RevolverGuy: The History and Future of the Smith & Wesson Internal Lock

[Hapworth]

Heckuva read -- wide-ranging and informative. Highly recommended...

The History and Future of the Smith & Wesson Internal Lock - RevolverGuy.Com

[UncleEd]

I was going to comment on that article but
I see RevolverGuy has closed the comments
section.

So, here goes:

If Smith & Wesson ended the lock, I think
those who own models now with the IL would
immediately feel a backlash/loss in some
value in what they hold. That's because
the no-lock models would be touted as the
new and better value in the gun world and
certainly among many posters on this forum.

To get rid of the lock would be a break in faith
with everyone who bought the new models.

It wouldn't be like the Series 70/80 Colt GMs
where controversy lasted long enough to
cease as any real issue. And many who
knew the workings of the Series 80 safety
actually welcomed it and saw it as a non-issue.

The IL in Smiths is still very new by comparison.
And owners who really hate the lock can get
rid of it and plug the hole, maybe not the best
solution but a decent one, I think.

Again, for Smith to get rid of the lock in the near
future would be breaking faith with all those
buyers.

I've never been passionate about the lock or
lack of it but I'd hate to be told that the guns
I own are now worth less by some LGS or
potential buyer.

Smith has produced thousands of IL guns
and has thrived in the revolver world.

As an aside, the purists would still mock
the non-IL new issues because they don't
have the old parts in them but the dreaded
MIMs.

[Bullet Bob]

I have a few with the lock, it wouldn't bother me one way or the other if S&W deleted it.

Mayhaps I'm too easy going.

[s&wchad]

This will invariably lead to lock bashing, so it’s closed.

We’ve discussed the lock ad nauseam and people don’t come to this section of the form to be told how ugly their “new baby” is.

This is a good read: Bashing, Crying & Whining