Smith and Wesson revolver safety lock.

Personally, I only think the infernal lock might be a problem with a very lightweight revolver like a 642 J-frame or shooting full house 44 magnums. I don't carry a 44, but I do carry an M&P 340 or 642 and made certain neither has that hole. Is it likely to be a problem? No, but why take the risk when S&W makes no-lock versions?
 
I do carry a revolver with the lock. It has never been locked. Carry the key just in case, but have never had a problem.
 
Would not own one! Just get a vintage model (pre I/L) that you get checked out thoroughly. Two less things to fret over - 1) having it unintentionally lock up 2) having to change it and get into trouble in court if you ever need the gun in a SD situation.
 
I would never buy one with the lock. Last winter I inherited one. I filled it with supper glue. I then covered it over with mail polish.
 
Have a 44 mag. and shoot the heck out out of it with HOT loads. Never had an issue with the lock or any other part.
Have never heard of anyone actually having an issue.
Jim
 
Some years ago a gent showed up for a club IDPA match, apparently his first attempt. He had a handgun with a lock of some sort and he realized he left his key at home. He was wandering about asking people if they had a key. No one had a key. Last I saw he was wandering around muttering about how he couldn't understand why no one had a key.
 
During the height of the pandemic and gun shortages I went out to buy a pair of 642's. I had a hard time finding any, but a LGS had three in stock. One had no lock, the other two were lock models. I bought the one with no lock and one of the lock guns. Both have basically identical feeling triggers, both have had a roughly equal number of rounds through them, and, if I weren't looking, I couldn't possibly tell you which one I was shooting at any given time.

The next gun I'm likely to buy is a new Model 60, and as far as I know they're only available with the lock, and it's fine with me.
 
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I think that lock problems are sort of like eclipses. I know that some people have reported them, but that is just anecdotal. I've never seen one. I have heard the explanations of how they supposedly happen, but I am already 77 years old, and it has never happened to me.

Probably just another internet rumor.
 
jimmyj said:
Why is S&W continuing to manufacture revolvers with the "Lock"
Click to expand...

This. It's been awhile since I read up on it, but didn't S&W add it to keep Clinton away? Now that they and the threat of them are long gone, why do they still force it on buyers. I don't think any other manufacturer does so, do they?
 
shawn mccarver said:
Good question. As near as I can tell, Taurus has stopped putting its key lock on its revolvers.
Click to expand...

The gun I mentioned in post 32 wasn't a S&W, but I don't recall what it was. Some unkind soul did mutter something about his choice of firearm.

Could be the liability lawyers have something to do with the continued presence of the lock. OTOH, I saw a late production M&P9 1.0 that didn't have any provision for the lock. If there's a lock on the 2.0, they put it in a different place. There do seem to be a few revolvers in production without locks.
 
Years ago I bought a 642 as my first EDC. It had the key lock that I never used. I found this YouTube video and removed it in less that 1/2 hour. Problem solved. I now carry it loaded with snake shot while walking in the desert.

I now have a Sig 365 and a Shield Plus. I tend to carry the Shield Plus more. Both have the Armalaser green dot lasers mounted on the rail.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVPYgohVCNM[/ame]
 
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