Official S&W response to the "lock" ILS ever?

[ANGST]

Has anyone ever seen something from Smith directly addressing why they are keeping the lock on most of their revolvers ? Or why they have special runs without the ILS ?

 

[Alnamvet68]

I'm just going to hazard a guess it's to not incur the wrath of Kalifornia's Byzantine gun laws.

 

[ANGST]

I'm just going to hazard a guess it's to not incur the wrath of Kalifornia's Byzantine gun laws.

Could be, but I am more interested in what S&W is willing to say about the issue

 

[robertrwalsh]

Even minor variations of a gun sold in California requires that the "new" model IN ALL VARIATIONS be submitted for testing to determine if it is "safe." They must submit THREE samples of EACH variation. Glock just got nailed on this when they started selling made in the USA Glocks. Califorinia considers them to be different from the German Glocks. The US Glocks are NOT approved for sale in California until the time consuming and expensive testing is completed.

 

[kennyb]

Could be, but I am more interested in what S&W is willing to say about the issue

give em a call and let us know personally i just take them out and plug the opening

 

[finesse_r]

Sad To See......

I don't see why a gun dealer like S&W should base their manufacturing on California laws any more than the laws in India or Kuwait. There is no way the sales to California residents, (most of who are more fearful of guns than they are of poisonous snakes or Bengal tigers) comes close to the tens of thousands of sales they have lost because of the internal lock.

I expect companies like Ruger and Taurus absolutely love the S&W internal lock and cheer them on. LOL I think Taurus, even more than Ruger, is gaining ground on S&W due mostly to that internal lock and a much improved manufacturing process at Taurus. I mean 20 years ago I would have laughed at anyone using Taurus and S&W in the same sentence! I am not laughing today, and S&W had best wake up to the fact they are slowly putting themselves out of business with plastic guns and internal locks. They are not so slowly becoming one of the pack, rather than the leader of the pack.

I would quickly purchase several new S&W pistols (Models 63, 60, 686, and 649 just to start), except I refuse to buy a pistol with that lock on it. So like so many others, I am patiently waiting for a reasonable price on a good pre-lock version of those, as I just cannot bring myself to buy a Taurus…. yet.

I think that lock is the primary reason, but certainly not the only reason, that the older S&W revolvers are more and more often selling for more than the new ones.

Then again, maybe I am just one of those old guys that really hates change! LOL

 

[gr7070]

Could be, but I am more interested in what S&W is willing to say about the issue

I know this isn't the answer you're looking for, but: who cares?

Their ultimate response is "S&W determines what guns to offer for sale with whatever options/features on them to maximize their profit today and going forward. Buy whichever ones you want to and can do so legally. Enjoy."

Make your decision based upon what you want in a gun using your criteria. Whether the lock is part of your decision matrix or not is up to you.

The amount of consideration given to the lock is comical at this point. It exists, typically, make one's decision and move on.

 

[Janet L.]

Accidental lock engagement

Once, after carrying my 638 for a while, I did a function check, and the d*m lock had engaged itself.

By the end of the day, I'd disassembled the contraption and ground off the stud which engages the lock, and prevents the action from working.

A gun that doesn't go bang when it's supposed to is almost as bad as a gun that goes bang when it's not supposed to.

 

[Alnamvet68]

I don't see why a gun dealer like S&W should base their manufacturing on California laws any more than the laws in India or Kuwait. There is no way the sales to California residents, (most of who are more fearful of guns than they are of poisonous snakes or Bengal tigers) comes close to the tens of thousands of sales they have lost because of the internal lock.

I expect companies like Ruger and Taurus absolutely love the S&W internal lock and cheer them on. LOL I think Taurus, even more than Ruger, is gaining ground on S&W due mostly to that internal lock and a much improved manufacturing process at Taurus. I mean 20 years ago I would have laughed at anyone using Taurus and S&W in the same sentence! I am not laughing today, and S&W had best wake up to the fact they are slowly putting themselves out of business with plastic guns and internal locks. They are not so slowly becoming one of the pack, rather than the leader of the pack.

I would quickly purchase several new S&W pistols (Models 63, 60, 686, and 649 just to start), except I refuse to buy a pistol with that lock on it. So like so many others, I am patiently waiting for a reasonable price on a good pre-lock version of those, as I just cannot bring myself to buy a Taurus…. yet.

I think that lock is the primary reason, but certainly not the only reason, that the older S&W revolvers are more and more often selling for more than the new ones.

Then again, maybe I am just one of those old guys that really hates change! LOL

Trust me, lock or no lock, S&W revolvers fly off LGS shelves and vaporize on internet store sights the second they become "IN STOCK".

 

[Frank V]

Some of the prices I'm seeing on older S&Ws pre lock, are cheaper than the new S&Ws with the lock.
So what would you buy?
Frank

 

[gr7070]

Some of the prices I'm seeing on older S&Ws pre lock, are cheaper than the new S&Ws with the lock.
So what would you buy?
Frank

It depends upon the model, the intended use, the cost savings, the condition, before or after the warranty date, etc.

All things being equal I'll absolutely go no lock. However, usually all things are not equal and then the lock is only one of the factors, and sometimes it's a very minor factor.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Please click & read this "sticky" thread, which is located
at the top of this sub-forum's main page.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/110903-lock-cant-get-past-hole.html