Experts on 3rd Gens step inside

[TNZ71]

Looked at a nice 4566 TSW today. There was a strange button on the underside of the trigger guard. The owner stated that it was a trigger lock. There was a tool that turned the button and deployed a block to obstruct the trigger being depressed. I own several Smiths, my Dept used Smith 3rd Gens in 9, 40, 45 but I have never seen such a trigger lock. I've searched the web and can't find reference to it either. The PDF owners manual for metal autos on the Smith & Wesson doesn't show it either. What gives?

 

[clang444]

Are you sure it wasn't a trigger stop to prevent over travel?

 

[18DAI]

**** on a Bull

Back in 2001-2002 when the current company purchased S&W from Tompkins, locking devices for handguns were their stock in trade. The button on the bottom of the trigger guard of that 4566TSW is a form of lock.

When the allen wrench tipped key was inserted and twisted in the buttons recess, a metal peg rose up in the inside of the trigger guard above the button and prevented rearward movement of the trigger.

On page 76 of Dean Boormans book "The history of Smith & Wesson Firearms" a picture of a 4566TSW equipped with this idiotic device appears at the bottom right side of the page. Serial number is TDP8379.

Back in 2002 S&W was still selling large numbers of TSW series pistols. When they showed these models equipped with the trigger guard lock to agencies, they did not recieve the reception they were hoping for. They were told "no thanks!" And those useless devices died a well deserved death. Not many were produced. Thank God.

So as a conversation piece, the one you are looking at might be worth having. But I would not pay a premium for it and would not use it for serious purpose. While not as bad or poorly designed as the internal locks that the lock company now known as s&w incorporated into their revolvers, ruining that line, they are still as useful as **** on a bull. Hope this helps! Regards 18DAI

 

[TNZ71]

Back in 2001-2002 when the current company purchased S&W from Tompkins, locking devices for handguns were their stock in trade. The button on the bottom of the trigger guard of that 4566TSW is a form of lock.

So as a conversation piece, the one you are looking at might be worth having. But I would not pay a premium for it and would not use it for serious purpose. While not as bad or poorly designed as the internal locks that the lock company now known as s&w incorporated into their revolvers, ruining that line, they are still as useful as **** on a bull. Hope this helps! Regards 18DAI

Thanks. Lightly used with box I might just try and acquire it.

 

[nocents]

...miss a day ya miss a lot...I've never seen such a lock and until now hadn't even heard of such a variant

 

[GaryS]

Ditto. Even good companies come up with idiotic ideas every once in a while.

Chevrolet Vega comes to mind.

...miss a day ya miss a lot...I've never seen such a lock and until now hadn't even heard of such a variant

 

[epj]

Never heard of that one. Don't want to hear of any more.

 

[okiegtrider]

Never seen or even heard of this till this thread. Clearly an unwelcome idea, but an interesting bit of S&W trivia. Thanks 18DAI.

 

[Sevens]

Though most of us universally loathe the internal lock and we heap a lot of (much deserved!) blame on Saf-T-Hammer, at least they saved S&W from Tompkins. S&W's worst existence was under those guys.

Fantastic post, 18DAI. I had never heard of these particular locks either.

 

[spistols]

Can anyone post a pic of this?

 

[BUFF]

I currently own 28 S&W semiautomatic pistols with metal frames. I thought I was generally familiar with S&W's semis made since the end of WWII. And yet I had never encountered a pistol with this trigger lock or even mention in gun literature or blogs or gun web sites.

I would really appreciate for the owner of one of these to take and post a couple of photos.

 

[BAM-BAM]

18DAI... it's been awhile.

New one on me also.....thanks for the info.

 

[pmosley]

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

US Patent 6301816

 

[TNZ71]

Can anyone post a pic of this?

Hope this helps

 

[ab4ka]

Looks like a good use for a Dremel with a small cutoff wheel.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[larryh1108]

Wow, that is one ugly and useless "feature". I'd guess that since it's a factory "feature" and so few were made that a day will come when it's value will be greater than a regular model. I'd jump on that if the price is reasonable for future value.

 

[TNZ71]

Looks like a good use for a Dremel with a small cutoff wheel.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Or a drop of locktite at 35 on the diagram above.

 

[TTSH]

Wow, that is one ugly and useless "feature". I'd guess that since it's a factory "feature" and so few were made that a day will come when it's value will be greater than a regular model. I'd jump on that if the price is reasonable for future value.

Or a drop of locktite at 35 on the diagram above.

Correct. For its novelty & rarity alone it should be preserved.

 

[18DAI]

Folks can say what they will about Tompkins ownership of S&W. At least when Tompkins owned it they made good looking guns with great triggers that you didnt have to rebuild with Apex parts after purchase, just to give the gun everything the factory couldnt be bothered to.

As far as Im concerned s&w went out of business in 2001. YMMV. Regards 18DAI

 

[BAM-BAM]

Wow, that is one ugly and useless "feature". I'd guess that since it's a factory "feature" and so few were made that a day will come when it's value will be greater than a regular model. I'd jump on that if the price is reasonable for future value.

like the grip adapter from the 30s that were on some the RM's