Gun Make: Smith & Wesson
Gun Model: 625-10 Note: This is the 2" TiScan model
Age of Gun: Brand new - First trip to the range
Options on Gun: Stock 625-10, NIB
Description of ILIF: Took my brand new 625-10 to the range for the first time. I was shooting Winchester White Box .45acp from Wal-Mart. After about 100 rounds, the gun malfunctioned. The entire gun was locked up with the hammer about 3/4 of the way back. The cylinder was locked into battery, I could not get the hammer to move, either using the trigger or using as much brut force as I was willing to use on a loaded, ready to fire weapon.
Corrective Action: With the help of the range officer, we used a screwdriver to "force" the hammer back fully while attempting to hold the gun in a safe direction. Once we had the hammer back, we were able to lower it safely by pulling the trigger and slowly lowering the hammer. We cleared the gun of ammunition and carefully inspected it to try to figure out what has caused the failure. At this point the lock was NOT engaged, and for that matter it had never been engaged. The action had a very gritty feel to it as if the insides were full of sand. After cycling the action a bunch of times, the gritty feel seemed to go away. We then loaded it again (in hind sight this was a rather stupid thing to do). I was able to fire several more moon clips out of it before it failed again. The second failure was identical to the first. We cleared the weapon again, and gave it a third try. After several more moonclips it locked up for the third and last time.
Manufacture Contacted: We called S&W, they suggested on the phone that it might be an "Strain screw" that need adjustment.
Confirmation: S&W had me send it in, and verified that it was the "lock cam spring" that had failed.
Manufactures Response: They offered to repair and return the gun. I refused to accept that, as this was intended to be a CCW weapon that I would be using to defend my life. They accepted my feelings and OFFERED a complete refund, or another gun. Since they could not provide me with a gun without a lock, I took their offer of a full refund. They had me provide them with a receipt, and then issued me a complete refund, including all taxes and shipping costs incurred.
This all happened over a year ago, (around August 2004). I used the refund to purchase a beautiful factory engraved Model 66-1 2.5". While I will never buy a self defense gun with a lock in it, I might purchase a target/sporting firearm with a lock, if there were no "pre-lock" option available (IE: S&W 500). I realize my experience is the exception not the rule, but it did happen to me and it MIGHT happen to you. I hope if it does happen to you, that you don't loose your life over a defective gun.
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