Have 4" & 6" M-617s, Love to shoot steel targets, No kids around my house anymore, and I carry a M-617 almost all of the time, Hate the locks, Should I remove them, Yes or No, Is that a hard job to remove them ? My 1966 M-10 has no lock..

I don’t particularly like the lock on my 617 or 317 but I’m not sure I want to mess with it. They’ve never caused a problem for me but it purely up to you and depends on how much it annoys you.

Through a trade I wound up getting my 617 and I do like it and swore I’d not buy another gun with a lock but guess what, I bought another, a new 317. Since then I decided I’d buy non lock guns and picked up a model 63 no dash and a model 17-6 4” with no under lug. I also picked up a Colt King Cobra 22 and have started thinking of selling my 617.

I have two with locks and I just Dremeld the pin off that rides in the slot of the hammer and it doesn’t matter anymore what position it is in.

Have they caused you a problem? I have a 625 with a lock. Never caused me a problem. Probably 1K on the rounds fired. I don't carry a key in my range bag. I don't even know where my key is to be honest.

Why did you buy a gun with a lock if it's such a burr under your saddle?

I wish I had a dollar for every post here about the evil locks. I could retire if I already wasn't.

If you don't like locks, just don't buy those. Problem solved.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I have exactly one SW that came with the lock. The other several dozen pre-date the modern era. I was more concerned about the aesthetics than the function. Purchased the lock delete from someone on this forum and performed the switch in about 10 minutes. Happiness prevails.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

I have not had any problem Yet, but what comes with that delete kit ? When you removed the lock, will it have a smoother trigger action ? when I pull the hammer back, and look down in there, it looks like the lock may drag on the action, or the hammer..

Completely agree. ALL my Smiths are pre-lock.

I don't think you can buy a New S&W .22 revolver Without the lock. What was the first year for the lock ? I don't think anyone even wants it.. that's just me..

If the looks don’t bother you, I would leave it as is.

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213th FBINA

It’s been too long since I performed the lock delete that I can’t remember the operation exactly. Maybe two parts. Easy. No discernible effect on the trigger. Search on this forum and find all the information you need

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

It's very simple to do, I did 4 on my first order. JD is a great guy, who makes a great product.
**LOCK DELETE** CNC MOON CLIP Conversions & CCW HD Moon Clips - ORIGINAL PRECISION

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Todd

Pretty sure the SW Model 351c in .22 Magnum and the new performance center 642 do not have an IL.

Both are J frames with internal hammers but they do have IL on other internal hammer J frames.

While I don't own any IL SW's if it were a range toy like the model 617 it wouldn't bother me,
If it were something I carried for self defense it becomes an issue but that's just me.

All my S&W revolvers have a lock and I have never had a problem with it. Removing it seems like far more trouble than it is worth. Particularly with a 22. The only reports I have seen about the lock accidentally engaging involved heavy recoil like shooting full power 357s out of a 12 ounce scandium J-frame. Worst case with a 617 would be having to but your range session short if it somehow got locked and you didn't have the key with you.

If the aesthetics bother you enough to make deleting the lock worth the trouble there is no reason not to. Its your gun and your money. I spend lots of money on things that don't really make sense just because I want to and that includes guns.

I guess sometimes you have no choice but to acquire a gun with the lock. A model that didn’t exist prior to locks or was made in very limited numbers pre lock. So far I have only owned 3 with locks, and not a single one gave me a lick of trouble. I move the lock from on to off a few times when I first got the guns to make sure nothing bound up and that it functioned properly, then put the guns in fire mode then left it that way.
Looks I think we are 99% in agreement they detract from the appearance, but performance is not effected, at least in my experience.
I have never seen it myself ( and I am around a lot of revolvers ) but there were some limited reports of locks activating and preventing a gun from being fired, which everything I have seen was related to heavy kicking magnums or very light weight guns with stout loads.
If I found a lock gun that was what I really wanted it wouldn’t deter me. I personally wouldn’t go through the trouble of taking it out.

You certainly do have a choice. Buy a Colt. That’s what I’ve been doing.

If enough of us continue buying Colts instead of Smiths maybe Smith will produce guns that people want.

While I’m on my soapbox, bring back the 4506.

All of my Smith & Wesson revolvers are pre-lock models. I did own a 686 with a lock for a period of time and never had any issues with it. My preferring pre-lock models has more to do with the profile of the frame rather than the lock itself. The appearance of the lock for me was a non-issue. If a person removes the lock there are certain legal liability issues, but some of us don't care and others do, it's up to the owner.

I got a new M 48, One of the first things I did was to put in a lock delete.

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Jeff

I have a couple of lock guns that I'll eventually get around to de-locking. They're both defence guns. However, if I had a .22 with a lock I seriously doubt I'd bother about it, although I'd prefer it didn't have it. I can't imagine why they continue to force the lock on customers rather than offering options. I suspect their revolver sales would increase dramatically if they quit forcing it. Offer both and see if they keep selling enough lock guns to make it worthwhile to continue offering the option.

But no, I wouldn't bother about de-locking the .22.

This is the only revolver I own with a lock. It hasn't given any trouble so I have no need to disable the system.

S&W 638.jpg

This subject gets beat to death every so often and always gets the same responses. I have several revolvers, three of them with locks. I agree it's not the prettiest feature but I ignore it, my fastest shooter of my three 617's has a lock, no problem. The guns I've seen with the plug only look good at a distance. The lock is like a zit with a purpose, the plug is like a popped zit with no purpose. I put up with it because I think the 617's are still the best choice available for me.

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Never had one with a lock and never will. But's that just me; I'm old, stubborn, and set in my ways when it comes to Smith revolvers!! One thing I would be concerned about if you start removing parts (the lock specifically) on the gun and something breaks and needs to go back to the factory for repair, I don't think Smith will honor any type of warranty to fix it since it has been altered. I guess you would just put the parts back in before you sent it in; I don't know. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I wouldn’t touch it myself doesn’t bother me at all

I have a couple guns with the lock and a couple without. To be honest. I don’t even think differently about them. Never have and never will function the mechanism. I just don’t really see what the big deal is. My first one with the lock was the 500. I really wanted a S&W500 and I was not going to let the IL stop me I figure if that recoil doesn’t activate the lock, none of my other ones should either

I have a model 48 that had a lock. I bought the lock delete kit described in post #11. Easy to install, looks great, and the trigger actually improved a bunch.

My 460 has a lock - don't think there are pre lock 460/500's. No issues but if there were a pre lock I'd rather have it. The only other lock model I have is a fancy 629 two tone whiz-bang custom that I just "had" to have. See no need to plug the hole - it's still there.
Ed

Okay, there is a lot of yes, and no, One member said just remove the flag, I just had to try it on one of my guns, M-617, 6 inch, It was not hard to remove the flag, Except for a little spring flying across the room, took me about a hour to find it in the last place I looked, down in a box of ammo, and junk, but anyway it took about a 1/2 # off my double & single action trigger pull, and fills more smooth like my older Smith, going to try it at the range maybe Monday, I may be removing the flag from my other M617 & M637, Hope I will not be needing any warranty work. will I need to put the flag back in ?

What would be the liability of removing the lock? If you accidentally shoot someone, it won't lessen your liability if you did it with a gun that has the lock.

I would say remove it and get a lock delete kit from JD.

I am not a fan of the locks either...

Lock Delete - ORIGINAL PRECISION - Home of J.D.'s Original Works

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Go ahead... make my day.

If you shot someone, the lock sure was not working very well, or it was not locked in the first place..

I, too would remove the lock. And I'd buy a used gun with it, as well. The used market doesn't always have a wide selection. It's no different than changing the grips or sights and nobody says you shouldn't have bought it if they bothered you.

I quoted this one to double down on the recommend for JD. I bought something besides a lock delete but it was a 5 star transaction, 5 star product and 5 star service. Plus he's a forum vendor, so a win all the way around.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Only have one.
649 that I traded for.
Also don’t like the you know what but just try to ignore it.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Nice all around little gun, I had a M-60, Maybe it's just me, That lock system seems sloppy & cheap made, and the little key seems cheesy made, like it's made in China, Not S&W made in the USA..

Do what you want

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Forum consigliere

Why remove it....if you are so afraid of it then take a toothpick of quick set epoxy and disable it...no more problems. It won't move. Problem solved.

There's still the L arrow, the slot next to the hammer plus mim part's to delete LOL

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Stang1911

It's just an eyesore.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

The hammer was dragging on the lock flag, So I removed just the flag, problem solved with no little hole by the thumb piece in the side of the frame..

Has anybody noticed that between everyone saying "Yes" and everyone saying "No" about removing the lock, that NOBODY has anything positive to say about actually using the lock?

Interesting....

S&W, are you listening?

I would be more concerned about how well the gun shoots for me. Have only one lock equipped Smith , my 617-5 , it has been the most accurate Smith revolver I have owned in 36 years of handgun shooting. I rarely shoot my pre-lock 617-1 since acquiring the 617-5.

The only good thing about the lock guns is you can get a Rev-Up-Action hammer kit for them. Nice sweet DA pull. Now if only S&W would improve the quality control of the lock guns.....

Saw interesting take on the locks last night. Guy said he LOVED the locks because they allowed him to buy his preferred 686 models at half the price of older pre-lock guns.

Gotta respect a positive attitude 🤣

How about S&W have a easy to remove lock for people that don't want the darn thing, it may be okay for storage or people with kids around. I have enough keys to carry, don't need a gun key to carry, But that's just me..

I have never known anyone who used the lock, including me. I don't remove them but I don't use them. I've also never had a problem with one. I'm not so sure I could even find a key. The whole thing, pro and con, is just noise.

I won't attempt to explain it to you. Let yourself fall into the right situation and a lawyer will be more than happy to explain it in great detail.

I have three with the locks. A 617-6, a 637-2, and a 60-15. All would sometimes drag in DA. Bought the Lock Delete for each one, easy to install, and the DA pull cleaned up on all three.

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Heavily armed old man.

And if you ever need your gun for self defense, you know it's going to work.. would be my luck that cheesy lock would malfunction just when I need it the most, I did not really want that little hole or plug on the side of my gun, so I just removed the flag.. That's just me..

If I had a dollar for every complaint I have read or heard about S&W locks, I could buy a really nice semi-custom 1911 .45.
If I had a dollar for every complaint I have read or heard of from someone who has ACTUALLY had the lock engage on it’s own, I could buy a small Tootsi Roll ( maybe).

The locks have never caused me any trouble.
If someone removes the lock, I would highly recommend replacing it before selling or trading it off for liability reasons. When you die, whoever gets your de-locked guns should be made aware of the alterations.
My wife has worked for a very large law firm with offices around the country, and England too, for many years, so we are very familiar with how “ victims “ lawyers think and the removal or alteration of a safety device is looked upon in both Judge and jury trials.
The locks are a non-issue with me personally, and if I bought a gun that had the lock removed, I would not give it a second thought.
My point being do what you want with your own guns, but “think downstream” when the gun is no longer in your posession.

Like in other calibers, you can get a 22LR Centennial model without the IL; the 43c.

73,
Rick

I’ve got several with locks and many more without. I wont remove the locks as they do nothing but look ugly for the most part.