Lock Hole Question...

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REParker

REParker

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I obtained a 3" J-frame .357 not long ago and, being it's a newer version, it has a "lock hole" but it didn't come with a key. I'm considering getting rid of it but I'm reluctant to sell it in this "incomplete" state. Is there some other item/key/Bobbie pin that would do the same job? I personally choose to ignore that feature but someone else might feel it's important. Otherwise, are they available from S&W separately, or individually on the aftermarket? TIA. Ed
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Huh, I once got a Nasty Gram from one of the moderators for calling it the Hilary Hole. Selective indignation? Anyway…

Your post isn’t clear to me whether you want to get rid of the lock, or the whole gun. Pronouns do that.

Re the keyed safety, there are 3 kinds of guys:
1. Won’t buy a gun with one.
2. Pluggers, we buy, we plug, we move on.
3. Don’t care.

As you can tell, I’m a plugger. So you’ll get an opinion from that perspective.
If your gun having a safety bothers you, watch a few YouTube videos, and get to work. The first time you plug one, it is scary, but not hard. Retain all parts removed.

If you bought the gun used, and decide to sell it, and it’s almost always a bad idea to sell a gun, include the parts.
If the new owner wants the gun put back the way it was from the factory (which never happens) the new owner can send the gun back to the factory and they’ll put the parts back in free of charge.
 
Yendor 1 said:
Huh, I once got a Nasty Gram from one of the moderators for calling it the Hilary Hole. Selective indignation? Anyway…

Your post isn’t clear to me whether you want to get rid of the lock, or the whole gun. Pronouns do that.

Re the keyed safety, there are 3 kinds of guys:
1. Won’t buy a gun with one.
2. Pluggers, we buy, we plug, we move on.
3. Don’t care.

As you can tell, I’m a plugger. So you’ll get an opinion from that perspective.
If your gun having a safety bothers you, watch a few YouTube videos, and get to work. The first time you plug one, it is scary, but not hard. Retain all parts removed.

If you bought the gun used, and decide to sell it, and it’s almost always a bad idea to sell a gun, include the parts.
If the new owner wants the gun put back the way it was from the factory (which never happens) the new owner can send the gun back to the factory and they’ll put the parts back in free of charge.
Click to expand...
I think it would be hard to sell the lock without including the gun, but maybe. I don't know everything. No, I'd divest myself of the whole gun, and I'm not interested enough in keeping it to do the surgery. There are other things I'd rather have either by trading or purchasing and I think I'll go in that direction.
 
REParker said:
I think it would be hard to sell the lock without including the gun, but maybe. I don't know everything. No, I'd divest myself of the whole gun, and I'm not interested enough in keeping it to do the surgery. There are other things I'd rather have either by trading or purchasing and I think I'll go in that direction.
Click to expand...
I think he means deleting the lock with a plug kit, not just selling the lock.
 
I would have preferred that they used a standard handcuff key because I still have them on all of my key rings and I still have dozens of extras in various drawers. However I believe in some jurisdictions, possession of handcuff keys by non-law enforcement folks could be considered possession of "criminal tools".
 
On the S&W I don't care for the lock, but just ignore it. On my Springfield 1911 Milspec I deleted it when I swapped the arched mainspring housing for a flat housing.

As a practice, it was the industry folding to threats from an anti gun part in US politics. I'd like to see more companies follow Ronnie Barrett's example.
 
I just ignore them. Never used the lock and never had one engage while shooting. It was never a big deal to me.
 
I bought a 642 last year with the IL. Haven’t had any issues yet and have actually locked it under certain circumstances. Of all the crooks I’ve encountered since the IL lock was imposed upon us, none of them were carrying a key so it would make it just that much harder to make it deadly. I didn’t go looking for an IL equipped gun - it just happened to be the way the gun came and I wanted an airweight Centennial, one was on the shelf at a LGS, and I didn’t have to play the bidding and shipping game. It’s my only IL gun.

I recall it was a common practice to remove smog equipment from muscle cars made beginning in the late 60s. When the restoration craze began, original smog equipment, along with exhaust manifolds and air cleaner housings became gold. Incan see the IL components everyone wants to remove becoming valuable. - lol.
 
I bought an unfired Model 27-9 for $700 with box and all, almost a year ago. Beautiful gun and just fine as it is. Later got a well used highway patrolman for a couple hundred less. Maybe I'll sell the newer one or just keep it.
 
gunsnjeeps said:
On the S&W I don't care for the lock, but just ignore it. On my Springfield 1911 Milspec I deleted it when I swapped the arched mainspring housing for a flat housing.

As a practice, it was the industry folding to threats from an anti gun part in US politics. I'd like to see more companies follow Ronnie Barrett's example.
Click to expand...
S&W has come out with a line of j-frames without locks. I think they're "unfolding."
 
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