I'm not sure I would agree that this was a "spontaneous" discharge, but it's interesting nonetheless.
http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/content/full/178/5/1092
http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/content/full/178/5/1092
The officer was carrying a model 1991 A-1 compact.45 caliber semiautomatic pistol
The pistol was likely drawn into the magnetic field so that the muzzle struck the magnet's bore first. With the firing pin allowed to move freely in its channel, the force of the impact on the muzzle end was sufficient to cause the firing pin to overcome its spring pressure and move forward to strike the primer of the chambered round.
Seconded!5. Never bring your firearm near an incredibly strong magnet.
Well it was a 1991 model... ever seen the Colt's from that time?Did anyone notice how they call it a Colt 1991 pistol through out the article?
favorite line, talking about the thumb safety:"...it also locks the slide in place, preventing retrograde motion of the slide and automatic ejection of the empty cartridge."
Retrograde... yeah that's a correct usage; I just never thought to apply it to the cycling of the slide.
But the recoil wasn't strong enough to overcome the field pinning it to the wall of the magnet, so it didn't cycle