Should I be concerned?

F

fsfty

New member
I bought a s&w 686 and LOVE it. I'm a newb, and only have 100 rounds thru it but now know im a revolver guy. I want to get a M36, but I'm now reading about problems with the internal lock. Should this dissuade me from getting another s&w? Sorry if this a question answered before.
 
Some say it is an issue. Low probability, but if it does inadvertantly lock on you, that will be bad. You can delete the lock with "the plug" over on the smith forum.

But, I'd look for a good used one without the lock, most times you get a better revolver cheaper that way.
 
I have only seen problems in light wieght models shot with heavy recoil rounds and lots of them so unless your dirty harry Jr. you should be O.K.
 
FWIW, S&W changed the lock mechanism so that the newer guns cannot go into the lock mode from recoil, if they ever really could. I say that because some people who claimed the guns would inadventently lock up had a personal hatred and agenda against S&W over its "surrender" to the Clinton administration, and told what can, with great charity, be described as untruths about the company and all its products. (I never had one lock up and never personally knew of one that did.)

I wouldn't worry, but as the others note, there are plenty of pre-lock Model 36's around and I have seen shops with several for sale.

Jim
 
Problems with the lock are greatly exaggerated. Most do find them distasteful, but if you don't mind them, you will likely never never have a problem with them.

For the record, I own a S&W 637 and have never had an issue with the lock. Buy your gun and don't worry about it.
 
I would worry almost as much about being hit by a steamship while crossing the road, than I would a Smith & Wesson, "locking itself."

I don't even find the "hole" any less attractive than any other pin or screw in the side of the gun. I doubt I would have even noticed it except for having heard about it here and on other gun forums.
 
I can't say I'm thrilled with the Lawyer locks. But after several thousand rounds of 44 special through my model 21, it doesn't concern me anymore. Some of the crying is just sour grapes "They don't make them like they used to". No they don't. Modern manufacturing and price point just don't allow them to.
It's a competetive maket and they HAVE to find new ways of doing things. If you want a model 36 My first choice would be to find a used early one, but if I couldn't find it I'd buy a later one and not worry about it.
 
I would always choose a pre-lock over a lock. Common sense tells me not to drill a hole in the side of a perfectly fine revolver. Especially in such a critical area. Maybe I'm wrong? Well.... if I am? Thanks to S&W I know exactly where to place the bit of my Black and Decker.
 
I have never seen personally, nor had it happen to one of my three S&W revolvers. I think the lockup due to the internal lock is more an illusion than a reality, though there are those that maintain they have either experienced it, or observed it happen. I certainly do not worry about it.
 
You can either buy one without the lock, or you can disable it easily.

The only ILS S&W I currently own (M25-13 Mountain Gun in .45LC) had the lock removed before I bought it. That was one of the reasons I bought it...okay, the price was right, too. :) Those itty bitty pieces are in a small zip-lock bag in my safe...and that is where they will stay.

S&W has begun to offer some of it's previous ILS-only models without the ILS (642 and perhaps 638?). As soon as they bring back the no-lock 342, I will jump on that. If they don't, perhaps one day I will buy a no-lock 642.

S&W changed the lock mechanism so that the newer guns cannot go into the lock mode from recoil, if they ever really could.
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And yes, they could...and did. Not all that frequently, but even once is way too many times. It's a bone-headed idea.
 
...some people who claimed the guns would inadventently lock up had a personal hatred and agenda against S&W over its "surrender" to the Clinton administration, and told what can, with great charity, be described as untruths about the company and all its products.
A wild statement like that begs for a request that you provide a link to evidence/data that proves that is true. How could you actually claim that people did that, without subjecting them to polygraph tests?
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This "lock" issue is typical keyboard commando hysteria. I own new and old S&W and I can tell you the new ones are stronger and built just as good. Steel is better and manufacturing tolerances are light years ahead of what they were just 15 years ago. The newer guns bring more advantages than disadvantages compared to older models. Nostalgia is what really drives the topic.
 
I would consider an older M36 to be a good choice, too. Plenty of them around so clean examples are out there for $400 or less.
 
Everyone talks about the problems with the internal lock, but I have never actually heard from someone who had the problem himself. Every post I have read on forums or person I talked to in person always knew someone who had a friend at his gun club who had the problem or some such connection. I think it was all hysteria. I have three 357 magnums and a 44 magnum with the lock and have not had any problems despite the size of the gun or the loads.
 
I own 3 revolvers with locks, I prefer guns without the locks but I've never had one to lock up. One is a 642 and I've shot it enough that I trust it. One is a 625 that has had about 8000 rounds thru it with out a hick up. The fit and finish on the older guns is why I like them better.
 
No, you need not be concerned. Documented, verifiable cases of "auto lock" are rare enough that they are nearly statistically insignificant. Of the few verified cases, it almost always seems to happen when the revolver is new (I believe that it's a QC rather than design issue) and, once fixed by S&W it almost never reoccurs (S&W has excellent CS). So long a you thoroughly test your revolver for reliability by putting at least a couple hundred rounds through it before relying on it (something you should be doing anyway), you've got little to worry about.
 
Dahermit, if you haven't seen any of what I can only describe as insane ranting about the locks and the "sell out", you have not been looking very hard. Some were genuine concern, but some people made threats against S&W that went beyond boycotts and technical discussion.

On a personal note, I once pointed out that a claimed lock condition was physically impossible and was told that the poster knew where I lived and was coming to kill me. I did think that was a bit extreme, but not atypical of the anti-S&W folks.

Jim
 
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