What is the "Lock"?

[johngalt]

The downside of buying used, especially for someone who is new at revolvers (like me), is knowing how to judge the good from the bad.

I've always bought new (stainless and lock), even though I would prefer blued and no lock, because I didn't know what to look for. They turned out to be good buys, and they work well. Other than being an eyesore, the lock hasn't caused any problems.

When you buy new, if something isn't right the factory will fix it free.

 

[5Wire]

Jeez, Wheelgunner, that's the squeaky wheel theory in a nutshell or an oilcan, whatever suits. The vast majority of forum members didn't even post on the infamous five-year lock thread, which it turned out, was more of a shouting match. It turned up only 20 or 21 ILFs in a five year period among an annual population of somewhere around 35,000 members.

So while your statement is definitive, there's not much in the way of evidence to back it up. A lot of preferences for sure but damn few facts.

S&W manufactures a lot of revolvers every year and there has been no ILF issue serious enough to generate a recall.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by 5Wire:
It turned up only 20 or 21 ILFs in a five year period

That's 21 too many.

Originally posted by 5Wire:
S&W manufactures a lot of revolvers every year and there has been no ILF issue serious enough to generate a recall.

Yet. And I am not going to be the first one to be "an ILF serious enough to generate a recall" so

a) I avoid buying lock when I can buy pre-lock.

and

b) I render the lock useless when I do buy a revolver with it.

 

[Careby]

Originally posted by Wheelgunner840:
If you are applying this word to me, it would be incorrect usage. I actually could not care less what a person does or does not do, nor do I have any desire to, "recruit one to join ones party". I do however try to to pass on information that is asked for. Based on the 875,562,309 responses to threads about the lock posted on this forum, I have concluded that a vast amount of people HERE prefer to use pre-lock revolvers when using them for defensive purposes.

Did that sound pushy?

Nothing personal, just trying to point out that there is not universal agreement or disagreement on the subject. My new CCW piece is an M&P 340, complete with a lock which was not desired and will most likely never be used or removed.

 

[5Wire]

Originally posted by Wyatt Earp:
...That's 21 too many.

a) I avoid buying lock when I can buy pre-lock.

and

b) I render the lock useless when I do buy a revolver with it.

Yup, even 21 (of which 3 weren't S&W IIRC) among a population of 150,000 (30,000 five times) is too many, it's a whopping 0.014%, I can see why you'd worry.

 

[mheideman]

Wow, it appears Ive gone back in time to 9 years old and swatted a wasp nest with a stick.... AGAIN. I was only looking to have this "lock" explained to me. Though I have to admit, its nice to see that alot of people here have such strong compassioniate opinions. I wouldnt have expected anything less.

"Game on!" -Garth Algar



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[5Wire]

Originally posted by mheideman:
Wow, it appears Ive gone back in time to 9 years old and swatted a wasp nest with a stick.... AGAIN. I was only looking to have this "lock" explained to me. Though I have to admit, its nice to see that alot of people here have such strong compassioniate opinions. I wouldnt have expected anything less.

"Game on!" -Garth Algar

Yup, that's what IL threads are for.

I'm about half & half IL/No IL. No problems except for push off in a 686-5 (no IL) promptly repaired at no cost by S&W. I've carried both with & without IL, not a worry, AFAIC.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by 5Wire:
a whopping 0.014%, I can see why you'd worry.

When my life is the price to pay for failure, yes, .014% is too high.

 

[5Wire]

Originally posted by Wyatt Earp:

Originally posted by 5Wire:
a whopping 0.014%, I can see why you'd worry.

When my life is the price to pay for failure, yes, .014% is too high.

Good for you, Wyatt. I'm happy you feel safer.

How do you deal with hard primers? Squibs? Broken trigger return springs? Broken Hands? Broken firing pins? Got those calculated, too?

How many times have non-IL guns saved your life so far? I only ask because, at least for civilians, 92% of defensive gun uses don't involve firing the gun. Are you a civilian, LEO?

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Howdy 5Wire!

Originally posted by 5Wire:
Jeez, Wheelgunner, that's the squeaky wheel theory in a nutshell or an oilcan, whatever suits. The vast majority of forum members didn't even post on the infamous five-year lock thread, which it turned out, was more of a shouting match.

That was only one thread. There have been many. Some real doozies lately.

It turned up only 20 or 21 ILFs in a five year period among an annual population of somewhere around 35,000 members.
So while your statement is definitive, there's not much in the way of evidence to back it up. A lot of <span class="ev_code_RED">preferences</span> for sure but damn few facts.

And my statement:

Based on the 875,562,309 responses to threads about the lock posted on this forum, I have concluded that a vast amount of people HERE <span class="ev_code_RED">prefer </span> to use pre-lock revolvers when using them for defensive purposes.

Prefer, preferences, just about the same meaning. Much different meaning than percentages of IL failures.

on a single thread.

Anyway, I got to go to the range today, and do a little shooting. So, I am a happy camper. Didn't mean to piss in anybodys Cheerios!

Let's see if I can make this as clear as possible. Here goes.............Ahem (clearing fingers)....It has proven to be the opinion of a vast majority of members on this forum, who have participated in the numerous spirited discussions concerning said IL, on numerous separate threads, in several different subforums, with 8X10 color glossy pictures with a paragraph on the back of each one describing exactly what was being shown, that they don't trust thier life to the darn thing 100%.

There, I hope that explains why I said what I did!

WG840

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by 5Wire:
How do you deal with hard primers? Squibs? Broken trigger return springs? Broken Hands? Broken firing pins? Got those calculated, too??

I deal with them by reducing their chances of failure as much as I can. Unlike the lock, it is impossible to reduce the probability of failure of any of those issues down to zero. But evidently you are too dense to take advantage of an easy way to reduce your IL's probability of failure from greater than zero down to zero. That's not my problem.

Originally posted by 5Wire:
How many times have non-IL guns saved your life so far? Are you a civilian, LEO?

None of your business.

Originally posted by 5Wire:
I only ask because, at least for civilians, 92% of defensive gun uses don't involve firing the gun.

I train and prepare for the other 8%.

 

[18DAI]

The lock is a poor answer, to a question that was not asked. Regards 18DAI.

 

[Careby]

Just for the record, I am not currently using the defensive weapons i would prefer to use. Those are unfortunately unavailable to me for a variety of legal, financial, technological, aesthetic, and marital reasons. I am making do as best I can with what I have.

 

[mheideman]

....with 8X10 color glossy pictures with a paragraph on the back of each one describing exactly what was being shown....

WG840

Thanks for the Alices Restaurant reference.

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[mheideman]

When my life is the price to pay for failure, yes, .014% is too high.

Which is exactly why I dont plan on using it as my primary weapon at home. I have a SW1911 that has spewed over 2000 rounds without a single misfire, jam, or flaw other than my own bad aim.

Currently loaded with Hornadys 230gr TAP ammo.

 

[stevieboy]

ok, mheideman, now you see why I said that my brain hurts. You, inadvertently, I'm sure, poked a stick into a hornet's nest. These threads pop up on average, about once every 10 days or so on this forum and they invariably bring out the worst in everyone (me included). This crap has been going on for nine years and shows absolutely no sign of abating. Hopefully, we can go at least two more weeks without another one of these "what's the story on the lock?" threads popping up.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

The next new member that ask this "STUPID QUESTION"should be required to list his Mom's address so we can go over and hit her in the mouth

. Think that is what Jackie said, or close.

 

[mheideman]

Originally posted by stevieboy:
ok, mheideman, now you see why I said that my brain hurts. You, inadvertently, I'm sure, poked a stick into a hornet's nest. These threads pop up on average, about once every 10 days or so on this forum and they invariably bring out the worst in everyone (me included). This crap has been going on for nine years and shows absolutely no sign of abating. Hopefully, we can go at least two more weeks without another one of these "what's the story on the lock?" threads popping up.

Every search result that I read, gave zero explanation to what the purpose/function of the lock is. Other members decided to chime in with their opinions, and the insanity insued. Maybe next time lets just stick with answering the question at hand.



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[mheideman]

Originally posted by Bullseye Smith:
The next new member that ask this "STUPID QUESTION"should be required to list his Mom's address so we can go over and hit her in the mouth

. Think that is what Jackie said, or close.

The next member that makes a smart-ass comment that has nothing to do with or offer any assistance to the thread starters question, should be kicked in the ------

.



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[Wheelgunner840]

Originally posted by mheideman:
Which is exactly why I dont plan on using it as my primary weapon at home. I have a SW1911 that has spewed over 2000 rounds without a single misfire, jam, or flaw other than my own bad aim.

Currently loaded with Hornadys 230gr TAP ammo.

Now my impression of the doorkeeper in the Wizard of Oz:

"Well why didn't you say so in the first place....Come on in!!!"

That is a beautiful 1911!

Every search result that I read, gave zero explanation to what the purpose/function of the lock is.

That is because there is no logical explanation for it. It's just there. The closest and best explanation I have ever read here was a recent post by Smithnut. I will try to find the link for you.

Here it is. Scroll down to Smithnuts post. It's worth reading.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...143/m/8271084443/p/3


Anyway, please don't let all this jousting put you off. We disagree a lot, but most people here are courteous, and we have a lot of fun. I hope you stick around.

And, seriously, I wish you the best of luck with any new purchase you make, The 686 is, in my opinion, the absolute best platform for the .357 magnum rd. I am looking for a 6" blued (586) one to add to the family.

WG840