S&W lock conundrum

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Sorry, I had no intention of insulting anyone with my comments about the lock being meaningless. I certainly don't consider any of you to be low-lifes either.

I actually consider myself a S&W purist that doesn't care about the lock. Why? Because I didn't want seat belts in my car or a handle that I have to hold on to when I want my lawn mower to run. I've had no choice, no one consulted me on these add ons. I have had to learn to live with these items that I'm told are for my safety.

In an age where we're seeing polymer guns I'm happy to see a S&W with a lock and MIM parts. Pretty soon we may be seeing polymer S&W revolvers.
 
Hate to be one of the 14, but my 637 has locked up. Now granted the factory loads in question was on the stout side, but not considered +P.

Now that I, have found the plug again the lock will be coming out. Also my Classic 27 will sometime's get really gritty like say maybe something is trying to lock up on it. Dosn't matter because, well I'm just repeating myself.

Thank's to this thread I, remember about the ejector rod can become loose. I will check that on the 27 also.

Just for the record, I, do carry the 637,...................er I, mean if I, had a CC I, would still carry the 637 without fear.
 
Buy the pre lock gun. You can always get your money out of it if you decide to sell it, UNLIKE the wind up guns.

I'm always amused by the S&W apologists who proclaim the wind up guns; "to be just as good or better than the prelock guns!" Until they go to sell an IL gun and it languishes in the classifieds month after month. :)
 
Thaddeus Jones said:
Buy the pre lock gun. You can always get your money out of it if you decide to sell it, UNLIKE the wind up guns.

I'm always amused by the S&W apologists who proclaim the wind up guns; "to be just as good or better than the prelock guns!" Until they go to sell an IL gun and it languishes in the classifieds month after month. :)
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What you say is true in that an IL revolver is unlikely to sell for more than the street price of a new one, unless it's a special distributor or limited run.

Pre-lock guns on the other hand have have no new competition from S&W, it's a finite supply pool (there are few J-frame exceptions that are still made without the lock). Accordingly, the prices reflect demand only.

I picked up a lucky find last year, a 686-4 PC 7-shot at a pawnshop. Paid $775 for it and felt that was a stretch. Over the last month I've witnessed two of these sell online for well north of $2000! They were in no better shape than mine. I can safely say there is no way I would pay >$2000 for this gun even though I very much enjoy owning and shooting it.

As far as IL guns languishing on the classifieds, I just don't see that happening if they are priced in a fashion which takes into account the almost limitless supply of brand new ones. This is especially true of the Performance Center guns. In other words, I think the marketplace for used IL guns is actually normal, it's the pre-lock marketplace that's distorted owing to the aforementioned demand/supply imbalance.
 
I'm always amused by the S&W apologists who proclaim the wind up guns; "to be just as good or better than the prelock guns!" Until they go to sell an IL gun and it languishes in the classifieds month after month.
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Of course, if your purpose is to SHOOT the gun, not SELL the gun then that "just as good" (or better) statement holds perfectly true.

I plan to shoot my "hillary hole" 629 until I'm informed that they just can't tune it up one more time and then I'll give it a proper burial after a life of proud service. It isn't for sale.
 
S&W had the firing pin on the hammer for EONS...actually a BAD system, but eveyone was used to it...and of course the "experts" would, and did disparage moving it into the frame and switching from a rebounding safety system to a "transfer bar" system (just like those "idiots" over at Ruger did!).
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You must mean the Hammer block as I have never seen a Smith revolver with a "transfer bar system.. Like a ruger". BTW they still have the rebounding safety as well.

Edited as I dont want to be a Bully........... The difference being that those are safety systems that address the possibility of the gun firing when dropped or another accident takes place, and the user is unaware of them as they are passive fail safes that are always enabled.

BTW I have more than one S&W with the lock, and they are all great revolvers. I have removed the flag / lock mechanism on most of them. Hs it failed... well on one used 629 mountain gun I bought it would not always drop when the key was turned and had to be pushed down with a finger.. On the 642 is not visible so it presents a visual rediness verrification problem for a carry gun.
 
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Once, while discussing a heated issue of the day with a friend he remarked, “On most any subject you will have people who believe as you do, and others that equally disagree, and finely in the middle a much, much greater number who frankly don’t give a darn.”

This is one of those issues, largely comprised of a combination of reason and emotion.

It’s no secret that I prefer older revolvers (and by “older” I mean those that were made before Bangor-Punta purchased the company from the Wesson extended family in 1965). I can support my opinion with considerable experience and knowledge, but this doesn’t (and shouldn’t) mean that anyone else is required to believe the same.

There should be no argument, because between current, recent and past production – often is great quantities – anyone can find and obtain what ever floats their boat.

While the merits of old vs. new will always be debatable, no one is obligated to march in lockstep with any particular viewpoint. Personally I would be devastated if everyone agreed with me, because the likely result would be skyrocketing prices that would make what I look for prohibitively expensive. Also I would hope that the demand for currently made guns didn’t drop to the point where Smith & Wesson abandoned revolver production altogether.

Carry on… ;)
 
S&W had the firing pin on the hammer for EONS...actually a BAD system, but eveyone was used to it...and of course the "experts" would, and did disparage moving it into the frame and switching from a rebounding safety system to a "transfer bar" system (just like those "idiots" over at Ruger did!).
Click to expand...

And why do you assume that Smith & Wesson's hammer nose...aka firing pin...was a bad design? If it had been bad, it would have gone away...eons ago.

Why did they change it now? Money. It's simpler and cheaper to mount the firing pin in the frame.

And Ruger's switch to a transfer bar improved the gun by making it safer to be carried with all six chambers loaded...but it was mostly because people who didn't understand it were shooting themselves in the foot when they carried it with a round under the hammer. Something that dedicated Colt SAA shooters understood and accepted. If these people had simply read the owner's manual, they'd have avoided the problems...but I guess that's too much to expect in this Age of the Common Man.

That's the reason for changes. To improve the mechanism.

What has the lock done to improve anything...other than to satisfy the demands of people who don't understand guns and are largely afraid of them? People who, for one reason or another, neglect or refuse to admit to themselves that they need to take time to read the owner's manual before loading and handling a gun.

Like the man said:

Is gun. Gun not safe.
 
There are plenty of old S&W revolvers out there. Looked over Mods 28, 64, 681,... all w/o out locks and hundreds below $1000. I own Wingmaster Supermag with safety lock and don't mind it at all. The only thing I hated were mowers that stopped when lever was not depressed and that was in my grade school and junior high days when I needed pocket money. Piece of electric tape did the trick and screw driver could be used to turn the machine off. I don't see problem with S&W locks of course I'm not S&W fanatic.
 
PS. S&W forums have excellent policy. Under new revolvers they do not allow lock haters to discuss S&W revolvers with locks in them.
 
I don't believe the lock has ever been a real mechanical issue (Don't believe all the internet "truths" you hear)....other than the fact that it is a representation of a political decision, that most of us don't like. Mine has never malfunctioned EVER no matter what I've put thru it, included buffalo bore heavies. I've also never used it....not even sure where key is now.
 
Yes what a great new policy over on the S&W board. Just don't allow any criticism or opposing points of view. That should generate some real stimulating debate and informative thread. :rolleyes:

Why bother giving new revolver purchasers any useful information or opposing opinions. Lets just stifle debate and ignore that useless "innovation" you have no choice on.

Not to mention canted barrels, exhorbitant prices, lousy triggers, ugly designs, poor/nonexistant QA QC.

Yes, don't let anyone opine differently about new production "S&W" revolvers. Thats the ticket! :) We wouldn't want anyone who doesn't know any better to hear what overpriced, overhyped junk they may be getting.

Does every new S&W revolver come with a return shipping label? :)
 
I can't speak to the policies on the S&W board and I've not looked into them. However, considering what a vitriolic and contentious issue that is, I certainly can understand why they'd say that -- about that ONE issue.

An internal lock is not a canted barrel. An internal lock is not an exorbitant price. An internal lock is not a lousy trigger.

If they ask that you don't discuss ANYTHING about new S&Ws, I can see why your knickers would be all twisted.

If they say, essentially, "For the sake of civil discussion about everything else having to do with S&W firearms, we will not host debates on the lock," I can totally understand and respect that.

If you really want to, you can always start your own "I Hate the S&W Lock, And a Bunch of Other Things, Too," forum and folks can come to your site to discuss how much they hate things, together.
 
Their policy is printed at the top of the "Revolvers 1980 to Present" section.

NO CRITICISM of the new production revolvers. Of course, they refer to criticism as most fanboys do, "No bashing or whining." :rolleyes: Whatever.

No, thanks, I've no interest in starting a forum. I'll just continue to provide dissenting opinions on the remaining gunboards that still allow it.
 
Ok, so provide constructive criticism without bashing or whining. Should be simple to do. I'm sure you're up to it.
 
Its my understanding after reading the post on the S.W. forum, that they want the collectors and the purist, to complain in there own time frame rooms, and to quit bashing the buyers of the new line of firearms simply because they bought a new gun.
 
I believe the S&W forum no-bash rule only applies to the new S&W section. Seems they encourage folks into that forum who are enthusiasts of the new guns, in other words if your'e there, you already don't have a beef with the lock and don't want hear about it any longer.

Seems reasonable enough, the rest of the site is there and no one is forced to enter that particular forum.
 
Thaddeus Jones said:
Yes what a great new policy over on the S&W board. Just don't allow any criticism or opposing points of view. That should generate some real stimulating debate and informative thread. :rolleyes:

Why bother giving new revolver purchasers any useful information or opposing opinions. Lets just stifle debate and ignore that useless "innovation" you have no choice on.

Not to mention canted barrels, exhorbitant prices, lousy triggers, ugly designs, poor/nonexistant QA QC.

Yes, don't let anyone opine differently about new production "S&W" revolvers. Thats the ticket! :) We wouldn't want anyone who doesn't know any better to hear what overpriced, overhyped junk they may be getting.

Does every new S&W revolver come with a return shipping label? :)
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What revolver competitions do you participate in?

The only reason I ask is because USPSA and ICORE and just full of folks shooting S&W's with locks...and put 1,000's of rounds a year downrange

I too wish S&W would improve the product, but all in all they still make a good gun
 
Thaddeus Jones said:
Yes what a great new policy over on the S&W board. Just don't allow any criticism or opposing points of view. That should generate some real stimulating debate and informative thread. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The policy has nuttin' to do about criticism or opposing points of view, it does have to do with this...

If you are one of the people who constantly enters threads ONLY to spew your hatred for the internal lock, MIM parts, or whatever you dislike about modern S&W revolvers, STOP doing it.
Click to expand...

Sound familiar?:scrutiny:

Other than being nuttin more than beating a dead horse, the other big issue was the impact it was having on new members and those new to the shooting sports. Folks were joining after buying their first firearm/handgun and then were driven off, never to be seen or heard from again, by the "Lock trolls" after being brow beaten over the purchase of a modern S&W revolver. Same 2 or 3 folks making the majority of anti-Smith posts and trolling every revolver thread and turning it into an IL argument. In actuality, the policy only affected those 2 or 3 "lock trolls".
 
Yes, the S&W forum took the "High Road"

All the "lock talk" wasn't about information, it was all about belittling new gun owners. Just a bunch of old farts yelling at clouds I say
 
my 637-2 has a lock. To be honest, I've never given it one iota of thought. Its there, it doesn't hurt anything. My637 was my only weapon for a good many years. I can't guess how many rounds of every type imaginable have been through it. If I had to go back to only owning one gun, the 637 would probably stay.
 
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