Locks on a S&W

[Deanimator]

On the whole, I'd rather they didn't have locks (or the perfectly functional MIM parts, for that matter) but like the man said, we just have to deal with 'em, if we want to buy guns from the factory.

I've chosen to "deal with" the problem by not buying anything new from the factory. We're not talking about $29.95 Commission 88 from back in the '70s. New S&W revolvers are a lot of things, but a bargain isn't one of them. It's like spending $50 for a meal, KNOWING that somebody was going to spit in it. No thanks. I'll keep buying pre-lock S&Ws until I can't get them anymore, then no more additional S&Ws for me.

NONE of my other firearms, Glock or otherwise has a lock... of course I'm not aware of Glocks, Tauruses, or anything OTHER THAN S&Ws locking themselves. That totally leaves aside the fact that you have a CHOICE of whether to get a S&W auto with or without a lock. NOBODY has ever been able to explain the dichotomy.

 

[Ops Officer]

The ILS? I am conflicted whether to place any stock in the potential failure of the ILS. But when I think about why it is there, one thought and one thought only pops up. The ILS is obscene. I just can't bear to have one in my hands let alone buy one. I wish I weren't so emotionally stuck on the issue. I've passed on a lot of terrific buys.

 

[orionengnr]

Tamara--

What about locks on Rugers, Glocks, HK's, Bersas, Taurii, Remingtons, Walthers, or Springfield Armory guns? Do those insult you too, or are you only sensitive to the ones on Smiths?

As soon as I read or hear or see lock-induced failures in any of the above, I will be "insulted"...nah, make that "indignant".
The S&W failures are well-documented.

Further:
--It's been a while since I've owned a Glock or Taurus.
--I have never owned a Bersa or a Walther.
--My Remingtons have no lock.
--My one SA 1911 has a lock that SA disabled for free when I sent it in for an unrelated issue.

 

[pps]

I've never had any problem with the locks. They look nice hanging in my gun safe nestled in tactical zip lock bags. I just have to find a cosmetically acceptable way of plugging the Clinton hole.

 

[jjohnson]

+1 Deanimator!

Deanimator said:

I've chosen to "deal with" the problem by not buying anything new from the factory. We're not talking about $29.95 Commission 88 from back in the '70s. New S&W revolvers are a lot of things, but a bargain isn't one of them. It's like spending $50 for a meal, KNOWING that somebody was going to spit in it. No thanks. I'll keep buying pre-lock S&Ws until I can't get them anymore, then no more additional S&Ws for me.

Absolutely. I refuse to buy any new S&W with a lock. There are LOTS of "old fashioned" S&W revolvers out there without the Hillary Hole and those are what I look for now at gun shows and pawn shops. I am safety conscious - I never put my finger inside a trigger guard until I'm ready to shoot and always treat firearms as loaded.

I also "vote" with my dollars. This ol' cowboy isn't spending any money in the S&W store anymore. Call me old fashioned, but I don't even like the transfer bar on a Ruger New Model Blackhawk, but I'll accept that grudgingly.

 

[stevereno1]

It's not so much the locks themselves, but rather what they represent - A bad deal with the Clinton administration, hence the nickname for the locks-"Hillary Holes". I am stubborn, and I will not carry or own a pistol with a "Hillary Hole" in it, EVER.

 

[NGIB]

I could personally care less. The price of pre-lock guns has risen dramatically and lock guns can be had for a lot less $$$.

Takes about 10 minutes to disable the lock and I see this as no different than throwing away the cable lock that comes with new guns.

Some of our "laywers" may disagree but since my daughter is a Columbia Law grad - I trust her advice...

 

[esq_stu]

They're again available without the locks!


http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...angId=-1&parent_category_rn=15704&isFirearm=Y
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...angId=-1&parent_category_rn=15704&isFirearm=Y

Thanks for letting us know, xavier. http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/search/label/Integrated Gun Locks

 

[PigPen]

I have a 641 with a lock. I forget it's on there. I'm not real sure where the key is.

 

[gunseller2]

I'm not crazy about the lock thing but I have an old 342 and a 625 with a bunch of rounds though them without a problem. I work for a large firearms retailer that is a major S&W retailer, no lock related returns that I'm aware of.

 

[contenderman]

If you don't like 'em ... don't buy 'em, or if you do and your worried about some obscure mechanical failure then remove the lock works if you have the skill, or get a gunsmith to do it if you don't have the skills.

While I am not saying that there isn't any ... I have yet to see one actual documented case of lock failure, more less a failure causing the gun to lock.

Yes, as it is mechanical then it can fail, maybe even to the extent of locking up the gun. However ... before locks there were failures that rendered the revolver inoperative and there will continue to be. But dealing with that is off thread.