Skinny on the internal lock from the horse's mouth

[PALADIN85020]

Talked at length to one of the S&W managers at the S&W booth during the NRA convention. I think I made it very clear that most of us on this forum detest the ugly hole and the sometimes unreliable internal lock on their revolvers. Here's the gist of what he had to say:

The lock is here to stay and won't go away.

Special runs will be made from time to time on revolvers WITHOUT the lock as they are doing currently on the 40, the 442 and the 642. Depends on demand (so demand!).

The revolvers most likely to be made without the lock will the the J-frame centennial styles.

No old frames were used in the making of the no-lock guns. They were made from scratch without the holes.

I strongly suggested that he and others in the ranks of S&W's management might want to log on to our forum and check out the comments on the lock.

And that's all I can tell you!

 

[SWID]

Yep, that's what they told me. They are making a 58, and I said that I would love to have one of those on .44 mag except no hole, firing pin in the hammer and forged hammer and trigger. He told me to forget it.

He listed about five police states (Ca, New Jersey, NY, etc.) and said that they could not sell guns there without locks so they put them on all there guns. I suggested making a run of N frames without and just see how hard they are to sell. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Jeb Stonewall]

Never say never!
I do know when looking at the gun auctions for N frames , as soon as I click on one and see the lock it doesn't matter what the price is I hit the back button and keep looking else where.

 

[K.38]

I got the same story when I chewed on the S&W reps at the Acusport show in January.

I also let Remington have it too about junk they are making in regards to the 710 and 770. I asked the head rep. if they gave any thought to their reputation in making crap. He said they never thought about that way as all they wanted was something to compete with Savage and Stevens and to get something to sell in Walmart. I told him Remington needed to think about it as I have heard from several customers who wanted to upgrade to a better gun from the 710/770. I asked the customers if they would like to look at a 700 and many said nope Remington makes junk and I don't want another junker. I also asked them if Remington will ever make another good .22 rifle. Got the deer in the headlights look for that one.

 

[oldRoger]

In a civil trial, I have always wondered what your defense would be when the plaintiff's attorney, said "My client's injury is due to S&W saving a few pennies by removing this wonderful safety feature."
I can not imagine a way to beat the plaintiffs' bench without a total redesign of the gun in a way that eliminated any way of fitting an IL.

 

[BlackAgnes]

I know of no NY law which precludes the sales of guns without locks.

Rugers, Colts, and many other brands are sold here everyday which have no locks--not to mention the full line of S&W autos.

C'mon...!!!

 

[18DAI]

That rep is full of it. Maryland is THE ONLY STATE to mandate an internal lock. Safety Wesson can pound sand with their wind up guns. Regards 18DAI.

 

[Babalooie]

Yeah. Shoot yourself in the foot and then be too stubborn to admit you're bleeding.

 

[straightshooter1]

Okay, I sort of understand what the rep is saying. He's saying that there are enough states, (he thinks) that require a lock to make it unprofitable to build revolvers with and without the lock.

But, the problem with that position is that they make and sell a number of other firearms that DON'T have the lock or for which the lock is optional.

Therefore what he says really does not, at least to me, make any sense.

I wish one of you guys would corner this or another rep and ask them about that.

Bob

 

[Steave]

I'm as anti-lock as most folks, I don't own a S&W with a lock and never will. I would be more likely to purchase one, however, if it were redesigned so it wasn't such an eye sore.

 

[crofoot629]

I appreciate your post but it's kind of weird. The lock is "here to stay" ACCECPT…..

The S&W employee at the NRA show is also just repeating what he's been told to say.
Time will tell.

Emory

 

[Joni_Lynn]

As long as they continue using the lock on revolvers, I stopped even looking at them.

 

[NFrameFred]

Well, when someone from S&W says, "Never", I have to think back several years ago when I asked a S&W rep "when they would put out a safety on an auto that swept down to disengage" and he said "never". I also asked if S&W would ever consider making a 1911, and he said . . . . "never".

Sadly, S&W no longer makes any new revolvers I'm personally interested in. The new shrouded barrels and MIM parts don't bother me so much I wouldn't buy one if they weren't so fugly and had that hideous looking lock. At least they could have been a little more creative and designed it so it could only been seen when the cylinder release was depressed or something. I guess they'll keep screwing around until Colt comes back and Ruger takes even more of the market . . . .

 

[WHO CARES]

Assuming we will never have any serious reform in the court/lawyer financial relationship, what about a lock more like the one Ruger is using where it is under the grip and out of sight? It's available to those that feel the need? Would they consider the change? Would we accept guns with a hidden lock? Seems like there may be some common ground here.....

 

[gregintenn]

Would there be a market for a start up company to build old style Smith and Wesson copies? Surely most of the patents have run out by now.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Originally posted by gregintenn:
Would there be a market for a start up company to build old style Smith and Wesson copies? Surely most of the patents have run out by now.

Cobra Firearms supposedly has J frame copies coming out. Of course one story is that they aren't copies at all, but contracted from S&W and w/o an internal lock. Shrug.

 

[K.38]

Gator I hope your kidding. I've seen some Cobra guns and they are junk.

Now if USFA would start making good copies of the old S&W guns that would be something.

 

[4864]

Originally posted by Joni_Lynn:
As long as put the lock on the revolvers, I stopped even looking at them.

Same here. I thought about getting one of the new no lock J-frames. Had one on lay a way and then a minty pre-lock M640 came in and I changed my mind.
Current S&W Management doesn't care about how many long time customers no longer buy there guns due to the lock issue.

 

[yugolovr]

I really lost all interest in new Smith&Wesson revolvers when they discontinued my precious K frame magnum.I know they had there weaknesses, But I would still buy them even if Smith didn't warranty cracked barrels.

 

[Gutpile Charlie]

The S&W revolvers that I have are no lock. If they want my business, they've got to do more of the same. If not, well I guess I'll have to buy an older used one.

It's their call. It's a big mistake. Hopefully they may learn?