Model 642 Omitted Key lock?

[Connor85]

Greetings forum! First time poster here.

I recently purchased a new model 642 revolver at a local sporting goods store, and noticed something peculiar about the gun.

It appears that this gun has no actual key-lock mechanism installed in the gun, yet in the location where the lock would be, the gun is still etched the letter L with the counter-clockwise arrow. I have attached a picture to show this in detail.

I have taken the side plate off the gun, and by what I can see, there is no internal lock to be found on this gun.

My question: Does anyone know if this was something that Smith and Wesson did on purpose at some point, or did this gun simply find it's way through? I prefer this model without the lock, so I have no problems with it not being there

Thanks for the help!

Connor

 

[Jimmyjones]

Looks like a 642-1 (no lock) with the wrong silkscreen.

The 642-1 was re-introduced in 2008.

 

[Edmo]

It looks like they either forgot to drill the hole, or they forgot to select the correct etching program for that batch of frames.

Either way, you have a unique goof up.

Edmo

 

[Connor85]

Thanks for the feedback!

The gun is a model 642-2. It was actually the display model on the shelf at the store. I had the clerk show me the other guns of this model in stock, and they both had key locks present.

Either way, seems like an interesting quirk to have come across.

Connor

 

[lowriderfxr]

Actually there were a lot of 642s made without the lock.

 

[ADP3]

Actually there were a lot of 642s made without the lock.

True, but not with the "L" etching for the lock. The No-Lock Model is the #642-1, SKU# 103810.

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[shawn mccarver]

A few J frames are offered as regular production without the internal lock. Assuming your new puchase came with a box, the product code should be 103810, which is the no internal lock version of the 642. The 642 with internal lock is 163810. Not always, but often, if the second digit is a 6 in the product code, it means that model has an internal lock. That applies to some revolvers, but not to all revolvers.

 

[Florida J Frame]

I have come across 2 or 3 of these in the past few years. My guess is Smith & Wesson pulled some "lock" frames and used them for the "no-lock" guns before they were drilled.

 

[Connor85]

I did receive a box with this gun, and the SKU shows #163810. However, being that I received the display gun, I can't be certain that I received the original box for the gun (the box did come with keys). It's possible the clerk swapped out the gun from the box I received and put it into the display in my gun's place. I may check in with him to see if that was the case.

Thanks for the feedback! Just curious to get to the bottom of the situation!

 

[Florida J Frame]

The box has the serial number on the tag

 

[Connor85]

Looks like the serial # of the gun matches to the one from the box.

I'll take the side plate off again and take a closer look to see if I can find a lock, but it appears that it's simply not there.

Thanks again for all the feedback!