S&W lock

James K, as I noted above regarding aesthetics, think on where Ruger or Taurus put their locks. It is in a more discrete location. So while it may present the same small increase in risk, it is out of sight and out of mind for most of us.

Speaking of aesthetics, buck460XVR is right about the Ruger barrel billboard. While possibly less damning than the visible lock, it is both ugly and stupid. Why blemish something of such value with something so ridiculous?

I don't own a Ruger revolver but I've been considering one. General advice seems to be that they all benefit from a trip to the smith when you first get them. Couldn't all that nonsense be buffed out or something?
 
Ruger put on that "billboard" under a court-ordered settlement; had they not done so, the suit could have bankrupted the company. So you might consider that the choice would be a Ruger with the markings or no Rugers at all, ever. You can be irate over our "justice" system but you can either work to change the system or you can move to another country.

S&W was also under legal pressure from the Clinton administration, which was trying to shut them down; part of the agreement was a lock. Even though S&W is under new management, the company still is legally obligated to carry out their agreement. Whether S&W did it the best way is arguable, but at least its use doesn't involve removing the grips. And we can still buy S&W's.

Jim
 
I wasn't familiar with the back story on these features but aggressive, immoral, and unconstitutional regulation on so many levels has retarded the market and saddled us with problems like these. James K raised the best point of the thread. All of us should be actively engaged in defending our rights and the market that relies upon them.

There are a number of good organizations working on this that would love to have your help. Some do it through lobbying the officials in office now. Others, such as the John Birch Society, focus on educating and organizing the electorate that votes for them. Either way, it takes serious effort and long-term dedication to stop the "progress" of those trying to violate our rights. It takes even more to undo the damage they've already done.
 
"I wasn't familiar with the back story on these features..." It does help to understand the reasons for actions, even if we don't agree with the result.

One thing that won't help is boycotting the companies, telling everyone not to buy their products, or making terrorist threats against S&W as one nutcase on another site did.

The first duty of any company to its owners or share holders is to stay in business and make a profit. Both S&W and Ruger did that. I wish it were not necessary to bow to pressure from the loony fringe antis, but we cannot always have the world as we want it.

Jim
 
I own 3 late model S&W with the lock. One is an Airweight .38+P. No problem with the lock in any of them. The overall quality of the newer guns is not as good as the older guns with the firing pins on the hammer. The quality seems to have started downhill when they quit pinning the bbls. They are still my favorite revolver even tho you may have to do a little work on them, even send it back for warranty work. Nothing like a Smith. I wouldn't worry about the lock.
 
I think they should make all of their models with the option of lock or no lock like they do with some of the J frame models. Then I might buy a new S&W again.
 
I have a 442 with the lock. Never touched the lock, never will. I don't like it being there. But overall I'm not to worried about it failing. I've shot plenty of +P through the gun. No problems yet.
 
The lock assembly has a tit that stops the hammer. You can take the lock parts off grind the tit off and reassemble the lock parts and the lock will not be a problem. I do that to all my S@W revolvers with the lock. You can't beat S@W or Ruger revolvers for the value for the dollar.
 
In my first post on this thread I said:

There have been claims that the ultra-light guns with the plug have locked up when maximum loads are fired through them.
Click to expand...

I meant to say "...ultra-light guns with the IL...". Obviously guns with the plug can't lock up. Sorry if that confused anyone. It was confusing to me when I re-read it a little while ago.

Dave
 
I don't doubt the people who claim they have had a gun with the lock, lock up.

The lock is dumb.

I own a 329PD with a lock, which should be the worst offender. I can say that with near-max loads and 240gr bullets, I have had zero issues.
 
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