Official: Shield WITHOUT Safety

[OldCat]

What I really like about the safety is when you want to unload the gun. Flip up the safety, drop the mag and rack the slide to eject the chambered round. All with the safety on, however, you should still do it as if the trigger is live just in case.

 

[JohnSW]

What's the point.

From S&W's standpoint, the point is to maximize sales and profits. Some people refuse to buy a self-defense gun that has a safety, so S&W is giving that group what they want.

 

[Hunter8282]

WHY couldn't they have done this a year ago when I bought my Shield 9?

I waited and waited and waited and finally gave in when the right price came along. Granted I've never even touched the safety, but now I'll be wanting one of the new ones...

 

[Nakanokalronin]

That's the exact thing I like about the Shield safety. It's stiff enough that it won't activate accidentally, but it is super easy to sweep when you draw. After a very short time, I've gotten very comfortable adding a thumb sweep into my draw and I've never had any problem manipulating the safety.

It wasn't easy to swipe off on the two Shield 9s I owned. The BG380 thumb safety was easier to take off while my thumb would sometimes slide right over the Shield safety without moving it. I'd rather have it extended a bit than have to press against the frame while swiping downward in order to make contact or just not have one at all.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I don't understand this hatred of safeties...Glocks have ruined a generation of shooters...

I don't mind thumb safeties unless they're very flush to the frame. I like all of the thumb safeties on my 1911s and even the type on the M&Ps even though I only have the non-safety models now.

The problem is when the safeties stick out a few millimeters from the frame. It's not as easy in a high stress situation while drawing to save your life over doing it at the range or at home. They could of made it stick out more, but then they would have to include it in the overall width of the pistol. This actually means nothing since it's against the body when carrying for us right handed shooters, but people like to pretend the entire pistol is as wide as some tiny controls.

 

[C4IGrant]

NEW S&W M&P Shield (10035) WITHOUT Thumb Safety!

Just got the flyer on this! Should start to roll out in Mid-June! Pricing will be the same as the TS models.


C4

 

[gc70]

S&W undoubtedly did surveys or focus groups when designing the Shield to try to determine the features that would appeal to the largest number of potential customers. A thumb safety was probably one of those features, even though other potential customers would not want one.

Satisfying both customer groups is clearly something that would promote more sales. The Shield has been a popular seller with a safety, so S&W is probably confident that there is enough of a market for Shields without a safety to justify investing in tooling to build them that way.

The only thing I don't understand is why S&W did not try to innovate and initially design the Shield so customers could have one with or without a safety. It seems that the thumb piece might have been designed as a separate part that slid onto the safety lever; put the thumb piece on if you wanted a manual safety or take the thumb piece off and put in a frame plug that would also hold down the safety lever if you did not want a manual safety.

 

[Bkreutz]

Hmm, I looked , but didn't see anything on here .

C4

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Post #1 and #2 of that thread

 

[shawn mccarver]

The burden of proof is on the OP who made the claim.

I am sorry to say that I disagree. The OP was accused of fabricating a hoax. It seems to me that the accuser had the burden of proof to support that allegation.

 

[ColoradoGlockMan]

Isn't a safety a position on a football team?

 

[ladder13]

Wow, I would not want you on a jury to decide my fate. The burden of proof is on the OP who made the claim.

Now what?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...al-shield-without-safety-2.html#post137934676

 

[C/O]

While I can see having the option of the safety or not, I don't see the big deal of the shield having a safety. I never have it on while carrying it, and it's never came on by accident. I actually kind of like having it for when I'm loading/unloading. I also use it when reholstering my shield while IWB. I just take safety off once holstered. Is it necessary to have a safety to do those things, no. It does make doing so just a little more safer.

 

[Storm40]

Now what?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...al-shield-without-safety-2.html#post137934676

I do not see any official statement from S&W just another claim of a flyer. Being this is the internet and photoshop can do wonders, I will sill wait for official word from S&W

 

[Storm40]

I am sorry to say that I disagree. The OP was accused of fabricating a hoax. It seems to me that the accuser had the burden of proof to support that allegation.

I called it an unsubstantiated rumor and said that I will wait for an official announcement from S&W. While whoever accused him of a hoax may have the burden of proof for said allegation, the OP still has the burden of proof for his claim.
While it would be a nice addition to the M&P lineup, there is still no word from S&W nor anyone who has even seen this vaporware.

 

[MSG Glenn]

Besides a longer wait for a Shield when I was in the market for an SD pistol the safety was one of the minor reasons I went to an M&P40C I have to admit. It wasn't the major factor in my choice but a factor nevertheless.

 

[ladder13]

I do not see any official statement from S&W just another claim of a flyer. Being this is the internet and photoshop can do wonders, I will sill wait for official word from S&W

The guy who posted it is an S&W M&P Armorer and a S&W LE Distributor.
I suppose he's making things up too.

 

[gc70]

I called it an unsubstantiated rumor and said that I will wait for an official announcement from S&W. While whoever accused him of a hoax may have the burden of proof for said allegation, the OP still has the burden of proof for his claim.
While it would be a nice addition to the M&P lineup, there is still no word from S&W nor anyone who has even seen this vaporware.

Davidson's, Lipsey's, RSR, and Sport South all think the new model is real.

 

[ManoGod]

My email to S&W,

Can you please confirm for me that there is or is not the M&P shield, 9mm/.40, to be realeased in July w/o a thumb safety?

Thank you,

Jim Jones



Their reply....


Dear Customer,

We have not heard anything about this happening. Have a great day and thanks for choosing S&W.

If further assistance is required please reply accordingly.

Sincerely,

Miguel

 

[Practical]

From S&W's standpoint, the point is to maximize sales and profits. Some people refuse to buy a self-defense gun that has a safety, so S&W is giving that group what they want.

Maybe S&W was debugging the pistol on the civilian market and NOW wants to push it as a backup pistol for the LEO market?

Since it is dropping support for the 3rd generation parts supposedly maybe it needs to market and off duty pistol for NYC and other LEO around the country.


NOW that we have debugged the pistol and got real world experience and a few KABOOMs they know what to tweak.

 

[Maximumbob54]

My email to S&W,

Can you please confirm for me that there is or is not the M&P shield, 9mm/.40, to be realeased in July w/o a thumb safety?

Thank you,

Jim Jones



Their reply....


Dear Customer,

We have not heard anything about this happening. Have a great day and thanks for choosing S&W.

If further assistance is required please reply accordingly.

Sincerely,

Miguel

I don't know if they are under orders to say things like that or if they are really clueless about what their own company is doing. There were threads like this when the Shield first came out and people had phone calls and replies to emails like this. You just never know for sure until it happens. Or not of course.