[whm1974]

I notice that S&W has Mag saftys on most if not all currecty produced pistols. However my 22A doesn't have one. How come? I'm not compaining but...

Come to think I have never shot or handled a S&W auto with a mag safety. So when did they made them standered(or manitory)?

-Bill

[mikec]

The mag disconnect was never mandatory, just something the company did. I remember handling M39's and M59's back in the early '80's that had mag disconnects. Not sure why they ever did install them.


(For the younger folks, the m39 was an eight shot 9x19, the m59 was I think a 14 shot 9x19. Both had a decocke/safetyr and exposed hammer. They were single/double action.)

[BluesBear]

Yes mikec is correct, S&W has been using magazine disconnect safeties on their centerfire pistols since the original Model 39 way back in 1954.

However on most models S&W made them easy to remove. But be assured the were there when they left the factory.

[Majic]

During the time period S&W owned the LEO market. The mag disconnect feature was aimed at that market because if there was a struggle for the pistol all you had to do was hit the mag release button and the pistol was inoperable.

[mikec]

Majic, just wondering if there were any documented cases where a mag disconnect actually saved a LEO?? I would love to know.

BlueBear, the M39 dates back to '54??? I had read that S&W did work on silenced 9x19's for the military, for use in 'Nam but I didn't know the design was that old.

[Gunrunner]

The current S&W 1911's don't have the magazine disconnect. The one I bought a few months ago has "CAUTION - CAPABLE OF FIRING WITH MAGAZINE REMOVED" stamped on the side of the frame. Never been a fan of warnings stamped on guns, but I'm not a fan of magazine disconnects either.

[BluesBear]

The Model 39 was the second US produced 9mm pistol.
The first was the Colt Commander (lightweight) in 1948.

They only made 900 Model 39s in the first 11 years and those had steel frames. In 1966 they switched to alloy frames. Then they started to get popular.

The Model 39 was also the first US produced double-action pistol in any caliber.

[fastbolt]

Well, we were once told that when S&W was originally developing the M39, and a military submission was being considered, they were told that any submitted pistols would have to contain either a grip safety (1911A1) or a magazine safety (High Power). They elected to go with the magazine safety, but with a design that didn't involve the trigger mechanism in the same manner as that used on the High Power. It became incorporated in the design and has remained ...

That was the explanation offered, anyway ...

[vynx]

I heard the mag safties were for prison/cty jail gaurds so they can lock there ammo separate from theor pistol and the pistol won't fire if a prisoner gets ahold of it...thye make sense in that situation. I thought I'd like to have one for my bedside pistol - that way when the wifes relatives visit I can disarm it easily.

[Moonclip]

The sigmas also are devoid of mag safeties. Mas Ayoob, FWIW, has mentioned cases where mag safeties have prevented an officer from getting shot with their own service gun.

[whm1974]

I was just wondering. I have handled and shot serval S&W DA autos when I was a teen and none of them had mag safetys.

-Bill

[BluesBear]

The 39/59/69 series (1st, 2nd & 3rd generation) double action pistols produced by S&W were manufactured with magazine disconnect safeties.

They were held in place by the rear sight and were a very easy removal. With the 1st generation guns took all of about 45 seconds.

[whm1974]

They were held in place by the rear sight and were a very easy removal. With the 1st generation guns took all of about 45 seconds.

I take it that everyone that broungt a 1st generation S&W DA removed the magazine disconnet?

-Bill

[BluesBear]

I put mine back in when I sold them.

The 59 I have now still has it intact.
I only used it for ammo testing so I just never bothered to remove it.

[Moonclip]

I never remove any safety device from any pistlo that has even a 1% chance of possibly being used in a defensive capability but I respect that others might choose to do so. I didn't realize S&W disconnects were that easy to deactivate.

Would you all buy a S&W or other auto that had the disconnect removed? I once passed BHP clone partly because the previous owner deactivated the mag safety.

[BluesBear]

Would you all buy a S&W or other auto that had the disconnect removed?Certainly if done properly.

Do carving knives have safeties?
Do step ladders have safeties?
Do swimming pools have safeties?

A gun IS a DANGEROUS tool.
As 1911Tuner says, "It's a GUN it's NOT SAFE."

Now I would not remove or deactivate a manual safety. But a passive safety, especially one that could get me killed, is fair game.

The real safety resides between the ears of the user.

[whm1974]

Would you all buy a S&W or other auto that had the disconnect removed?

Well until recently I didn't even know that S&W DA autos(older ones) came with them as standerd.

A gun IS a DANGEROUS tool. The real safety resides between the ears of the user.

Some people don't realize this. Or go the other extreme and demand so many safetys that the gun is rendered useless.

One reason I don't like mag disconnetors and some other safetys is that some people will get the mindset to depend on them instead of themselfs. Any device can fail, or be disabled.

-Bill

[BluesBear]

Something said earlier has gotten me thinking...I never remove any safety device from any pistlo that has even a 1% chance of possibly being used in a defensive capabilityAs a law abiding, private citizen living in the United States, if you carried the same gun everyday for 50 years, the odds of you ever having to fire that gun in a self defense action would be well under 1.0%.

If the odds were in fact 1 in 100 that you would, for sure, need a firearm for self defense I wonder how many people would change their everyday carry gun?

[MachIVshooter]

Mag safeties...........:barf:

I removed them from all my S&W 3rd gens (and every other gun that had them). Once that has been done, they are near-perfect firearms.

[mikec]

Would you all buy a S&W or other auto that had the disconnect removed? I once passed BHP clone partly because the previous owner deactivated the mag safety.

I bought a custom BHP with the disconnect removed. The builder is someone I trust, and the job was done correctly.

All the mag disconnect does is prevent the gun from firing IF the mag is removed. It does not make a gun safer when it is in firing mode.

As someone said, safety resides between your ears.

[isp2605]

"Majic, just wondering if there were any documented cases where a mag disconnect actually saved a LEO?? I would love to know."

I know 3 of our guys who are alive today because of mag disconnects. Don't know if there are more but those are just the guys that I personally know.



"BlueBear, the M39 dates back to '54??? I had read that S&W did work on silenced 9x19's for the military, for use in 'Nam but I didn't know the design was that old."

In 1954 the military was doing trials to replace the 1911 guns. The M39 was developed to compete in the trials.
My agency went to the 39 in 1968. A lot of the modifications found on the 39-2 and subsequent generations are the result of changes recommended by our main range officers.
I carried one for several years until we transitioned to 439. Mine is a great shooter with an almost target type trigger. When we went to 2nd gen S&W I bought my 39. Lots of sentimental feelings for that particular gun.

[whm1974]

All the mag disconnect does is prevent the gun from firing IF the mag is removed. It does not make a gun safer when it is in firing mode.


Too many saftys can dangous as well. By keeping the gun from firing when you need it to. Not to also mention tha people will depend on the device instead of themselfs.

-Bill

[Coronach]

Majic, just wondering if there were any documented cases where a mag disconnect actually saved a LEO?? I would love to know.Yep. I know one.

Mike