Now, Smith & Wesson: One of the worst features of a 21st Century S&W revolver is the frelling internal lock. It's a poor design, to say the least. There are credible reports of spontaneous activation with lightweight J-frames and with guns firing heavy magnum loads. There are a number of S&W fans who scour the the used gun cases because they don't trust the lock.
What's even more inane is this: I offer, for your consideration, two S&W guns manufactured in this decade:
The gun on top is a Model 60-15. You can see the activation hole for the internal lock just above the cylinder release.
The gun on the bottom is a M&P Shield. It has no internal lock.
The trigger pull for the striker-fired Shield is lighter than the double-action of the Model 60. It is shorter, too. But there's no lock.
I suppose that one would have to be either a S&W executive or one of their lawyers for this to make any sense. For it sure doesn't make sense to me.
4 comments:
At least the Shield does have a safety, IIRC. But there's an awful lot of M&P's out there that don't even have that.
I always knew something bothered me about the logic of the revolver lock, notwithstanding the perceived politics behind its origination. However, I could never put my finger on it..
You've finally clarified it for me, and I have to admit, I'm a little embarrassed that I'd never seen it this way before. Now if we could just get the S&W execs to see it this way. That said, if we think we'll ever get a manufacturing exec to sign off on removing a safety feature (no matter how dubious) from a deadly product, I have a screaming deal on this bridge up in New York....
DWW
David, the safety is a violation of the "grip & rip" principle. I would have been happy with a grip safety. But they're not an option on the Shield.
I'd like a new Model 19. The "carry comp" variant is interesting. But then there is that damned lock. (The only reason that I bought that Model 60 is that the pricing was very, very good.)
Buy a Ruger!
Not until they bring back the Security Six.
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