I have a Shield 9mm with a safety and a Shield 45 without. I like having the safety for times I may carry in a coat or cargo pocket without a holster. One thing I really have to credit S&W is the safety, very flush with the frame but when engaged I can sweep down with the side of my thumb knuckle to disengage, but for me it's VERY difficult to engage without using the tip of my thumb. The safety on my LC9S by comparison stuck out quite a bit more but was harder to disengage and easier to engage by accident.
Great thread. It gives me peace of mind. The brand new Shield 9 I bought Monday came with no safety. The gun it's replacing was a DAO without a safety so my training will somewhat carry over. It sure is a sweet shooter. Now if only my new holster would hurry up and get here. JFI, I'm a left handed guy.
I have 2 Shield 9s, one with the safety and one without. I never touch the safety and it is so small and stiff that it will never get set on accidentally. That said, the one without the safety is my primary and the other is my backup.
I don't want a safety because of the whole "fine motor skills" thing, but I would not carry a gun with really light trigger and no safety.