I whittled this cylinder latch out of a block of stainless today. Not my best work, but good enough for personal use. Covers the lock anyway.

Tony Rumore
Tromix

Something like this that looks more like factory would be a money maker.

Absolutely agree!!

No kidding!

Help me out here guys....if the shape is like the factory unit, it won't cover the lock. Or are you referring to checkering the part, or something else?

There is just no way for it to look like the factory part AND still cover the lock.

Tony

Some people would have included the knife in the photo.

I recently purchased from ebay a shiny stainless earlier round version thumb release. Bead blasted it and replaced the triangular MIMsical unit on on the 625-7. While admiring my work I was thinking if someone shaved the bottom off of it like some versions we've seen and added some material to the top, rounded it over and blended the checkering it may help cover a frame plug. Do not discount someone's thoughts or ideas, big companies call this brainstorming. I call it profit potential. we may have something here!

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Retired trap shooter

Don't just cover it...pull it out and plug it up

Just imagine a previous style round latch raised up and contoured properly to cover a plug. I won't even ask for a cut of the profits!

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Retired trap shooter

Yeah, I'd probably buy one... but only after I pulled the lock out.

ORIGINALPRECISION.COM lock-delete is the way to go.

Tony, I think checkering is all that yours is missing. Always a fan of your work BTW!

See post #9 for a good answer.

I've been thinking that perhaps something could be done with the Hogue extended release lever. You would simply need to weld a piece to the top of the lever. Too bad that the silver brazing filler (56% silver) is yellow in color for use with stainless and will not accept bluing. If not for that I would do one myself.

In the meantime, there are at least three manufacturers of lock delete plugs. These are relatively easy to make. An oversized thumb piece would be a lot more difficult and time consuming to machine. The problem would be to design something that would cover the lock assy and still retain something close to the original shape and proportions. If someone can come up with the right design I’m sure there would be a market.

Time to apply to "Shark Tank"!

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M60 442 642 637 686 686+ 629

Tony Rumore, I like it just add checkering and keep it about $39.95.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I personally have never had an issue with the lock function except for looks.

So for looks alone this is how I would rate the looks of S&W revolver given these options.

1. A no lock gun.
2. The Tony Rumore latch with the then meaningless "L <---" removed.
3. The Tony Rumore latch.
4. The plug with the then meaningless "L <---" removed.
5. The plug.
6. Factory lock left alone. (it is what it is)

So for looks #2 would be my preference for a S&W with a lock.

But I would think removing the "L <---" would hurt the resale value so that would make #3 my best choice if I was worried about that.

So Tony wins for me either way, good job!

JMO

MOD note - to avoid possible confusion, the post made to an old thread has been moved to it's own thread. Enjoy, but remember the rule on bashing!

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Pretty sure they were saying make it large but keep the factory shape. That, along with a plug would probably make some happy.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I originally made it like an over-size factory latch, but it looked completely ridiculous on the side of the gun.

There is one manufacture of the Lock Delete, Patent Pending. Original Precision. Knew you couldn't resist Ed. Surprised you didn't post your url.

Tony I apologize for personally posting into your thread. Not my style.


That latch looks good for a quikie as you put it. Sounds like you've got a good part in the works.

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R/S
J.D.

Maybe if it was only slightly larger than the stock piece but offset upwards?

It could be made via CNC machine relatively easily, but who has a multi axis CNC mill collecting dust in their garage?

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Plug works for me...

Aesthetically that really isn’t all that bad to look at. As someone else mentioned, add some checkering and a slight shoulder to push your thhmb up against and I think you’re on to something.

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I reckon so

I like it. A little checkering to make sure the thumb doesn't slip off and good to go.

I would buy a couple.

Looks good to me.

Tony, that is much, much nicer than the newer factory "ellipse" (or whatever they call it) and even better still than the Hogue. (Sorry, Hogue, but I think you designed it for function rather than looks. Bow wow.)
May I suggest a little more symmetry in the portion immediately above and below the screw, which you probably already knew, but my OCD gets out of control sometimes. I hope you'll keep us up to date as you refine your design. I'd be in for at least one!

I’m sitting here looking at a 66-2 that is my edc. The older, less sexy style latch. It looks like if it were a hair taller it would cover the lock. Hard to tell for sure. One problem is that the contour of the frame has changed with the lock addition. At least on the JKL frames. Don’t think it changed any on the N frame. Anyways , I’d start with one of the old thumb pieces and see how much material had to be added to the top. I think you have a pretty good idea here. I’d personally like to see you do something with it. Possibly something that could be 3D printed?

one of the objections to the lock was on light, high recoiling guns, the possibility of the lock being "shocked" and engaging itself. covering the lock does away with a quick un-lock fix if this ever happens. Or even to check it's functionality.

Not being a machinist I looked at the aftermarket cylinder release approach, but none completely covered the lock. I ended up using and EB latch which partially covers it. I thought about the plug, but removing the flag creates a bigger hole.

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213th FBINA

Classic!

Sent from my broken phone

That’s why you remove the bits on the inside, m8.

I think it looks great, and with checkering it would be a very nice and subtle replacement for the factory option.

On an aside, its nice to see Tromix tinkering around with wheel guns, you guys have done a great service for the 458 socom community and if you started dabbling in revolvers I am sure a lot of guys would be very happy with some new ideas.

Bringing this thread back to life. We did our best to build this into a production part, but the factory checkering proved overly challenging to say the least. We finally ended up cross-hatching the latch with the laser. I'm not real happy with the results, but it's the best we could do. We will have these up on the Tromix website shortly, starting at $25ea.

Tony Rumore
Tromix

Now for the two-piece barrel

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213th FBINA

I like it. Never a fan of the new style latch anyway. Your latch allows for deleting the latch, leaving everything out and covering up the hole at a very reasonable cost. Nice

I am going to try one on one of my 325s

Yep, I'll be ordering one for my Mod.69!

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

PLEASE don't get me started on the *&%#+?* LOCK!

So I won't say anything at all.

I've been dinged enough already and not getting any more pleasant about it, either.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Not a biggie but curious, does the hole remain covered/hidden with latch in both forward and rearward positions?

Any support for different color schemes (e.g. stainless, blued, etc)? Regardless, these came out great and the cross-hatching is a fair compromise.

... that's cool. But just a simple plug is good enough for me.
- DP

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I like the OP’s creation or something like what’s mentioned in post #9. I like the plug concept, but while it eliminates one hole it creates another larger hole left by removing the flag. I tried to mitigate the appearance of the bellybutton on my 627-5 using an EB cylinder release, but it didn’t work. I’d happily buy one of the OP’s releases.

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213th FBINA

"but while it eliminates one hole it creates another larger hole left by removing the flag."
Oh please, have you seen the flag 'hole'... minor at most. Guns are full of slots and holes. It's a gun, shoot it, again and again.

Agreed, and I understand the other arguments for
eliminating the lock, it’s just personal preference. For me it’s silly to plug one hole only to create another, regardless of size. Cheers

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213th FBINA

I hate the locks


this is a cool idea

My 3in 64 will look 100% better to me with that lock hole covered up.
I will be buying one

I want three when will they be for sale

I've got them up on the Tromix website.
All the parts are made from 303 Stainless with black finish. When the latch is pushed and held completely forward, you can see the very back edge of the latch hole.

I need some help from you guys on the fitment applications for this part. It is shown here on a Smith 69. What other frames/models will this latch fit or specifically Not fit?

Tony Rumore
Tromix