why can't S&W make a gun lock that works?

[Squid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaIidg3bnPc

Mechanically, this must be the simplest device possible after 'simple lever'(as explained by ancient Greeks).

If isn't as if they need to optimize for weight savings, or that strength of metal is an issue.

My biggest worry is someone is going to be wrestling with their locked, but loaded gun with defective lock and it will suddenly become non-defective on them unexpectedly. Even otherwise 'gun safe' people could become frustrated and distracted when their brand new gun acts up.


Is THIS the problem?

Acquisition by Saf-T-Hammer

On 11 May 2001, Saf-T-Hammer Corporation acquired Smith & Wesson Corp. from Tomkins PLC for US$15 million, a fraction of the US$112 million originally paid by Tomkins. Saf-T-Hammer assumed US$30 million in debt, bringing the total purchase price to US$45 million.[11][12] Saf-T-Hammer, a manufacturer of gun locks and other firearms safety products, purchased the company with the intention of incorporating its line of security products into all Smith & Wesson firearms in compliance with the 2000 agreement.

The acquisition of Smith & Wesson was chiefly brokered by Saf-T-Hammer President Bob Scott, who had left Smith & Wesson in 1999 because of a disagreement with Tomkins’ policies. After the purchase, Scott became the president of Smith & Wesson to guide the 157-year-old company back to its former standing in the market.[7]

On 15 February 2002, the name of the newly formed entity was changed to Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation.

[OutlawStar]

I've heard of gunlocks locking up the gun at the range under normal use only to need to be completely disassembled to unlock it. I've also hear that most people remove the lock altogether.

Removing the lock seems the safest avenue: you never chance a cocked hammer and loaded cylinder and goofy locking mechanism. If you've got small kids use a real padlock in the cylinder or a safe. The lock can be removed with simple hand tools and little mechanical knowledge. The lock is broke but luckily there are simple fixes.

[schneiderguy]

Some of the M&Ps have internal locks and I've never heard of one of those failing, so S&W can make one that does work correctly. But I would never own one of the locked revolvers if I needed to trust my life on it. I've got a Model 63 in .22lr with the lock and it doesn't bother me, but it's just a range toy and I don't think the recoil from a .22 is enough to activate the lock.

[psango]

Just my 2 cents.

From the Smith and Wesson manual:

WARNING: NEVER LOCK A LOADED HANDGUN,
NEVER LOAD A LOCKED HANDGUN AND NEVER
LOCK THE HANDGUN WITH THE HAMMER COCKED.

All of the external locks I own come with a similar warning. My question is then: How do these locks prevent accidental discharge of the firearm?

What good are they?

I removed the internal lock on both my post lock S&W revolvers and installed the "Plug"
available on the S&W forum. I also removed ILS and mag safety on my Ruger Mark III.
The LCI serves some limited function so I left it. But these features I believe encourage people to rely on mechanical devices rather than safe handling procedures.

I do have 2 safes and will use a locked case and trigger or padlock for storage when a safe is not available.

[littlejake]

As long as S&W has that lock, I'll not buy one.

[chim-chim7]

Locks are for people with children who don't have the brains to buy a "real safe".

[Paperchasin]

Locks are for people with children who don't have the brains to buy a "real safe".

Its called Evolution.

[bohoki]

my 910 came with this little plastic thing you put in the triggerguard with a little padlock but it never worked right or i could never find the right padlock to use with it cause it could be pushed out of the way

i dislike having an on board gun disable device that has turned me off on the taurus guns i worry about it just randomly popping up and ending my shooting day

[bsg]

pre lock for me.