J frames and drop safety

[Jimineer]

Reading on another forum about S&W revolvers and the internal lock, which as best I can tell is a drop safety. Is that correct? Many posters indicate they have removed these locks.

So is it possible for a revolver to go off if dropped? I have never really considered that possibility - whether with a hammer or hammerless.

Sorry if these are dumb questions, never had a revolver, but hope to change that soon.

Thx

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Smith & Wesson revolvers have a hammer block which keeps them from discharging if dropped on the hammer spur. This is a passive drop safety. (Obviously, the concealed hammer models have no protruding spur.) This is not the same as the internal lock, however. This is a device operated from outside, by the user, to render the revolver incapable of firing.

 

[LawofThirds]

S&W Revolvers have been drop safe since they put the hammer block in. Which if I remember correctly, was pre WWI.

 

[WC145]

The internal lock has a key hole on the left side of the frame above the cylinder release. It is unnecessary and unattractive, and, supposedly, there have been instances where the lock has failed and the gun locked unintentionally while firing and was rendered useless. These are the reasons people remove or disable them.

 

[NMPOPS]

S&W Revolvers have been drop safe since they put the hammer block in. Which if I remember correctly, was pre WWI.

Actually the hammer block was first installed in the Victory Model .38 during WW2,

When engaged, the external lock will prevent the hammer from moving if the trigger is pulled, Worthless addition.

 

[Iggy]

The internal lock is a storage device. It's for the children don'tchaknow.

 

[rbernie]

Reading on another forum about S&W revolvers and the internal lock, which as best I can tell is a drop safety. Is that correct?

No, it's intended to act as a child lock.

So is it possible for a revolver to go off if dropped?

As stated, the S&W design added an internal/nonvisible piece of lockwork during the WWII timeframe to make them drop safe. They still are.