Do You Trust New S&W's?

V

vitesse9

New member
Besides the fact that they're extremely UGLY and a simple butchery of the classic American wheelgun, do you still trust the new smiths (with the built-in lock)? I've heard some stories about the lock engaging during range sessions (an event that caused their users to quicly dump them for older smiths), but apparently these were ultralite guns using hard-kicking ammo (and I think it was Massad Ayoob who wrote the article).

I for one have a new-model 686P and I've probably put 1500 rounds through it. I've never had a problem. I basically just ignore the lock and lament about how ugly the thing looks with the dimple on the side. But there's still that "what if" that lingers.

What do you guys think?
 
From the threads on 3 different boards, not one person has come forward (that I'm aware of) with a first-hand account of a S&W lock engaging when it shouldn't have.

I'd discount what some magazine gunwriter says, unless he has documented proof to back it up and followed up with the person for a root-cause analysis and to see what S&W did about it.

Ignore any stories you hear about someone's brother's friend's neighbor's second-cousin-in-law's boss's nephew having it happen to him. No documentation? It didn't happen.
 
The lock seems pretty inconsequential to me - either aesthetically or practically - it's awfully small, and if you want to use it, you do, else you ignore it. In my opinion anyway, if there's a company I'd trust with designing revolvers, that'd be S&W.
 
S&W Internal locks

I guess if you're looking for an excuse to not buy a Smith and Wesson, the internal lock is as good as any.
 
My experience with the subject is simple.

I went into the local Academy Sporting goods with the intent on buying a new 4" S&W 686+, and after seeing the internal lock, walked out with a 4" Ruger GP-100.

I mean if S&W must use an integrated lock of some sort, why not use one mounted on the hammer like Taurus or something similar. Mounting it within the interanals and on the side plate is horrible marketing.
 
won't buy a new S&W because

1. The lock is ugly.
2. Any S&W revolver I want is available in a pre-lock config.
3. Just like helmet laws, the lock is an infringement of stupid people's right to be stupid and remove themselves from the gene pool, thus increasing the number of stupid people in this country, who breed like rabbits, thereby increasing the tax burden on smart people who work for a living.
4. I believe in both the KISS principle and dear old Mr. Murphy. Anything mechanical can fail.
5. The whole lock argument distracts people from the more important 9mm vs. .45 ACP debate.
6. Internal gun locks were conceived of by gun grabbing a$$h@les as a solution to a non-existant problem, all while they adamantly opposed the NRA's Eddie Eagle education program in the public schools.

The lock irritates me for these reasons, so I won't buy a gun with an internal lock.
I do have an assortment of cable locks in a box under the workbench in my garage for the times I may need a cheap lock that is easilly defeated. Maybe I'll donate them to the Box O Truth guys for a test entitled:

"Can you shoot a cheap gun lock off a gun and still use the gun?"
 
Not Smith, but close.

I've carried a Taurus 85, with the lock, off and on, for about 5 years now.
I disengaged the thing as soon as I got it home and have never had the need to mess with it since!! I'm not even sure I can find the bloody key!! :eek:
 
BillCA must not have read the same forums

As I've reported on at least five different boards, the lock on my 60-15 engaged when it shouldn't have when I oafishly knocked the unloaded gun off a countertop onto a hardwood floor. Glad it wasn't knocked out of my hand in a fight where I would need it to work when I picked it up. :eek:

I no longer own it.

I believe two other folks at the S&W Forum reported problems with their locks, one during range use. Go to the S&W Forum, go into the postWWII revolver forum, and dig around. The Search feature is down, but the topic was discussed extensively in the last two months, and it shouldn't be difficult to find the latest two threads.

Taurus locks are a much better design - but the guns, well . . .
 
Are they ugly? I dunno, mine are kinda nice.

25and21640.jpg
 
In 1973 the major car makers were mandated by the Govt. to install catalytic converter to all autos. They smelled bad, cost alot of money and had the potential to clog up. People screamed. Babies cried. Young girls lost their innocense. The major outcry was "not me. not as long as I got my old____". Guess what. They're still here. They still smell. They still cost alot of money. And they will clog if immproperly maintained. The old ___has been dead for years. Even if they were still arround. They rode like junk, and aren't half the car of today. Still people pay a megga premium for them. To each his own. Still haven't heard any first hand occurances, except for the one, which was caused by dropping the weapon. By the way if you ran the old___into a tree, it would stop working also. Granted you mite expect more durrability from a weapon if you drop it in a fire fight and need it to still perform. That's another discussion. After all the guns out there with locks, it's almost impossible for every instance of lock failure to elude our scrutany. If any group would know of an inherant flaw in the system, it would be us.
Bottom line is that if want a new gun, you half to deal with the locks.And to be honest, they are starting to fade from noticable view. Like the catalytic conveter, they're still there, they just don't stink as much anymore.
good shootin
kid
 
The only S&W guns where the Lock actually worries me are the superlight magnum doodads. That sharp, highly magnified recoil -- with the lock mechanism located right in the middle of it -- makes one wonder. Fortunately, I have no interest in owning any of those guns anyway, except for the .32 Mag 432PD, which is a mild-recoiling caliber.

It is still remarkable how poorly thought out the S&W lock is compared to the Taurus lock (hidden away on the hammer base) and especially the Ruger lock, which the company has buried under the grip panels, far away from the worst of the recoil, where you need a screwdriver to get at it. Not a bad showing from the folks in Southport. Short of having no locks (which I agree would be best), it's about as backhanded a gesture as one can make to the safety fascists.
 
SW is a 'go figure' to me. Some models are beautiful, and some are butt ugly. There was a time when I would buy a SW just because it was a SW, Ditto Colt, Not now!!!!

Having said that, the best shooting, and most beautiful handgun I own is my SW 625jm... :D I need to get some photo's for posting.
 
If Miss June (in Playboy) had a scar on her right cheek, would you think she was ugly? Picky...picky. If you don't like the tiny lock, buy something else. Geez! Besides, I doubt many even use the lock. I've never locked mine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top