Lawyer Locks on guns....anyone use them?

[CLIFF 11]

In Maryland your newly purchased handgun must have an APPROVED handgun lock installed, untill you reach the parking lot, I remember when you you could attach a pair of handcuffs to the top strap of a Model 60, not any more the lock must be APPROVED, not even a master cable lock is acceptable.
CLIFF 11

 

[Zach S]

I cant say that they bother me (I have a Taurus model 85, had a SA mil spec), but I don't use them either.

I removed the lock form the SA, but not just because it was a lock. Being a mil-spec, it came with an arched MSH, and I prefer a flat.

 

[harmon rabb]

I'm a lawyer as well and don't like locks on guns. Neither do any of my colleagues.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

None of my firearms have them. My Remington 700 had one, but it started locking on its own. I promptly removed it, replacing the factory bolt shroud with an aftermarket one.

 

[Geezer Glide]

I resent what the internal lock stands for and I said that I would never own a gun that had one. Well, that changed yesterday. I bought a Ruger MKIII 22/45 at a deal and it has the lock. But, did I mention that it was a deal? And it will be for fun shooting, not for personal defense.

 

[rbernie]

These stupid arguments really piss me off!

Well, calling them stupid isn't the best way to prevent them or resolve them.

He recovers after a long hospital stay, gathers the evidence of the failed gun, hires a lawyer and sues the pants off of S&W or Taurus or whoever made the gun with the faulty lock. He'd win without doubt.

In my opinion, your scenario is contrived and relies upon too many assumptions (e.g. the failure is repeatable, the user survives, etc.).

Let's make this simple. Many folk have had no issues with firearm locks. But some countable percentage of shooters can demonstrably prove that the lock has failed on them in some way.

That being the case - why would I want one on my handgun?

Everything mechanical has a potential to break. Any part that can cause my defensive weapon to malf and which is not related to the primary function of the weapon (principally being to sling lead at things I want to shoot) has no place on my weapon. Period.

That includes locks, lasers, lights, or anything else. IF THAT FARKLE CAN IRREVOCABLY TIE UP THE GUN and doesn't have a sole purpose of making the gun go BOOM, I am not tolerating it on my weapons.

These things are not just range toys. They should be treated and viewed as serious tools for serious use.

 

[LightningJoe]

I lock my M85 in some circumstances. It's more convenient than any other way of disabling the gun.

 

[foghornl]

I have a couple of Springfield Armory 1911's, both with the arched mainspring housing, and SA's "ILS". I dont lock them.

My 50th Year .357 Blackhawk has Ruger's lock hidden under the grip panel; haven't tried locking it.

MKII Ruger doesn't have the lock, but a quick way to disable that gun is to put it back together wrong, so that the bolt only opens about 1/2" inch.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

what is this about ?
I tried Google ....NOTHING !

Now that's funny right there. That's like saying I searched every political and news website and still never heard of this Obama character. Sorry, but your google-fu is very weak.

No, I won't own a S&L lock gun.

 

[ArmedBear]

I have occasionally used internal locks.

I have a locked field 870 right now. Ran out of room in the safe, and gave away my locking cabinet rather than paying to move it. Since it's sitting next to some ammo, I'd just as soon lock it.

For a gun intended to be used in self-defense, though, no I haven't used any locks.

I actually see some utility in having an internal lock on a hunting long gun -- provided it didn't engage accidentally. If a gun is not in my immediate control, and there is alcohol flowing, I can see locking it up. But a handgun? Doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[bigfatdave]

I actually see some utility in having an internal lock on a hunting long gun -- provided it didn't engage accidentally. If a gun is not in my immediate control, and there is alcohol flowing, I can see locking it up. But a handgun? Doesn't make any sense to me.

Why not just strip it and separate the parts? I'd rather be hunting for a sub-assembly of a gun than a tiny key.

 

[ArmedBear]

Uh, because I can put the (not necessarily small) key on my keychain.

Hard to do that with the loose parts of a disassembled shotgun... Or even a bolt from a rifle...

Ever try to disassemble a Winchester 94 in the field?

I'm not hearing what you're saying. Sorry.

 

[pingpong]

I have them on an S&W, two Taurus, and a Rossi if I remember right, but I have never used them. I lock them up if I don't use them. If I used one and it failed, I would sue the Brady bunch and the state of california first before I sued the manufacturer.

 

[makarovnik]

No kids in the house anymore so NO.

 

[bigfatdave]

Hard to do that with the loose parts of a disassembled shotgun... Or even a bolt from a rifle...

The point is that I wouldn't disable a firearm I might want/need, but for storage I'd sooner disable by locking externally or stripping before locking internally.
I suppose I also see unlocking a firearm following a mechanical failure of the lock to be less credible than a mechanical failure of the rest of the gun. I know that we prepare based on the stakes, not the odds ... but I can't plan on that until I carry a kit of spare parts with each gun.

What works for me:
If you worry about the internal lock failing - carry a BUG or avoid the internal lock.
If you might need a firearm in a hurry - lock it in a obvious way (trigger lock or secure container) or keep it under control.
If you must internally lock a firearm, don't expect it to be operable without a full function check.

Now, I don't have kids poking curious fingers around, and I think internal locks are silly and useless, as they are an attempt to bypass basic firearms safety. Your opinion may vary, but I think that safe firearms ownership was possible before anyone thought to add internal locks, and is possible without them.

 

[Guillermo]

I own no IL weapons

 

[Grizfire]

I consider the ILS on my SA 1911 to be a nice accessory. Occasionally I will engage the ILS if I need to store my gun in my truck. The chance of a thug breaking my window and stealing my gun to be used in a crime is far more likely than the lock actually malfunctioning.

So far, no one has actually chimed in and said that they experienced a malfunction of their lock, only that it could happen.

If you know of such a specific thread of someone who has had their lock malfunction, especially if its the ILS on a SA 1911, I would like to see it. I'm guessing there are not too many.

 

[Deanimator]

So far, no one has actually chimed in and said that they experienced a malfunction of their lock, only that it could happen.

If you know of such a specific thread of someone who has had their lock malfunction, especially if its the ILS on a SA 1911, I would like to see it. I'm guessing there are not too many.

The only ones I'm aware of malfunctioning are the S&W and Remington locks.

I've never owned a Remington firearm of any kind, and I wouldn't own an S&W with their lock.

 

[Casaba]

I didn't bother reading all of the posts but I have had my Bersa Thunder 45 for about 5 years and it has a lock on it. I've never used the lock since day one and I LOVE that handgun.

Just my .02

 

[eagleno49]

I wonder if someone will come out with a lever to replace the keyhole. That way the lock will still be there, but it would act more like a safety.

 

[lanternlad1]

I have one on my 642. I only use it when I fly somewhere and have to check it. On one flight, a lot of the guns that were checked went missing (culprit was airline baggage employee) except the few that had locks, and WERE locked, like mine. The investigator said ours weren't stolen because the guns were locked and it was too much trouble to go through to unlock them. Apparently, guns with locks don't sell well on the black market.

 

[raveneap]

I have several Smiths with the locks and several without. My Ruger New Vaquero has one but it's UNDERthe grip panel! Yup, you've got to take the grip off to get at it. Also the NV has the obligatory warning UNDERthe barrel. Not on the side where it sticks out like a sore thumb. Of the guns I own that do have the locks, the keys go in the safe on day one, tagged as to which gun they belong in case of possible future sales.

 

[Guillermo]

Apparently, guns with locks don't sell well on the black market

Crooks got taste

 

[Kevin77]

I have a Taurus 1911 with the lock. I tried it once then unlocked it and I probably could find the key if I had an hour but I don't know why I'd look. The only problem I have with them is that I have heard that they interfere with the 22 conversions unless they are modified or removed. I want to get the conversion so I may have a new hammer put on my pistol.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Kevin77: "I tried it once then unlocked it and I probably could find the key if I had an hour but I don't know why I'd look."

If they weren't so small, sharp and flimsy I'd carry one of each of the maker's keys on my ring. I keep a handcuff key there, and once had to use it (not in a matter involving law enforcement).