While the lock is known to malfunction on rare occasions, there doesn't seem to be a particular reason - or if so it hasn't been identified. On at least one occasion a faulty spring was blamed, and S&W replaced it. Other times the effects of recoil forces have been thought to be the cause.
There was a time when occasionally a .38 Special revolver would be blown up when what was supposed to be an ultra-light charge of Bullseye powder apparently detonated. Efforts to duplicate this in a laboratory failed, so to this day it remains a matter of speculation as to "why".
In both cases there isn't any evidence that a single cause is or was always responsible for what happened on each and every occasion.
If all lock failures could be traced to a single cause, the matter could probably be addressed and corrected. But as it is, you can't solve the problem(s) when a single cause isn't known.
There is one solution however that is a sure thing. No revolver will ever be unintentionally disabled by a lock that isn't there.
No style of handgun is 100% reliable, and of the total number a certain percentage will for one reason or another become inoperable. However this percentage can be reduced somewhat by careful manufacture combined with comprehensive quality control and inspection – both sadly lacking today. Reliability can also be enhanced by not incorporating questionable and often unnecessary devices that can contribute toward the number of failures.
There was a time when occasionally a .38 Special revolver would be blown up when what was supposed to be an ultra-light charge of Bullseye powder apparently detonated. Efforts to duplicate this in a laboratory failed, so to this day it remains a matter of speculation as to "why".
In both cases there isn't any evidence that a single cause is or was always responsible for what happened on each and every occasion.
If all lock failures could be traced to a single cause, the matter could probably be addressed and corrected. But as it is, you can't solve the problem(s) when a single cause isn't known.
There is one solution however that is a sure thing. No revolver will ever be unintentionally disabled by a lock that isn't there.
No style of handgun is 100% reliable, and of the total number a certain percentage will for one reason or another become inoperable. However this percentage can be reduced somewhat by careful manufacture combined with comprehensive quality control and inspection – both sadly lacking today. Reliability can also be enhanced by not incorporating questionable and often unnecessary devices that can contribute toward the number of failures.