The Internal Frame Lock ...is a feature I dislike a lot ...hate the look and the idea of it .....( so I choose to buy older guns without it )....
However, the assertion that it causes any issues - or locks up upon firing once in a while...( if it ever happened at all ) are at least vastly overstated in my opinion. I've talked to a lot of guys at my local ranges - that have S&W revolvers with the locks in them ...and I've never been able to confirm its ever happened. Its usually ...."well, a friend, of a distant cousin ...once said they heard of a problem...."....
I have about 25 S&W revolvers....K, L and N frames...in .22 / .38 spl &
.357 mag / and .44 mag....all pre locks....and I still see a lot of very nice S&W revolvers for sale without the locks...( and good clean used guns are where you'll find the best deals anyway ) !
However, the assertion that it causes any issues - or locks up upon firing once in a while...( if it ever happened at all ) are at least vastly overstated in my opinion. I've talked to a lot of guys at my local ranges - that have S&W revolvers with the locks in them ...and I've never been able to confirm its ever happened. Its usually ...."well, a friend, of a distant cousin ...once said they heard of a problem...."....
I have about 25 S&W revolvers....K, L and N frames...in .22 / .38 spl &
.357 mag / and .44 mag....all pre locks....and I still see a lot of very nice S&W revolvers for sale without the locks...( and good clean used guns are where you'll find the best deals anyway ) !