I know you can press the lever inside the frame, but I cannot see that thing at all. I see it with the slide off, but it is so deep in there that I don't see how I can do it without using a tool to reach it, but even then, I can't see it.

I used to have a Ruger SR9. Lever was right on top and easy to get to. When I bought my Shield, there was a used Ruger SR9C that was $329. Cheaper than the Shield, but after rebate the Shield was about $40 cheaper. I kind of wish I had giotten the Ruger. But the Shield was smaller so I went with it. Shot it the other day. Very easy to shoot well so I don't regret it too much..

And before you say it, I know I can pull the trigger. It's what I've been doing. But I prefer not pulling trigger to field strip.

QtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtipsQtips

The lever is painted "Yellow". Maybe shine a light down and you'll see it.
You can use any stick type object and wedge it behind the lever and push it forward and you can use your pinky to push it back after reassembling.




I just use my plastic cleaning pick

K. I'll try it. But I bet that yellow paint doesn't last long.

Eh, once you know where it's located doubt the paint matters.

True, dat!

I never found the "yellow". I found a lever that I pushed down and it allowed me to get the slide off. I just pull the trigger. I know I'd appreciate someone being more specific as to what it is that is to be depressed with the mechanism attached within the frame.

Although I haven't tried it, I would think you could lock the slide to the rear, remove the striker backing plate and striker, then slowly release the slide and remove it off the front.

The point of the sear release is move the rear of the sear downward, out of the way of the striker. Pulling the trigger does the same thing.

Dad_Roman got it.

I use the hollow end of a cleaning rod. It fits right over the lever. In a pinch, a retractible ball-point pen will do just fine. I also use a long-neck adjustable reading lamp just above my work area. The extra light makes finding the lever (and everything else) much easier.

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What, me worry?

Drew posted some pretty excellent piccys above my man

Ditto that. Just look at the photo Drew posted. See that yellow lever at the end of his ball point pen? That's the lever. I just use a tiny screw driver to flip it down, since there's always one right at hand on the bench where I clean my guns.

Doesn't matter...after you've stripped it a few times you'll know where the lever is, yellow or not.

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Stay protected my friends.

No the yellow paint does not last. Especially if you use carb cleaner or some type of blast and shine to clean the guts

I used the yellow lever once to make sure it worked. Since then I just pull the trigger which is both easier and faster.

The Gun Store Whare i Bought My .45 mp FS Told Me I Would Cause Damnage To My Gun If I Didnt Use The Yellow Lever Any One Else Hear this

More B.S. from the geniuses at the gun shop.

I have not heard that. I think they were just trying to scare you into following the owner's manual to avoid the possibility of a negligent discharge. Pulling the trigger works, but even if the chance of a negligent discharge by doing so is only 1 in 100,000, the chance of a negligent discharge by lowering the lever is zero.

I like the latter odds better, so I lower the lever. Once you've done it a couple of times, it only takes two seconds, as opposed to one second to pull the trigger. If knocking a second off of your cleaning procedure is important to you, fire, er, pull away.

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What, me worry?

only been shooting for 4 years now, i'll admit the first couple i'd take the easy/quick way out and use the trigger when breaking down my MP compact and full size 9's... i'm sure as i saw an online expert say to do it that way and being a newb i followed along to whatever i read/watched. Heck I was a newb, anyone had more experience than I at that point.

But the more I thought about it, and realized that i am not immune to an occasional brain fade; I did not want to have that happen when i was about to clean a gun. It is too easy to get into a zone when doing basic tasks and skip over something that is important. Since then, its either a qtip or bic pen (with guts removed) to lower the lever on any of my MP 9's.

Surely not one to preach what is right or wrong, just what works for me....

Ranger17 has a good point. I've been shooting for a long longer time, but I admire his approach. I have a Shield in-bound from an internet store, and I am going to force myself to follow the rule, and use the take-down lever rather than pulling the trigger.

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S&W Rover

I'll have to go back and look again tonight. Didn't see anything that obvious, but apparently also missed the very specific photo on page 1. 😕

Sent from my KFFOWI using Tapatalk

Yeppers...at the top...post #3

I have trained myself to stick my finger in the chamber with slide locked back , then drop the mag if it's in the gun . I use a polymer pic to push the sear lever forward then push down take down lever , pull back on the slide to unlock and off the slide comes . You don't have to force the sear lever just make sure it's all the way down a gentle push .

I bought two 9mm Shields, one for me and my wife... The first time I took mine apart, I just pulled the trigger and did not use the sear disconnect lever.. Put it back together and the pistol would not cock the hammer. Called S&W and they said send it back.. I did and got it back about two weeks later, with a letter saying that they had replaced part of the trigger assembly and told me, in the future, use the sear disconnect lever.. I now have a Shield .45 and I use the sear disconnect lever every time I dis-assemble my Shields.. Using the "pull the trigger" method works, but you can damage your Shield. It is not if, it is just when.. S&W put that lever there for a reason....
Now let me get my flame suit on before the nasty comments start...

Never heard that pulling the trigger instead of using the lever could cause damage. I've done it a hundred times and have not had an issue. I don't have a problem using the lever, but pulling the trigger to breakdown is a force of habit.

Technically all the trigger does is to release the sear so not sure how it would cause damage ?

Technically, I don't know either, but doing it the first time sure screwed up my trigger assembly, making me send it back to S&W...

I have never used the lever method before. Do you push it back up, after you reinstall the slide, or does it snap back up?

Insert a mag or use your finger or a pick

I try to use it but the paint's gone, my eyes are bad and just plain can't see where the lever is recessed in. I just have to pick at it with something sharp and 'dig' it out of it's hiding hole.

It's nice to know I don't HAVE to use it if I don't have a tool handy.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Putting in a mag will put it back into 'hid' position.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

... and if you have a magazine disconnect, you can not pull the trigger. You must use the lever.

I use the small clear CL&P oil straw, hole in the end of it makes a good purchase on the tip of the sear lever.