I've gotten to the point that I'm seriously considering getting a Manurhin 73 from Beretta and calling it on future DA revolver purchases. Over the past several years I've been able to purchase those pre-lock models I've always wanted with less than a handful of exceptions. I have not and never will purchase anything with a lock on it. I spoke with S&W back when they first installed the lock, as I'm sure many of you have, and their response was, "Well, our lawyers cut this deal with the Clinton administration and it will never go away." Well guess what Smith & Wesson, the Clinton regime is dead and gone and you're under no legal obligation to keep to any agreement you've signed with them. Ok, you've sorted out economically turning out pieces using MIM parts that ought not be polished or stoned to any extent for fear of breaking the surface hardness but the infernal lock does represent a real threat that your pieces can lock up and fail at the worst possible time. I personally observed a friend's brand new X frame lock itself back in '06 at the NRA range in Fairfax, VA, where the muzzle blast of his first round fired shattered the fluorescent bulbs in the light fixture of the stall we were standing in. Then it locked itself on the second cylinder full.
S&W know how to turn out fully serviceable pieces suitable for duty and self defense use and they ought to do so again. It's been way past time for them to return to their roots and do what's right.
Oh, for an American firm to turn out a revolver proven as durable and reliable as the Manurhin. $3k and change for a medium frame .357 is a bit excessive for me but, as an old Browning ad from the late 70's, early 80's once stated, "A poor man can only afford to buy the best."
God bless fellow Louisianan and world class marksman Jerry Miculek for being the best brand representative S&W has had in the modern age but even his endorsement of their products cannot resolve the sad fact that the lock is an abomination and something that has no place on what is supposed to be a lifesaving implement. It's by the grace of God that no one has gotten themselves injured or killed because of the lock malfunctioning but trusting to luck and the Almighty can potentially have sad results down the road and is completely unnecessary given that S&W can return to its roots and build the revolvers right again. Youtuber Gunblue's fine explanation of the stacking of tolerances and its effect on the quality of the revolvers that they were building when he worked for them is a perfect example of how modern techniques can eliminate the need for extensive hand fitting and improve the economics of production but that lock...that lock...
As someone who has professionally carried various bottom feeders on duty and out of official obligation I still regularly carry revolvers for my personal defense, both the thumb and trigger cocking varieties, and do not feel the slightest bit under gunned. For all the newfound love of the minor caliber, high capacity self loaders using new projectiles I still prefer to "follow the science" and will always choose, when conditions permit, to carry a platform, whether revolver or self loader, chambered for the largest, most powerful cartridge I can manage.
Ok. I'll get off my soap box now.
S&W know how to turn out fully serviceable pieces suitable for duty and self defense use and they ought to do so again. It's been way past time for them to return to their roots and do what's right.
Oh, for an American firm to turn out a revolver proven as durable and reliable as the Manurhin. $3k and change for a medium frame .357 is a bit excessive for me but, as an old Browning ad from the late 70's, early 80's once stated, "A poor man can only afford to buy the best."
God bless fellow Louisianan and world class marksman Jerry Miculek for being the best brand representative S&W has had in the modern age but even his endorsement of their products cannot resolve the sad fact that the lock is an abomination and something that has no place on what is supposed to be a lifesaving implement. It's by the grace of God that no one has gotten themselves injured or killed because of the lock malfunctioning but trusting to luck and the Almighty can potentially have sad results down the road and is completely unnecessary given that S&W can return to its roots and build the revolvers right again. Youtuber Gunblue's fine explanation of the stacking of tolerances and its effect on the quality of the revolvers that they were building when he worked for them is a perfect example of how modern techniques can eliminate the need for extensive hand fitting and improve the economics of production but that lock...that lock...
As someone who has professionally carried various bottom feeders on duty and out of official obligation I still regularly carry revolvers for my personal defense, both the thumb and trigger cocking varieties, and do not feel the slightest bit under gunned. For all the newfound love of the minor caliber, high capacity self loaders using new projectiles I still prefer to "follow the science" and will always choose, when conditions permit, to carry a platform, whether revolver or self loader, chambered for the largest, most powerful cartridge I can manage.
Ok. I'll get off my soap box now.
