S&W Modifies the Shield 9mm

[jfeenin]

Now available sans safety.... http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/new-improved-sw-shield/

What do you think is this a good or a bad thing?

I know personally mine has one, I never use it, it's never on. So I guess it's not a big deal to me but it does make it more Glock-esque. It does remove the potential to have it get clicked on without you realizing it. It does also reduce the number of parts to go wrong and thus also the cost to make as well.

 

[Avtomat-Acolyte]

Manual, applied mechanical safeties have a place.

That place is located somewhere between "I don't train"-ville and "I am stupid and/or lazy"-town.

 

[rotarymike]

It is extremely simple to make the manual safety on a shield permanently off.

I agree with Avtomat on this one; manual safeties on a defensive handgun only get the owner killed.

External safeties do have their place; but that is not on a pocket pistol.

I do wish this had been an option when I got mine. I'd like to remove it completely and not have a gap in the frame. No worries though - even if it does catch on something in its current configuration it cannot accidentally become 'safe'.

 

[Avtomat-Acolyte]

It is extremely simple to make the manual safety on a shield permanently off.

I agree with Avtomat on this one; manual safeties on a defensive handgun only get the owner killed.

External safeties do have their place; but that is not on a pocket pistol.

I do wish this had been an option when I got mine. I'd like to remove it completely and not have a gap in the frame. No worries though - even if it does catch on something in its current configuration it cannot accidentally become 'safe'.

The gun is still popular enough that you could sell it and recoup what you paid for it (or close enough) and then you could buy the newer variant.

The manual safety is actually the primary reason why I never bought one. I am tempted to get one of the newer ones, particularly since my best friend Glock appears to be mentally retarded and refuses to introduce a single-stack, 9mm sub-compact.

 

[Avtomat-Acolyte]

I actually just read the review. I think I'm going to get one.

 

[Avtomat-Acolyte]

I realized that I already have a Kahr CW9 that I never shoot or carry. I will likely get this new Shield but not for a year or two. (just because there's no pressing need for it)

 

[rotarymike]

I won't be selling mine because of the aforementioned modification - it is more or less one way.

Also, I have Tritium + Fiber sights on it and Apex's sear/carry kit, and a finger ledge on the 7-round mag. Finally got it just how I like it.

If you'd like you're welcome to shoot mine and see if you like it or not. I can also show you in detail what is involved with the safety / lack thereof.

That Kahr would go pretty quickly on armslist I imagine.

I'd love to carry fullsize but due to body shape can't, at least not in any comfortable way. So the Shield was a must. Even my wife's Sig P6 was too large to CCW easily.

 

[Lupinus]

I like the change. I seriously considered getting one, but I didn't like the safety. For me, it wasn't very easy to manipulate and that was a deal breaker. Even though I'd have carried it safety off, I won't carry a gun with a safety that I can not easily manipulate without having to really pay attention to it. So I went with a regular M&P9c without the safety. If they had the non-safety shield, or it had a larger safety similar to the ones available on the regular compact models, that may have been a different story.

 

[fordnut]

I have my 3rd Shield. I love the weapon. I just don't believe a self-defence weapon should have a saftey...Unless it is a 1911.

I followed Mike's lead. I got a new shield and tore it apart and got rid of the saftey. It is now a great carry gun....But, I will have to keep it forever because I have disabled the saftey...

Had I known that S&W was going to release the Shield without the saftey I would have waited for one.....But, at least I have one gun that I can't trade off....LOL

Steve

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Manual, applied mechanical safeties have a place.

That place is located somewhere between "I don't train"-ville and "I am stupid and/or lazy"-town.

Reminds me of the scene in Blackhawk Down where he points to his head and says "This is my safety".

Seriously, anyone local to Charleston modified theirs? I would love to permanently remove mine but would like to have someone who's done it walk me through. I can put an AR15 lower together so I think I could probably handle it.

 

[rotarymike]

Seriously, anyone local to Charleston modified theirs? I would love to permanently remove mine but would like to have someone who's done it walk me through. I can put an AR15 lower together so I think I could probably handle it.

PM me and I can help you through it.

 

[Tigerstripe]

there is a u tube vid for that.

http://youtu.be/DRsxcPfZ8mE

read the comments before you cut, like someone that you let shoot it will think the saftey is functional.

i just never apply mine. it has never come on by itself.

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Thanks for the replies. Now I've got yet another project.

Mike, I'll PM you when I do. Thanks.