com/products.html
http://sidearmor.net/
http://www.simplyrugged.com/
http://www.smartcarry.com/
http://www.sportshooter.com/
http://www.sunriseleather.com/
http://www.tacticalholsters.com/
http://www.thebeltman.net/
http://www.tedblockerholsters.com/
http://www.taurisholsters.com/index.cfm
http://www.threatsolutions.com/
http://www.tidepoolwebdesigns.com/kangaroo/
www.tommysgunpack.com
http://www.tuckergunleather.com/
http://www.uncle-mikes.com/
http://www.usgalco.com/Default.asp
http://www.thewilderness.com/

(Holsters, Day Planner)
http://www.cwcases.com/body_cwproduct.html
http://www.gunaccessories.com/Galco/DefensePlanner.asp
http://www.securityprousa.com/lecoorho.html

(Holsters, how to determine what you want)
http://www.rigrate.com/?a=search

(Miscellaneous links)
http://2alphas.com/super_links.htm
http://home.comcast.net/~americanfirearmpage/
http://www.shootguns.info/maker.htm
http://www.webcom.com/gun_guy/page4.htm

(Reloading/ ammunition)
http://www.ammodepot.com/
http://www.ammoman.com/
http://www.berrysmfg.com/
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/
http://www.dakotaammo.net/
http://dillonprecision.com/default.cfm?
http://www.leeprecision.com/
http://www.lockstock.com/
http://www.lymanproducts.com/
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
http://www.midwayusa.com/
http://www.natchezss.com/
http://www.precisionbullets.com/
http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/index.html
http://www.rainierballistics.com
http://www.rcbs.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=1
http://www.redding-reloading.com/
http://xtremebullets.com/
http://www.winchester.com/products/c...1tIFJ1c3NpYW4=



(To locate a gunsmith)

http://www.gunsmiths.com/index.php
http://www.midwayusa.com/gunsmithlocator/home.aspx

(Gunsmithing & bluing)
http://accuracyriflesystems3.homestead.com/index.html
http://www.accuracysystemsinc.com/index.php
http://www.accurate-iron.com/
http://www.alphaprecisioninc.com/
http://www.aotactical.com
http://www.apwcogan.com/Greetings.htm
http://www.thearmsroom.com/
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/NEW/AboutUs.htm
http://www.chestnutmountainsports.com/
http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/
http://www.clementscustomguns.com/
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/
http://drakesgunworks.com/index.htm
http://www.fordsguns.com/index1.htm
http://www.glenncustom.com/index.html
http://grantcunningham.com/
http://www.greatwestgunsmithing.com/
http://www.gunbluing.com/
http://harmscustomdesign.com/
http://www.lowcountry-gunsmith.com/
http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/
http://www.magnaport.com
http://www.originalmetaloy.com/
http://www.revolverarmorer.com/
http://www.robarguns.com/
http://www.ronsgunshop.com/
http://www.rodgerspistolsmithing.com/
http://www.trippresearch.com/osdoc/chrome.html
http://turnbullrestoration.com/
 
Just for the record, those 30 pages of commentary were, for the most part just that. I am not defending the IL nor do I like them, but facts are one thing and comments are another. If you like the new S&W's, buy one. If you don't like the IL, remove it. DO NOT let people who have made the IL a political issue change your mind. Look first and form your own opinon.
 
batmann, because I am a member on several forums, that is what I have come to expect. Like you, I don't care for the lock. However I do have a 642 WITH the lock, and after a few hundred rounds it has never malfunctioned. I have never activated the lock, either.
 
those 30 pages of commentary were, for the most part just that
Click to expand...

That's not what I remember. But even so, if only half the 30 pages were statements of owners who's guns locked up, that's still a bunch.

Your IL Smith might function fine, but the reputation of the lock is such that many are hesitant to use it as their primary SD weapon.
 
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