S&W lock plug.. 1st time I seeing this.

frogfurr said:
And worth ever penny. I have a 5 screw 1954 S&W K22 Masterpiece. You really have to shoot one these to appreciate them. You may be able to find a close Smith and Wesson placebo for a few less dollars.
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You know I love old Smiths!
 
Just no other revolver to match them.

v6QWxfZl.jpg
 
Targa said:
The saying polishing a turd comes to mind. The lock being the turd and the plug the polish. For me, I wouldn't waste my time.
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I’m not buying it. I just thought it was FUNNY!

This and that 617 is an example of why I buy guns only after handling it in person
 
The lock through the years has provided many enjoyable
minutes reading the venom, disgust, hatred, disdain,
and anger heaped upon it in gun forums as well as
the verbal denunciations in videos.

Purists vowed never to buy an IL gun and even
predicted the demise of the S&W revolver line.

So S&W continued to produce revolvers with the IL
and has even introduced many new models which
have sold very well.

The plug? It's a nice way for an aftermarket products
producer to make a nice piece of change. no doubt
fearing that S&W might eliminate the IL. One tiny
plug costs $40. :)
 
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UncleEd said:
The lock through the years has provided many enjoyable
minutes reading the venom, disgust, hatred, disdain,
and anger heaped upon it in gun forums as well as
the verbal denunciations in videos.

Purists vowed never to buy an IL gun and even
predicted the demise of the S&W revolver line.

So S&W continued to produce revolvers with the IL
and has even introduced many new models which
have sold very well.

The plug? It's a nice way for an aftermarket products
producer to make a nice piece of change. no doubt
fearing that S&W might eliminate the IL. One tiny little
plug costs $40. :)
Click to expand...
many years years of anger over the IL. Many online anger. Well, Simplest answer is likely the Truth. Thanks!

and $40 for a plug of metal?
 
stonebuster said:
Maybe because S&W is afraid of the perception of deciding to make a "less safe" revolver. Going back to no lock in the current political atmosphere might also affect their stock value and lead to lawsuits. Would cost money to retool too. As long as people keep buying them there's little incentive to reverse course.
Click to expand...

They already make the 642 and 442 without the lock.
 
stonebuster said:
Maybe because S&W is afraid of the perception of deciding to make a "less safe" revolver. Going back to no lock in the current political atmosphere might also affect their stock value and lead to lawsuits. Would cost money to retool too. As long as people keep buying them there's little incentive to reverse course.
Click to expand...
I was talking to "my guy" at the LGS the other day about this. This is a pretty large shop and they sell a lot of guns. Regarding the lock, he said no one ever asks about it and they still sell a lot of Smith and Wesson's. I've been reading "Nobody buys them" for twenty-five years or so, yet Smith and Wesson keeps making them. They must have a warehouse the size of the one in Indiana Jones to store those things in. ;)

I've got two or three lock guns and I thought about putting a plug in, but then thought it sounded too much like work for me.
 
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IIRC, S&W, who have been owned by different companies over the years (Bangor Punta, Tomkins *a British company*...) is currently under the ownership of a company called Saf-T-Lock (sp?)

Since the are also the owners of the lock system, elimination of the lock, from a business/financial standpoint, would seem counterproductive at best.

IMHO, the smart move would be to offer models with and without; no retooling (for "N" -"X" frame models, actually a couple less machining steps) noting that lock model "L" frames have different dimensions than non-lock models.

"K" frames are different (at least the new M66) because the changed the frame was altered (regardless of the lock) because certain dimensional changes were made to strengthen the frame for added durability with .357 magnum.

Personally, I usually avoid discussions about the lock.

I absolutely hate the lock on principle; completely unnecessary, likely added cost and is an eyesore on an otherwise beautiful and timeless classic design.

However, if I was interested in a particular model for shooting and not necessarily collecting (I was and purchased a 610-3 recently) I wouldn't let that stop me from buying a new one; as long as you can inspect it in person, S&W still makes a fine revolver.

Just my humble opinion.
 
That plug has been around since the lock was introduced. Removing the lock leaves that unsightly gap next to the hammer as the pic that someone else posted shows. I have a 586 and 686 with the lock and it does not bother me like it does some folks. Personally I have taken to shooting the heck out of my new model Pythons and Ruger GPs with much better out of the box triggers than the 2 late model Smith's I own. ymmv...
 
One more comment and I'll shut up :cool:

While us folks on internet forums, hanging out in LGS's, gunshows or collectors gatherings have very strong feelings about the lock (and MIM parts, 2 piece barrels, inexpensive finishes...etc) we are, in fact, a very miniscule percentage of gun buyers.

With the exception of 2 friends, I don't know many who even know about the lock let alone care.

And if they do know about it most think of it as a feature (safety, safety, safety) rather than a detriment.

Start explaining MIM and they get a glazed over look in their eyes and ask if I caught the football game last night.

Things like that simply do not matter to the majority of gun buyers who are more likely to put it in a dresser drawer than take it out to fire it.
 
So, removing the IL and plugging removes the unlikely possibility of the IL locking up the revolver? In that case plugging would make sense for those concerned about their SD gun. I've shot thousands of 38+p through two revolvers with the lock with no problems. They were well used LE trade in Model 10 & 64 and had a lot of use prior to me.
 
I'm amazed that after so many years no one has yet released decently made drop-in plugs for the various types of lock-equipped S&W revolvers. Ultimately, a piece similar to the locking flag would be enough, which fits in the same place inside the frame and closes the hole for the lock and the hole for the locking flag pin. The change would also be reversible. With modern MIM or investment casting techniques it should be very easy to produce such a part.
 
What I find interesting is that in the early Centennial model with the grip safety S&W provided a pin and extra hole to allow disabling the grip safety.

40-642-01-small.jpg

40-08small.jpg

40-07a800.jpg

You pressed the safety in and then pinned it in the fire position.

Point of interest is that this is the ONLY Centennial I've ever come across that still had it's original blued and rounded end pin. Usually it went to Infinity & Beyond the first time an owner took the grips off.
 
Targa said:
I found this statement by Revolverguy, “I think the lock looks like a turd starting to crown in the sideplate of the gun, with an arrow to show you which way to wipe. But that’s just me.” That might be the best description of….well of anything…lol
Click to expand...
LOVE IT!!!!
 
Y-T71 said:
One more comment and I'll shut up :cool:

While us folks on internet forums, hanging out in LGS's, gunshows or collectors gatherings have very strong feelings about the lock (and MIM parts, 2 piece barrels, inexpensive finishes...etc) we are, in fact, a very miniscule percentage of gun buyers.

With the exception of 2 friends, I don't know many who even know about the lock let alone care.

And if they do know about it most think of it as a feature (safety, safety, safety) rather than a detriment.

Start explaining MIM and they get a glazed over look in their eyes and ask if I caught the football game last night.

Things like that simply do not matter to the majority of gun buyers who are more likely to put it in a dresser drawer than take it out to fire it.
Click to expand...
I’m going to say this because all you old timers told me this.. With the Lock Guns… Try before you buy!

Could not be truer
 
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