M-617 22 Revolver. Target Shooting. Remove The Stupid Lock. Yes or No ?

[Blueduck]

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

 

[oldrookey617]

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..

 

[cmj8591]

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 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.

 

[wproct]

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 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.

 

[pasound]

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.

 

[oldrookey617]

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..

 

[smoothshooter]

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).

 

[smoothshooter]

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.

 

[riverrat38]

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..

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

73,
Rick

 

[Rick Sanborn]

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.

 

[pacecars]

This was my answer to the lock on my 617

 

[cmj8591]

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.

In that case you should probably should keep your locks. In fact you might want to keep your guns locked in your safe if you are that worried about liability.

 

[CajunBass]

I've got thee or four with the lock now. I've owned others in the past. It worries me about as much as the chance of being hit by a steamship in the parking lot this morning. I keep a key on my keyring, right next to a P-38 can opener. I've never used either one. I don't even think they're any uglier than any other screw, or pin in the side of the gun. They've been there so long, I just expect them to be. As an aside...There are old S&W's that have a pin in just about the same place.

On the other hand if you don't like it, take it out.

 

[wproct]

In that case you should probably should keep your locks. In fact you might want to keep your guns locked in your safe if you are that worried about liability.

I want to apologize to you, I may have come off as being a smart aleck and that wasn't my intention. I just know that this is a caution that always gets thrown out on any modifications to original firearms. I hope I don't live to see the day that guns have to be kept in a locked house, in a locked safe, with a trigger lock installed. I'm probably old enough that I won't.