Is a Pre Lock worth it?

[ladder13]

Buy what you like!
Guns are not investments.
You want to discuss ETFs? Exchange Traded Funds?
Those are investments.

Maybe folks like ramen noodles in retirement

 

[muddocktor]

I've had to use their warranty 9 times. From everything, from me breaking the guns. Cracking force cones, to fixing canted barrels.
Smith and Wesson customer service and the performance center service department have been exemplary IMO.
In full transparency, I have never had to warranty a J frame, but I do own them. I still feel that the product is covered by them. And have full consumer confidence.
I admit that I do quickly discount forum members allegations of their servicing problems or issues. But Ofcourse! I have to. I'm not them. And I have to go by my "personal " experiences with them and not theirs.
I would not dissuade a potential buyer from buying a new gun , from those service experiences that I have had. For they have been positive and the outcomes were in my favor.

Given my personal experiences with Smith and Wesson. I still have confidence enough to buy a new gun.

That's true, Lou. I have sent a couple of my Smiths in for them to work on and one of those was covered by their lifetime service policy and got exemplary service from them, but my last experience was at least 3 years ago. And I am leery of aluminum framed revolvers also and my personal feeling is that I wouldn't own one in a J frame. But it seems that in just the last year or so, we have seen threads posted here where some of the cheaper J frames have been sent back to the mothership with what turned out to be broken hammer studs not being fixed or replaced under the service policy. And most disturbing to me was the "normal wear item" excuse they gave as a reason for not fixing or replacing the gun on their dime. Having a hammer or trigger stud break while the side plate is on and the gun being used is decidedly not a normal wear item to me and I feel for the ones who had S&W pull this on them. I have not read of S&W doing this to a steel framed revolver however. Would I buy a new S&W revolver? You bet ya, if it's something I want. But I would be very hesitant to buy the low end aluminum J frame guns because it sounds to me like if the hammer stud or possibly the trigger stud breaks you are SOL getting it fixed or replaced by S&W.

 

[TTSH]

I've had to use their warranty 9 times. From everything, from me breaking the guns. Cracking force cones, to fixing canted barrels.

Given my personal experiences with Smith and Wesson. I still have confidence enough to buy a new gun.

Now, that is what I call serious customer loyalty!

 

[TTSH]

Maybe folks like ramen noodles in retirement

They aren't so bad. But I do draw the line at Ketchup Soup.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

That's true, Lou. I have sent a couple of my Smiths in for them to work on and one of those was covered by their lifetime service policy and got exemplary service from them, but my last experience was at least 3 years ago. And I am leery of aluminum framed revolvers also and my personal feeling is that I wouldn't own one in a J frame. But it seems that in just the last year or so, we have seen threads posted here where some of the cheaper J frames have been sent back to the mothership with what turned out to be broken hammer studs not being fixed or replaced under the service policy. And most disturbing to me was the "normal wear item" excuse they gave as a reason for not fixing or replacing the gun on their dime. Having a hammer or trigger stud break while the side plate is on and the gun being used is decidedly not a normal wear item to me and I feel for the ones who had S&W pull this on them. I have not read of S&W doing this to a steel framed revolver however. Would I buy a new S&W revolver? You bet ya, if it's something I want. But I would be very hesitant to buy the low end aluminum J frame guns because it sounds to me like if the hammer stud or possibly the trigger stud breaks you are SOL getting it fixed or replaced by S&W.

I purchased an airweight for work for pocket carry and I dont believe there is anything on the market like them.
I sold the one I had for work and later on bought a new one, without the hammer. I'll buy another if given the chance. I may buy a 340pd(new) also.
Since it's a SD gun I haven't popped the sideplate off. What for , right? But if anything was wrong with it, anything that broke? I would definitely have them fix or replace it. Or meet the wrath of me and the BBB! I had a business, so I'm confident I could grease the wheels.

I did replace my 637 with a 442 pro. So, it's not a lower end J(?). The box said "performance center/ pro series " and came in a plastic box. Not a cardboard box.
A sales buddy of mine let me pocket carry a 340pd with the titanium cylinder. If the 442 disappears in the pocket, the 340 made you forget you had a pocket! Ha!

I try not to read too much on what people say on lock guns for example. On just one lock gun (I own several), I put 10,000 rounds in 3 years and never had a lock issue. Is their truth right? Or is mine? Who would I believe?

 

[epj]

I’m 70 something. I have some Smiths that once had locks. Think I have one 642 that still has it. I’ll have to look. Anyways, the older guns seem to me to have somewhat better fit and finish for the most part. Just an opinion based on observations. Are they better? Not necessarily. I will pay a small premium for the older guns in excellent condition. Double/triple $$? No way in hell. I will say, and no bashing intended, that when I have removed locks from some of the exposed hammer models, I could see where the flags were dragging on the hammer. I could see it on the digital trigger gauge as well. Not much, but measurable.
The aesthetics of the older models finish is my primary draw. Function might be hard to see a difference. The new two piece barrel guns are likely more accurate as a whole than the older ones, but the difference is likely hard to measure.

 

[Texas40]

My 300 dollar pre lock.
Be patient look around and maybe try NOT being a slave to online buying.

This was a local score face to face find.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ed Fowler]

I just turned 80, when I see a S&W with a lock I see Clintons and Obuma all over it, remember the political situation when my favorite company gave in to the liberal joke and can not stand to hold it, let alone buy one.

 

[Tom S.]

I will say this again for those of you who's posts were deleted:

READ THE STICKIES AT THE TOP OF THIS SECTION!

Bashing, Crying, & Whining

Bashing is NOT ALLOWED. If in the future you feel the need to post your disdain for MIM parts, Locks, and whatnot, get ready for a ding... A BIG DING!

OP: This question as you already know has been asked and answered NUMEROUS times, and posting it again is inviting people to stick their foot in their mouth - which is borderline trolling. This thread is done.