1975 Model 66 with a Magna trigger mod

[v84x4]

I just wanted to share some pictures and my video (Please sub)
of my Model 66 with "MAGNA TRIGGER"

Magna Trigger Safety Ring Modification (extremely Rare}
The magnet lock is a "Magna Trigger." It was very popular with law enforcement agencies in the northeast.
A few thousand were installed in the 70s and 80s.
The Magna Trigger is where the front strap has been replaced with a magnet lock contraption and requires the user
to wear a magnetic ring This and this alone will allow the handgun to fire.
The Magnetic mechanism works flawlessly when the Ring is placed on the middle or Ring finger



Video here:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EBakt77GAE&t"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EBakt77GAE&t[/ame]

best regards, Rick

 

[LPD256]

I've never seen one. Thanks for sharing.

 

[JayCeeNC]

I remember seeing these advertised and reviewed in gun mags in the '70s, but always considered it a bit too "tricky" to bet my life on it.

 

[murphydog]

There is a recent thread on this same conversion. Small world.

686-3 with magna ring safety conversion

 

[Muley Gil]

Massad Ayoob wrote about this modification & IIRC, he carried one as a duty sidearm for a while.

 

[Engine49guy]

Neat gimmick,
Maybe they could add a small keyhole above the cylinder release,.....and a fingerprint I'd safety......and a keypad with a 4 digit code...
JK.....neat bit of scary nostalgia.

 

[Laketime]

I remember these were more geared towards officer safety in the case of a struggle with a bad guy that got his weapon.

 

[diyj98]

I too remember them in old magazine articles. The thought of having to have a ring on bothered me though. I'm the type to forget my head if it wasn't attached, so I know I'd forget a ring.

 

[Doc44]

Very interesting!

Bill

 

[Green Frog]

IIRC, this concept was pretty much abandoned when it was discovered that the officer's ring being even slightly misaligned could leave him with his own revolver being disabled in his hand, a frightening scenario! Sometimes "it looks good on paper" just doesn't carry over into real life!

Froggie

 

[Laketime]

IIRC, this concept was pretty much abandoned when it was discovered that the officer's ring being even slightly misaligned could leave him with his own revolver being disabled in his hand, a frightening scenario! Sometimes "it looks good on paper" just doesn't carry over into real life!

Froggie

I remember hearing from Ed Sanow that in the heat of an armed encounter if an officers shooting hand or arm was injured that he might not be able to switch the ring over fast enough or even forgot too in the stress.

 

[murphydog]

I could see wearing several rings on all your fingers, maybe diamond encrusted, just to make sure the gun functions. Very blingy.

 

[Piwo]

I remember those guns being used by security personnel at a mental ward of a local hospital back in the day. Local news would routinely do a news story on those modified guns every year or so it seemed. I think when an agency has to resort to such gimmicks they should reevaluate their tactics, protocols, and perhaps personnel.

 

[DGNY]

Thank you for the interesting information and detail of presentation. Always glad to expand knowledge base by checking in on inventions of the past.

No matter whether they were highly successful, a passing fancy or "not so great".

 

[Laketime]

I remember those guns being used by security personnel at a mental ward of a local hospital back in the day. Local news would routinely do a news story on those modified guns every year or so it seemed. I think when an agency has to resort to such gimmicks they should reevaluate their tactics, protocols, and perhaps personnel.

Retention holster designs have come along way since back in those days when this was offered.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

IIRC, this concept was pretty much abandoned when it was discovered that the officer's ring being even slightly misaligned could leave him with his own revolver being disabled in his hand, a frightening scenario! Sometimes "it looks good on paper" just doesn't carry over into real life!

Froggie

"In theory, theory and practice are the same.
In practice, theory and practice are often different."

 

[aclarke3]

Thank you for posting this, very interesting.

 

[drumminor2nd]

Never actually saw how the mechanism worked, but read about it before and saw the appeal and the potential side effects.

Not sure it would be my nightstand gun or my carry gun (the ring alone would be hell on your wallet -- the magnet would destroy your credit cards' magnetic stripe), but then again neither are things like my Safety Hammerless or my Ithaca 1911. It's an interesting development that I'd totally have in my collection if I found one for sale at a reasonable price.

 

[VictorLouis]

The thumbpiece safety conversion makes more sense....

Murabito Revolver Safety

 

[steelslaver]

Keeping control of your weapon makes even more sense. The present lock is bad enough. The ring sounds all Buck Rogers, but no thanks