TIG welding the IL closed.....

[RightWinger]

I probably originally posted this in the wrong forum but people were talking about wanting to buy one of the new 627 8 shot snubbies with the IL for a much cheaper price than the pre-lock ones.....my question is couldn't you have the lock taken out, TIG weld the hole shut using the same TIG rod as the gun is made of, and then grind it down flat, and then finish it the same fashion the gun was originally finished? Just a thought, but hey, even if it cost me 300 bucks, to me it would be worth it just to get rid of that heinous abcess on the gun....

 

[Markcuda]

I don't see why it would not work.
That would be cool as hell

 

[RightWinger]

I think someone on this forum has had it done before and posted a picture and it looked great, but I'm not sure if it was silver soldered or TIG welded.....either way its permanent and much better to look at than a hole. I think there would be a huge market for this if someone could get the guns to appear as if they were a pre-lock.....imagine how many newer guns I would purchase if this was the case?

 

[G-Mac]

I think someone on this forum has had it done before and posted a picture and it looked great, but I'm not sure if it was silver soldered or TIG welded.....either way its permanent and much better to look at than a hole. I think there would be a huge market for this if someone could get the guns to appear as if they were a pre-lock.....imagine how many newer guns I would purchase if this was the case?

I did ASME-certified, stainless steel, pressure-vessel TIG welding for about 12 years. I also have experience in metal finishing stainless welds (for sanitary reasons) so you can't even tell there was ever a weld there. It can be done, no question about it.

 

[Markcuda]

ORRRRRRRR, you could just put in a little JB weld

 

[handgunner356]

And you could buy a 6-cylinder Camero and drop in a 396 and sell it as a SS!

 

[RightWinger]

Gmac,

lets see some pictures...I might be sending you some work

 

[Markcuda]

I wonder if there is any links to some one that has done this already.

 

[sar4937]

We used to argue on this forum about whether a welder or gunsmith would want to go to court because they disabled your lock. I guess we don't worry about that anymore, but it is kinda like disabling your cars airbag. If the neighbor's kid shoots himself with it, everyone involved will be named in the suit.

 

[tomcatt51]

It's not like you disabled a safety. There are other (probably better) ways to lock up the gun. Would be no different than having a pre-lock gun.

 

[G-Mac]

We used to argue on this forum about whether a welder or gunsmith would want to go to court because they disabled your lock. I guess we don't worry about that anymore, but it is kinda like disabling your cars airbag. If the neighbor's kid shoots himself with it, everyone involved will be named in the suit.

I think that this is a valid point. I'd even add that it probably applies to the guy selling "The Plug" too. True, it's no different in function/operation than a pre-lock S&W, but I'm thinking that an attorney would argue "that's why they don't make them like that anymore" (without the lock).

 

[RightWinger]

G-mac,


Look at the 2010 S&W guns......they ARE making them w/o the IL. It seems this same old argument always surfaces whenever someone talks about modifying THEIR gun. If you want the lock on it, and it makes you feel safer and less liable, then by all means, only buy guns with locks and keep the locks in a working manner. I didn't start this thread to argue the politics on the IL, we have enough threads going about that issue and frankly it has been beaten to death. I started this thread to seek information on if it has been done and what kind of success people have had doing it. I honestly feel people read way too deeply into this whole idea of removing the lock and I feel like you would have a far more likely lawsuit against you from someone slipping on a patch of ice on your sidewalk than you would from getting in a shoot out with a revolver that had the IL removed.....be that as it may....we are all grown men and women and can take responsibility for our own actions.

 

[Hunt200]

Someone posted a picture of a gun he did a while back, you could not see the slightest hint he did it.

 

[RightWinger]

anyone have a contact number or email addy for the gunsmith that did that work? hopefully we'll get to see some pics soon

 

[Hunt200]

anyone have a contact number or email addy for the gunsmith that did that work? hopefully we'll get to see some pics soon

The guy wasn't a gunsmith, he just did it himself. I can't find the thread it was a long while back. Sorry.

 

[Markcuda]

Try this link.
S&W Lock removal - Family, Friends, Firearms

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I think that this is a valid point. I'd even add that it probably applies to the guy selling "The Plug" too. True, it's no different in function/operation than a pre-lock S&W, but I'm thinking that an attorney would argue "that's why they don't make them like that anymore" (without the lock).

Only thing I can say is "NOT", I didn't install it and the lock is for storage use only. I can weld it up and run a bead where the flag is and cut it down and you could never tell it was done till you tore it down. I wouldn't weld it up myself, because if something goes wrong with the gun you can never send it back to S&W for repairs, but you can take the plug out and re-install the lock and ship .

 

[pinkymingeo]

S&W worked on my chopped 25-2, no problem. They might not honor a warranty, but they'll work on modified revolvers.

 

[G-Mac]

Rightwinger, Bullseye Smith...

Somebody else brought up the legal issue. I simply agreed and added my two cents. You can say what you want..."the lock" is only for storage, etc...BUT...if a tragic accident happens with any gun that has had a safety device removed or altered, I'm guessing nobody here is volunteering to have their name attached to it.

But, as Michael Savage says..."that's just one man's opinion".

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program...

 

[ladder13]

I'd love to give G-Mac my business but it seems like alot of hassle to weld and then reblue or repolish(SS) just to have a gun look the way it was meant to be. Just sayin'