New Production S&W “No Locks”

Awesome news! Their customer base has only been begging that they ditch those stupid internal locks ever since they were first introduced. Seeing a brand new S&W revolver (that isn't a Centennial pattern) without the lock hole is a true thing of beauty, I'm thrilled about this! 😃
 
I wonder if they are going to lower their prices back to where they were before the spent the money to design in the locks?
On the 36 at least, the no lock is 10 dollars less than the lock version. At least you don't have to pay for the privilege of no unwanted thing.

ETA ew, more price on the no-lock K frames, but less price on the no lock J. Weird.
 
This has made me put on hold the idea of a 2" Roscoe from Taurus/Heritage. I have enough J frames to be sure, even an airlite 337, but that 36 mmm.... :)
 
I have looked through A LOT of Smith Mod 36 pictures and could not find one with the configuration of this "new" lockless version of the Mod 36.
I did find a picture that was similar, but it was of a Smith Mod 32. A .32 cal pistol.
 
It would seem that all the internet muses who claimed S&W could not remove the lock because it would constitute removing a "safety" device and put the company in peril of lawsuits, misjudged their willingness to take that risk. Bob Scott, who introduced the lock, is now 78. He's still listed as the chairman. I wonder if his influence has waned or if he is only a titular chair at this point.
 
I have looked through A LOT of Smith Mod 36 pictures and could not find one with the configuration of this "new" lockless version of the Mod 36.
I did find a picture that was similar, but it was of a Smith Mod 32. A .32 cal pistol.
Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen a Model 36 with a half-moon front sight and that strange hump between the frame and barrel. It looks to me as if they tried styling it after a pre-Model 10 Military & Police.
 
It would seem that all the internet muses who claimed S&W could not remove the lock because it would constitute removing a "safety" device and put the company in peril of lawsuits, misjudged their willingness to take that risk. Bob Scott, who introduced the lock, is now 78. He's still listed as the chairman. I wonder if his influence has waned or if he is only a titular chair at this point.
I'll speculate it's about sales tipping points. S&W probably sells many more of the ILS equipped revolvers than without, despite the protestations of enthusiasts who post on gun boards. The gun-curious, new buyer probably likes the idea of locking the gun or at least being able to. At some point though they could have seen dropping sales, and the other brands don't have locks and compete directly with S&W who didn't have a no-lock offering in the external hammer lines. It's a good move to sell more revolvers, but I don't see them taking the ILS models out of the catalog.
 
I'll speculate it's about sales tipping points. S&W probably sells many more of the ILS equipped revolvers than without, despite the protestations of enthusiasts who post on gun boards. The gun-curious, new buyer probably likes the idea of locking the gun or at least being able to. At some point though they could have seen dropping sales, and the other brands don't have locks and compete directly with S&W who didn't have a no-lock offering in the external hammer lines. It's a good move to sell more revolvers, but I don't see them taking the ILS models out of the catalog.
I've been saying this for years.
If you spend any time on gunboards, you'll see an overwhelming dislike of the locks but, the thing is, IF you're on gunboards, you're most certainly already a gun person and the lock means something to you.

It definitely seems like everyone hates the lock.

However, I contend that people on gunboards and a very small percentage of gun buyers; most people buy a gun because they think they need a gun for protection so they buy a brand name (Smith and Wesson) stuff it in a dresser drawer never to be seen again and don't even know what a ILS is except, maybe, that it's a safety device and that's a good thing to them.

S&W sells every revolver they make, lock or no lock.
 
Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen a Model 36 with a half-moon front sight and that strange hump between the frame and barrel. It looks to me as if they tried styling it after a pre-Model 10 Military & Police.
Terrier
 
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