Thanks for the report.

 

If you decide to sell that 632, let me know...

 

Happened to both my brother-in-law and I when we were test-firing another's Smith & Wesson Model 329 on an occasion several years ago. I'd already considered the lock to be an "offense to the eye" most unbearable and had heard of the tales of woe concerning the lock failures. There was once a long thread that ran for many months on "Big Blue" Smith & Wesson forum giving running commentary on those who suffered from lock failures. Very honest and very eye-opening the thread was with many rational comments by actual users of the revolvers. The forum thread could have been a real resource for the discerning consumer. For some reason the thread disappeared there and it was a disservice to all that it did. I'd be vexed if we were ever directed to pull our punches here on Defensive Carry Forum when discussing what amounts to a fundamental design failure, one that very well could expose the user to unnecessary jeopardy if faced with a lock-disabled revolver during an emergency.

I have been exposed to other Smith & Wesson revolvers with locks. These revolvers all exhibit pleasing actions and triggers as far as I'm concerned. I'm not willing to spend cash to acquire revolvers with locks though. All the Smith & Wesson revolvers here are gloriously naked of any holes that appear as ulcerated sores on the sides of the frames. Nary a Smith & Wesson on hand here will ever fail to operate as a result of a self-engaged lock either. Why is that? Because they have no locks.

This ain't hard. Disable the locks on lock-equipped models or acquire older Smith & Wesson revolvers.

Look Ma! No lock!

 

S&W locks that lock up while shooting is not common but, it is well documented and not just internet rumor. That is why I would never own one with a lock, same with Taurus/Rossi or Ruger when they had a few models with locks under the grips.

 

All my S&W pistols are pre-lock. Would not buy one with a lock. Thanks for input!

 

I have sold all of my S&W revolvers with the lock even though I never experienced lockup. I had a Performance Center Model 66 .357 magnum and two Performance Center .460 magnums with the locks.

 

It's not a difficult task to disable the lock for anyone who is so inclined. I've done it but I'm not sure it's the wise thing to do and I have some misgivings about advising anyone elsa to do it. If it's what you need for peace of mind with your new smoke wagon though it is quite doable. There are some good youtube videos for instructions on getting the job done.

 

Thanks for the heads up.

 

The only S&W revolver I have that has a lock and that I trust, a Model 40 (Lemon Squeezer) that predates the current abomination by many years.

 

Yeah Gene, I'd trust the ultimate incarnation of the Lemon Squeezer design too.

I'd love to "trust" one of those right into the collection. Yours is purty!

 

I just disable the thing.

 

Thanks for the report. I don't have any S&W revolvers with locks anymore, and it's been a long time since I've heard of a problem with them. I've owned a couple with locks in the past and never had problems but the thought of a potential failure was always in the back of my mind. They were just range guns anyway though. I typically stick to the older models but I do wish they'd get rid of the internal locks or at least make no-lock options on all newer models.

 

Lock free here.

 

I've heard of guys out shooting their revolvers and a S&W with a lock being knocked off a table.

 

I read a few articles stating don’t worry about the lock. Very unlikely to lock up by itself. This is not the first thread I have read about the lock locking up. I will not buy a S & W with a lock. I don’t care what writer says they are OK.

 

I never had a lockup on the 3" Model 66 .357 magnum or the 5" or 8 3/8" S&W 460 magnum revolvers shooting the hottest commercial loads. But, they were carry and hunting guns, so I ended up selling them because of the slight doubt in my mind. My only S&W right now is a 4" 29-2 pinned & recessed .44 magnum. It is my woods concealed carry gun and it stays.

 

Had a buddy at a USPSA match have his 627 lock up on him. I took it to the safety area and found the lock was the issue. Took it out, pistol freed up and finished the match. He was using 130 power factor loads too not magnums.

 

The reason you will never see a gun writer say they will lock up is said writer will never get another Smith to review. His ability to sell articles to gun magazines will go down since the magazine that publishes a critical article about Smith will see their advertising revenue go down. You will only hear critical things about guns where profit is not the end purpose.

 

Internal lock is stupid, do not and will not own a handgun with one.
If no internal lock ever malfunctioned they would still be stupid.

 

My problem with the locks is not that I worry about a malfunction, it's just the stupidity of putting those things on guns. They are supposed to be there to enable an owner to disable his gun when not in use to prevent unauthorized people from being able to shoot it. If you buy a new S&W revolver it still comes equipped with the cable and lock that serves the same purpose and always has. Stupid to deface a beautiful gun and compromise its function to serve the purpose a cable and lock has served for years and still apparently does?? Yeah.

 

there is a plug kit to remove the lock i have seen out there

 

I have a S&W model 637 which has been among my carry guns for years. I shoot it regularly without problems. Should I be concerned now? I have no problem with making modifications, but I wonder if due to the fact that this gun has functioned so well for so long, the lock-up is really a non-problem.

 

I'd call it a non-problem but it's your call.

 

Has anybody ever heard of a Ruger LCR 357 locking up ? Can that lock in the grip of the LCR be disabled or removed?

 

The ones Smith And Wesson puts in revolvers are the only ones I have heard of ever malfunctioning. The lock in the LCR is not visible unless you take the grip off and it doesn't malfunction so I wouldn't see any reason to disable it.