Internal gun lock keys.

[griz]

I bought a new gun a couple weeks ago, and while drooling over it I found it had a couple of little tiny keys in the box. Yep, I bought a lockable gun without knowing it. But anyway my question is why can't some clever small bussiness guy make a kind of fits-all key tool that would work for all brands? Sort of like a multitool but small enough to fit on a key chain. I only have one lockable so far, and don't plan on locking it, but if I do I think it would be easier to keep track of a single key for everything.

If anybody makes them I'll take two.

 

[sm]

In the old days we called these Hair-pins

I have used hair pins to unlock many a "generic" lock , cable gun locks, suitcases, briefcases , drawers.

Maybe they call them Tactical Integumentary Placeholders or something now...probably in the Carbon Fiber Aisle ...

Me...I'd have the internal lock removed, no need for a key ....then again I don't do internal locks, gun locks ....and the like.

 

[geekWithA.45]

SOP re: internal lock keys:

Lock handgun open.

Confirm functionality.

Throw away key.

This way, there's never any false illusion that the handgun might somehow be "safe".

 

[Standing Wolf]

...never any false illusion that the handgun might somehow be "safe".

The only safety of any value on any firearm resides between the shooter's ears. The rest is just failure-prone mechanical stuff.

 

[Sindawe]

Yep, I bought a lockable gun without knowing it.

Whoops...

I like geekWithA.45's SOP, and Standing Wolf is correct IMHO. Lock it open and put the key in long term storage should you wish to sell the weapon one day.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I don't know what the big deal is with people refusing to buy lockable guns.

If I like the gun, points well, shoots well, fits me, I don't care if its ugly and bright pink (I own Mosin nagants for gods sake) If I like it, I'll own it, lock or not.

Don't be such a wuss. Unlock it and lose the key.

 

[Firethorn]

Lock it open and put the key in long term storage should you wish to sell the weapon one day.

I have to agree with this one. Store the key somewhere safe, just in case your gunsmith returns it locked or something stupid like that.

From what I've seen of these keys, they're pretty much universal among makers. If a criminal steals a "locked" firearm, all he has to do is call up the maker and order one. That's assuming a pin, paperclip, or luggage key can't be used.

 

[Trebor]

I know of two instances where internal locks on new firearms have malfunctioned and prevented the firearm from working.

The first is related to the lock on, I believe, the Remington 870. John Farman reports in his "Quips and Comments" section on his website of an instance where the lock engaged itself while firing the gun. IIRC, this occurred under recoil and the gun was non-functional. I believe the gun actually needed to be repaired, not just unlocked, but I could be remembering it wrong.

The other incident I've seen reported involved a S&W revolver. A small internal spring that is part of the lock broke (apparently bad from the factory) and the lock would spontaneously engage as the broken spring was no longer able to keep one of the parts of the lock from contacting another part. The gun needed to be repaired.

Granted, I did not experience either of these malfunctions firsthand, but I trust the reliability of the sources in both cases. It doesn't have to happen to me personally to learn from the experiences of others.

For me, if it is a possible defensive weapon, I do NOT want ANYTHING extra added that could compromise reliability or functionality at a critical moment. It might be different for say, a dedicated .22 target pistol, but reliability is THE most important element for defensive firearms.

Think of it this way: We all know of incidents where guns have not functioned correctly because of broken or worn parts, or bad manufacturing standards, etc. And that's just with "normal" no-lock guns. Why add parts to borrow trouble?

I do understand the legal and political climate that is making locks more common. I've just decided to buy as many old, no-lock, guns as I can while they are still available. I may have to pass on the "Wonder-gun" of the future, but I'm sure my needs can be met by the guns I have selected.