S&W internal lock can fail?

Henry0Reilly

March 07, 2007 05:14

This was in an auction for a S&W revolver:

quote:THERE IS NO SIDE PLATE LOCK ON THIS MAGNUM, I HAVE READ THAT SHOOTERS PREFER S&W MAGNUM REVOLVERS WITHOUT THE NEW SIDE PLATE LOCK BECAUSE THERE IS NO LOCK TO FAIL AND MAKE THE GUN USELESS IN A GUN FIGHT.

I had never heard of anyone having an issue with these failing.

Is this just salesman hyperbole or has it happened?

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  select-fire

  March 07, 2007 05:30

  http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_173_29/ai_n7578382
  
  http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/500103904/m/228102718/r/228102718

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  Slow_Hand

  March 07, 2007 06:16

  Even though I have no experience with that happening, I don't think I would ever use any internal lock for that specific reason. Lockboxes, vaults, safes and external locks are more practical IMO.
  
  As an aside here, how does the average gun owner - possibly in poor light and under stress - quickly see if the gun is locked - or not? Guess and if it is locked, yell "Bang!" at the bad guy? {sarcasm} Pull the trigger and wait? {sarcasm}
  
  Also, when I took my CCW course, the instructors drilled us on: Don't childproof your guns - gunproof your children.

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  dolfan

  March 07, 2007 08:00

  Henry,
  Good luck selling that thing.
  
  I agree with Slow Hand. None of my firearms have such locks nor would I ever buy one, especially after reading the posts on the S&W Forum link that Select posted.
  
  Its common knowledge that the more parts or complexity of design a mechanical gizmo has (gun in this case), the chances of failure are greater.
  
  I'll stick to simplicity, I'll continue to buy "old school" Smiths.

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  Laredo Lefty

  March 07, 2007 08:21

  I have not heard of these locks failing, but I just dont like them.
  
  Iam a Smith collector and always thought these locks were not necessary. It was just Smiths way appeasing government regulations.
  
  I had 2 model 686 plus revolvers with the locks, but they were free, won them in competition. I sold one of them and still have the other, but I wont buy any with the locks.
  
  I agree, the more mechanical crap you add to a gun, the more things can go wrong. If I had to keep one of these revolvers for home protection, I would keep it UNLOCKED and ready to go. That little key and hole in the side of the gun is just too hard to manipulate in the dark or under pressure or both.

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  tr fox

  March 07, 2007 15:38

  Well, the solution is quite simple if you are a liberal and have total, absolute faith in laws, laws and more laws.
  
  All you have to do is pass a law saying that a home burgler or street robber MUST, under penalty of law, give the armed, lawful, peaceful citizen, ample time to unlock his firearm.
  
  There. Problem solved.
  
  
  
  No, wait a minute. Burglars and robbers don't obey laws. That is why they are labeled LAWBREAKERS.
  
  Nevermind.

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  JamesRK

  March 07, 2007 16:37

  I've never liked the locks, but I didn't know why. I thought I didn't like them because Moscow Bill forced S&W to put them in. Now I have a real reason. Thanks.

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