As much as I love my older P&Rs, I have to admit that I'm finding it more difficult to expose them to potential dings and scratches.

I've contemplated selling/trading my ILS 686+ and 629 on older models for my collection, but there are times that something with ugly rubber grips and no sentimental value seems to make sense for a walk in the woods or building a deer stand.

Anyone else feel this way or do you take your older ones and just do your best to protect them?

Yes. I have a small collection of earlier 44 specials that are a dream to shoot and worth taking good care of. I bought a 2005 production model 21-4 nickle to carry around. Yes, it does have the lock (quickly plugged) and MIM parts, and does not have the hammer mounted firing pin, which aren't my preferences. The trouble is, I seem to want to baby the older guns that are configured more to my liking. The new one is beautiful to look at, isn't as smooth in the action, but I am not afraid to take it where it needs to go. The old ones get a comfy ride in a rug to the range.

Sure do as the IL doesn't bother me at all....

Interesting question as I have never bought a S&W revolver with an internal lock and I'm sure they work great. I just have always had a thing for the older P&R revolvers so that's where I spent my money. I have to admit that most of my S&W revolvers get shot very little and so in the past 14 months I've down sized my collection by 2/3. The ones I have left are the ones I shoot and 3 are 22LR revolvers, 5 are 38 special revolvers, 1 357 Mag, and 1 44mag.

I don't use revolvers for personal carry or for home defense as that work goes to my Sigs, 1911's and Browning HP.

ALL.......Old and new get toted...shot...road on the tractor/atv..up & down deer stands etc. In other words I use and enjoy them all. I take good care of "em". The "dingless" people can worry over them when I'm gone.

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S&W Accumulator

I think the answer lies in what is meant by 'collection'. If you take that to mean all of the guns you own, then there's no reason not to have a few IL guns if they suit your intended use for them. I use the term to mean a specific group of valuable guns, and the IL has no place there. Just my opinion, to each his own...

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"We deal in lead, friend."

I see what you're saying. I guess I was using the term to mean entire inventory rather than just the nicer ones.

No. I prefer to buy shooter grade, pre lock revolvers, for use at the range.

More gun for my money with a better resale value, when/if I'm done with them, as well. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

They play the same roll as all firearms. No red headed step child's in my bunch, just all beautiful S&W revolvers

I have both....the vast majority of mine are pre IL's....I have an assortment of pre IL guns that I have carried, shot and maintained for 30-40 years.....a well worn M-65, M-28 6", M-49,M-58, M-29 4",M-18 and some others that are "occasional" guns......the guns listed have been part of my life and activities for decades, and still are....so where you find me, you will find one or more of them. My IL guns are "occassional's and house guns, not because they are IL's ( which have been surgically removed) simply because they don't fill a need that my older guns don't already cover.

I have wrestled with this question myself after I bought a pristine 629 and an unfired 25-2. I decided that, for me, it would be a shame not to shoot them...it's what they were made for. I baby the heck out of them though.

My $0.02

I like the older ones,period. I can't see where any of the new ones do anything that the old ones can't,and I won't be alive by the time a new one is worth 5 times what I'd have to pay for 'em. Hell,I've got boxes that are now worth more than I paid for the gun that's in 'em! I've always bought the highest condition guns I could afford and kept them that way. Shootin' 'em don't hurt 'em,being careless and negligent is another matter altogether.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

I have no intention of "replacing" any of my S&W's with newer ones, but I have no qualms about acquiring a newer one to shoot. I do have a 617 (with IL), and it is an outstanding shooter.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I have both including a full set of the Blued Mountain Guns produced in the 2004-2006 timeframe. NONE of my current post 2000 S&Ws have the internal lock altered in any way and all I have found to be of higher quality and better fit and finish than some of the "Bangor Punta" Smiths I owned in the past.
In fact I will avoid the 1973-1983 pistols before I would an IL pistol.
I shoot all my Smiths so it is not uncommon to see my model 25 from 1957 and my Springfield Armory Bicentennial 625 from 1994 sharing the range with my model 625JM from 2012 and my 22-4 from 2006 on an ACP day at the range
Chip King

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I have a few of newer revolvers with the internal lock, but they are on models that were not offered before, such as the 6 shot 686 Mountain Gun (686-6) and I will be getting the new model 69. I have no qualms about owning the newer ones. I guess if I ever wear out my older revolvers that pre-dated the IL I guess I will have to replace them with the newer ones. I'll worry about that when it happens.

I don't have an issue with the newer ones, either, although I prefer older.

I hope I didn't come across as having something against newer. It's more a desire to protect the older ones from scuffs and scrapes in the woods. I suppose a SS version would be just fine as any scuffs can be buffed out. Maybe pull the factory grips for that outing and replace with something that wouldn't matter.

No........

Well, I'm the P&R Fan, so that should tell you something.

I obviously prefer the older stuff, but the new ones have their place. Right now I have my favorite K-Frame carry gun on my right hip, a 2 1/2" M-66-1. Pinned and Recessed as God intended. In my left pocket is my BUG, which lives there all the time: My M340PD. It's only a couple years old. I was looking at it the other day and noticed the finish is wearing off in several spots. I really don't care. It's not a safe queen, it's a carry gun. A tool, if you will.

Do I wish it was P&R and all that cool stuff? Sure do. But then, if it was, I wouldn't subject it to the harsh treatment I do with this one.

Both old and new have their place. They're just different places.
Jim

I don't like the lock. I ordered a 627 as soon as I heard about the lock, but was too late and received a 627-5. It is a really good gun, very accurate. Several years later, I found a 627PC without the lock. Both are very good. I bought a .500 and it was made after locks were included, so had no choice. Those are the only two guns I have without the lock. The guns I have handled that other folks have bought with the lock are very well made. I have toyed with the idea of buying a 2 5/8 627 with the lock to save the one I have without the lock. But have not done so yet. Some other non lock gun seems to show up to command what little gun money I have.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

My snubby 66-3 rides my hip around our place, or the ILS 642 fits in a coat pocket while I'm doing chores. I enjoy owning a couple of the older S&W revolvers, but they get carried and used. I take good care of all my firearms, but if a nick or a scratch happens, so be it. I don't own any toolbox guns that get beat to hell.

If I were collecting for its own sake, the ILS would be an issue. However I buy shooters which have them or not, depending on their age. I would be inclined to remove and plug them if that revolver were to be an EDC. The ILS is very reliable, but relies on a single tiny spring to hold its last position, which could conceivably fail.

The ILS must remain in place or be completely removed. Otherwise pieces could shift and gum up the works, so to speak. You can't, for example, simply grind off the pin which engages the hammer, because that pin ultimately holds everything else in place.

I prefer wood and blue steel, but I've got a few with the IL. I have a 625 PC, a 647, and a 500. I enjoy all three of them.

I base every deal on its own merits. If I like the gun, and the price is acceptable, then I'll buy it. I think of the internal lock as a reason to pay less for the gun just like I do for a "Made in Japan" stamping on a Browning.

Having 3 j frames made for .357 in stainless, you have to make sacrifices concerning the lock. I have a six inch 19-4 in 98% condition that stays in the safe and rarely gets shot. Out of the 10 revolvers I have, 2 are .22 and one is a .38 all else are .357 and they all go to the range. After all they were made to be shot.

I'm not a collector but rather an accumulator! Right, wrong or in between I will not purchase a firearm that I cannot pick up and inspect myself without all the hassles of buying over the internet. So there are a lot of revolvers that I want but never see and that leads to buying a few of the new "classics". Such as the M-24, never seen an original for sale (gun shop) so I bought me a nice new 6 1/2" nickeled "classic". Very good shooter and in an all steel L or N frame the lock bothers me not. Also bought the new M-21-4, M-22-4 and M-40. I am rather happy with them all.

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Stay safe people!

I am lucky enough to have shooter grade guns to compliment my favorite safe queens. Not all of them, mind you, but most of them. It's the best of both worlds. Here is but one example. Some might consider the one on the right a shooter grade, but for me it stays in the display case. I just shot the one on the left today, and what a shooter.

This is probably not the best example, but you can get the idea.

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I do not own guns that do not get carried and shot including my 29-2 P&R revolvers and my Colt revolvers. I don't worry about the IL. I have shot hundreds of rounds through S&W 460 magnums and 357 magnums without an issue. I do carry a S&W key on my key ring just in case. I have never used it.

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U.S. Navy - U.S. Army, ret

I have the lock and pre lock s&w revolvers I cherish and handle them all very carefully. For the range it's the only place my s&w will go. For hunting and out in the weather my rugers get the abuse. But I handle every gun carefully lets face it there not cheap to replace. I value my $100 guns as much as much $800 guns. Again I handle them all very carefully like there my new born babes. The Lock is ok with any s&w I enjoy the nib s&w too more so if there in that world famous S&W nickel finish.

If the lock saves one child's life its ok with me. Anything for gun safety is a good thing. It's still the s&w quality on side.

For those of you that carry your P&Rs in the woods, is there a particular holster(full flap?) that you prefer or recommend to protect it?

In the "Collection"? None.

In the "Tool Box"? Two.

I have gotten over my "OMG! It's gotta IL I think I am going to hurl." Stage...

Barely.......

I have 3. with IL. I have a Govenor and a 500mag and they only come with the lock. I bought them for shooters.

I have one for my 'collection"....a 58-1. I saw it and just couldn't say no, even with the hole. It just hit my eye, especially with the stags. So yeh, I have il's in my collection.

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ASA/NSA 67-71
NRA Benefactor

I've got a couple with the lock. I've never engaged either lock. My policy is I leave them alone, they leave me alone. So far it's worked out just fine.

Interesting. I've done it both ways. I have a few really nice N frames that, when I bought them used looked practically unfired. For nearly 20 years I couldn't bring myself to shoot them. They're too pretty to shoot. Well, guess what. I finally decided I would not fully enjoy my beautiful guns unless I shot them. I can't (sadly) take them with me.
So I did shoot them all and I'M GLAD. GLAD. I really enjoyed myself and I look forward to some better weather so I can shoot them some more. I don't have boxes and docs for these beauties, so I didn't even do myself notable financial harm. I'M GLAD. Mike

Simple answer for me is no.
I will buy the pre-MIM and pre-lock models for collecting
and shooting.
As another poster stated, they will hold value better
in the long run.


Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

"Do newer ILS revolvers have a role in your collection? "

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
JIM............................

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SWCA # L-1911

Yes, they play a minor role in my collection. I do not like the lock, but if the gun is of a configuration that I want, I will look past the hole. The only model I have with a lock is a 686+ 5" and it's a great shooter and long enough to hunt with here in Ohio.

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SWCA #2777

I had a Model 60-15, 3 inch .357 J frame with the lock. I finally sold it and got a 60-10, no lock. Looking at that lock was like having a picture of Bill Clinton on the dresser.

i don't own any that i wouldn't take hunting and shooting. i have pre models, and models from the 60's 70's, 80's and lock models. my 29-8 MG is fit and finish right up there with my older ones. shoots great too but the trigger is not as smooth. i don't collect, i accumulate.

If they put out a 628 or a 28-4, I'd buy one of each (as long as they brought back that lazy ampersand). All mine get shot, all mine wander through the desert (but not on a horse with no name) but I don't buy the "LNIB" guns, the current owners are too proud of them.

Another lock vs no lock thread, who'da thunk it.

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Sure you did

I have no issue with the newer revolvers and prefer them for regular shooting. Parts are more readily available, they are well made and the lack of the P&R, the use of MIM and the presence of the IL do not bother me. I have said before, I wish S&W would offer revolvers like they do the M&P pistol line, both with (for those who want it or for sale in any location that may require it) and without the lock. That said, if anyone does not like it, it is easy to remove.

I had never entertained obtaining a Smith with an extra hole until I got a smokin' deal on a lightly fired 6" 57-6. It came with the box and docs., holster, dies, 2 lbs. of Blue Dot, 500 bullets, 500 new brass and 1000 primers for $625. The action is as nice as my best pre-lock Smiths. I'm currently working on a Trilogy of 57's, a 6" no dash, 8 3/8" no dash and a 4" 657 no dash. Really like the .41 after getting my first ils.

As the OP, I wish it hadn't turned into that. I own both and was trying to get a feel for how many guys are somewhat more protective of their older vs newer guns.

The presence or lack of a lock has no bearing whatsoever on the decision to purchase a specific S&W or not.

The most important factors in purchasing a firearm is if the firearm fills the need I have in mind, is in a caliber I want and is priced right.

I did not think it was about that at all. It just morphed into that conversation some how. I'm a S&W guy, regardless. I believe I know where you were going.

I have no use for MIM/IL Smiths, UNLESS I can't find a nice condition pre-MIM 40/640.

I like the older ones way too much to give the new ones more than a passing glance.

Well, I guess I could go for the new 69 .44 mag. I'd rather have one built on a 586/686-1 or 2 frame, and with the lugged barrel.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Nope, money spent on a ILS revolver is that much less to spend on a older S&W.

Don't own a Smith with a lock. And don't plan on owning one unless someone gives it to me. I'll use what I have (which is all I really need) and let the honest wear appear as time goes by. Don't own any safe queens.

Whatever. From the standpoint of appearances, the older stuff is just more elegant. Of course, I'm "older stuff" myself, so I guess that may be part of the reason.

I like the music by well composted classical music composers better than the cacophonous new music too. 60's rock is where my heart is for modern music. And, let's not forget James Taylor.

So, if I win a lottery and start collecting . . . I will be one of those old fools we like to watch paying outrageous prices for really nice classic, old, S&W revolvers.

You're a lucky man to have not contracted the "collecting" disease!

Not sure if you meant composted or composed, but either way I like it! Have to be honest.... had to look up cacophonous