when did the lock start?

[richrd]

It is my opinion, based on experience and what I read here, that quality went to hell with the coming of the lock.

Am I wrong, or did the slide start before or after the beginning of the lock? And when was that?

Thanks

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Maybe I'm not smart enough to detect quality problems but these three IL guns are excellent.

 

[stansdds]

The addition of the lock had nothing to do with quality control, which seems to have really nose dived since the 2020 pandemic.

 

[Nomadmax]

A direct answer to the first question is; in 2001 the Internal Lock System (ILS) was addeded to the full line of revolvers.

 

[colt_saa]

Implementation of the lock began in mid 2001 shortly after Saf-T-Hammer's acquisition of Smith and Wesson. Like most transitions it occurred slowly as old inventory was continued to be used to assemble firearms so the actual date of change for any particular Model isn't known to the public

While it does appear that we hear more complaints about Smith and Wesson quality today than we did f5 or 10 years ago. Smith and Wesson's production has also gone up dramatically. Ten or 15 years ago they were producing about 1,000,000 firearms per year or 2000 firearms per day. Across the last five years most of the numbers came in right at the 2,000,000 firearm mark that means producing 4000 firearms per day.

I am not really certain by what percentage quality complaints increased over the years but even if quality stayed exactly the same producing twice as many firearms would create twice as many complaints. And of course the Internet is famous for circulating bad news very very fast

Personally, I have had no more or less percentage of problems with Smith and Wesson's bought in the last three years in comparison to Smith and Wesson's bought 20 years ago. And I have bought quite a few Smith and Wessons over that time.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I have found the post-MIM, pre-lock guns to be outstanding. However, I have owned only one post-lock example and now own zero due to that specific unit trying to self-lock during simple action cycling.

 

[NY-1]

Here's the definitive article on the much-derided lock.

The History and Future of the Smith & Wesson Internal Lock – RevolverGuy.Com

S&W has had periods spotty quality control throughout its history. Seems like every firearm manufacturer got hit hard with lemons post-COVID/lockdown.