Let's settle the S&W internal lock debate once and for all!!! Read instructions!

[km101]

This will never be settled, because it's a matter of esthetics and opinion as much as function. It wont go away no matter how the poll comes out.

And I will never buy a Smith with a lock unless Texas legalizes open carry. Then I will have a Model 69 as soon as I can locate one!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Word

 

[back40]

not only will this poll not settle anything, i don't think anyone really cares.

some people don't mind them, others despise them. simple as that. there's nothing to 'settle'. let it go.

 

[Old Fuff]

This will never be settled, because it's a matter of esthetics and opinion as much as function. It wont go away no matter how the poll comes out.

You're absolutely right, unless S&W changes or drops the lock - which is unlikely within the foreseeable future.

So it’s mostly a waste of bandwidth, made even more so, because regardless of how you feel about the lock (as well as MIM parts, two-piece barrels, etc.) the marketplace will in one way or another provide whatever you like.

The Old Fuff has no trouble living with that.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Well gents, and ladies if any are paying attention, I don't disagree with you. When asked if I really think it will settle anything, I answered

No not really. It's just a tactic to get people to come in to the thread and hit the poll. Like I said in my op, I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. I just want to gather basic numbers to shed a little light on the IL fears that seem to be expressed by some forum members, in an admittedly simplified poll. You are absolutely correct. A very in depth study with much tighter criteria would be needed to establish truly significant results, but I think that would require a rather detailed online questionnaire. And I'm no web guru, so I'm keeping it simple. If someone else comes up with a better idea, I'm totally in favor of asking a mod to lock this thread, and participate in someone else's data collection. I'm not prideful. Just curious.

You guys are correct, a lot of people have the opinion they have simply because of preference. And that is perfectly legit. I apologize if my thread or title offended anyone or irritated anyone. You certainly have no obligation to participate, and think whatever you want. I'm really not concerned with opinions as one person's is as legit as the next. My opinion is that the locks suck, and I don't want them on the guns. But, I've also not had any problems with the locks malfunctioning. Does my opinion matter? Well, only to me.

So.... I think having a poll comparing malfunctioning locks vs non-malfunctioning locks is not a bad bit of info to have. If you think it's nonsense, that's fine. I think in interest of avoiding any more heartburn, and since the voting has tapered off, I'm going to weed through the posts, and do the tally early.

And thanks to everyone for remaining civil since I kind of started out in an inflammatory way. Time to add

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Ok so, I picked through the posts. For lack of options, I assumed everyone was honest. I added guns with and without IL issues. The final results are:

480 guns reported.
455 guns with internal locks that have had no issues.
25 guns with internal locks that have had problems related to the lock.

25/480= 5.2% of the reported guns with locks had a problem

So there it is. Is 5.2% relevant? That is of course up to you. It obviously depends on your tolerance for manufacturer problems, and whether or not you are thinking about buying or keeping a S&W with an internal lock to defend your life with, or if the gun in question is strictly a range gun.

I'm not even going to state my opinion of the results. I will say though that it is a very limited sample, and it may or may not represent a failure rate in other S&W guns. I am not saying or implying that anyone should or shouldn't buy a S&W revolver based on these results or this thread.

Take the numbers as you want to, as a sample or as garbage. That's totally up to you. Thanks to all who participated. It has been a well natured and spirited discussion. Nothing has been settled, as expected, and the title was meant as an attention getter. With a few hundred alleged guns reported, I consider it a success. Since I don't want to go wasting anymore bandwidth and this thread has run it's course, I'm done now.

Good luck.... To all of us

 

[Sam1911]

Good work, crew!