Ambi Safety for Shield

[Thunder71]

I know most with the Shield wish it didn't have a safety at all, but I'm curious if anyone is going to make an ambi conversion kit.

This could be valuable for lefties on both sides of the fence (those who love the Shield and hate safeties, and those who love the Shield and like the safety).

It seems it would be quite possible to make and easy to swap out - however may require a small amount of filing on the frame.

 

[Moonman]

Just DO NOT USE the safety, it's not necessary.

 

[JYogi]

Just DO NOT USE the safety, it's not necessary.

Only problem with that is when it gets knocked into safety when in the holster, drawing or any other number or things and then you draw pull and no bang.

Another reason for me to talk myself out of a Shield... Main reason I won't likely get one is it does not come in .357 Sig and also because you can't get it sans safety....

We don't need no stinkin safeties!

 

[ccpacker]

Well, don't buy one then. There are plenty of folks who want one and can't find one, so you will be doing them a favor by leaving one on the market.

 

[Thunder71]

I really don't want this to turn into a 'safeties aren't necessary' thread, plenty of those around, I just want to know what you think the possibility is that someone will develop a means to add an ambidextrous safety.

The gun has one, it is what it is... we can argue all day why they did that, point is not everyone is right handed, but love the idea of the Shield enough to get one anyway. It wouldn't be the first time an aftermarket company made a gun better.

 

[FDE]

To answer your question, I think its unlikely. I for one would not want to cut the frame out for the right side lever, and I think many would feel the same even if they wanted ambi-safeties. Therefore I don't think there would be enough market for someone to produce it. You could always be the first and talk with a local gunsmith or machine shop to have it done...

 

[Maddmax]

Only problem with that is when it gets knocked into safety when in the holster, drawing or any other number or things and then you draw pull and no bang.

We don't need no stinkin safeties!

Not too likely (if even likely at all). The safety is VERY positive on or off and sits tight enough to the frame not to be a problem.

 

[Edd Harbin]

It's not likely to hit the safety ,on or off , it's out of the way and has a very positive (stiff ) detent . If you don't like it and just want to make sure it never is put on safety , remove the safety . Look on Youtube and you will find a few different in structions on how to remove it , it's not hard . You just take the sear block out and remove the safety bar .

 

[FDE]

How! Welcome to the thread for random rants about the Shield thumb safety that have nothing to do with the OP's question.

 

[Thunder71]

Hahaha

As a lefty I think it would be nice to have the option at least. I know you can remove it, which is what gave me the thought to extend it to the other side.

 

[Edd Harbin]

If the Shield line takes off , someone may develope a ambi or lefty safty ..... Why I have no Idea , kind of like the safety that came out for Glock's . If you don't like the safety , take it off .

 

[Thunder71]

I do like it... which is one reason I am asking about the possibility.

 

[Edd Harbin]

Anytime soon ..... Not likely . I personally don't use it and can't see it accidently being engaged or dis-engaged . This gun is designed , like many other striker fired pistols today with way too many safety's . The one thing Glock got right is NO Safetry to get in the way . Just like the glock it WON"T fire without activily trying to pull the trigger . So if you don't want it to go bang don't pull the trigger . It's called control , and if you are going to own and operate a firearm control is important , not feelings .

I do think it is possible to switch it to ambi/lefty and I'm sure someone out there will come up with something . It took years foe an aftermarket safety to be added to Glock's , so how long is probably the question that should be asked .

 

[VMaxSplat]

I'd just like to see an extended safety lever (similar to the other M&Ps) for the Shield for us right handed shooters.

For the record, one of the reasons I love the M&P series is the availability of thumb safety versions.

For those that don't care for the thumb safety, IMHO it would be a mistake to carry a weapon so equipped with the expectation that the safety would be in the "fire" position when needed in an emergency. It would be better to train using the safety in case its engaged when you need the weapon.

 

[SMMAssociates]

Just IMHO, we may never see an ambi safety from S&W, but an aftermarket version might be possible. I've not been inside a Shield yet, but if the innards are as nearly the same as the other M&P's, it shouldn't be difficult. (I'm told that the Shield safety is a tad different.) Cutting the frame should be a minor issue - just some care with a file after a rough cut (also carefully) with a Dremel or something like that.

(Dremels are for stirring paint, mostly, but....)

S&W probably WILL make one with no safety at all - very trivial "upgrade", other than a different mold for the grip, or perhaps a plug for the hole. Molds are very expensive, though....

I'm guessing that the current version was picked as "easy to produce and likely to satisfy any regulatory issues that might come up."

(I don't think anybody cares about the Hilary Lock anymore, except in places where the Shield may not pass muster anyway.)

So, the short answer is "who knows?" , but anything's possible.

I still have to get my hands on one....

(No idea if I'd buy one - no budget, really, and my 40C is nearly small enough for this type of gun, but I still want to see one!)

Regards,

 

[Nakanokalronin]

The Shield safety and larger M&P safeties are almost identical in how they work and look. If the FS M&P safeties were a tad smaller, I'd bet they could be fit into a Shield with a little tweeking.

Both type are just bent over metal so I'm sure it could easily be done by someone with the resources. I want an extended thumb safety for my Shield and will looking into making one myself at some point if nobody else steps up.

 

[aroth109]

I for one would like to at least see an aftermarket safety that is a bit larger than the production one. I can sweep the safety in no stress situations, but once I start doing stress drills etc. to qualify, my hand gets just sweaty enough to cause me to have to occasionally swipe more than once.

Having said that, what I don't want is another person saying not to bother with the safety. I just want a larger safety. I have seen all sorts of interesting things with Glocks and M&P's when holstering etc. The bottom line is that just because it is not your finger, it may still override the safety in the trigger just like your finger if the item is big enough and sturdy enough (say for instance the top loop of a duty holster or the bottom snap of a duty jacket designed to connect the jacket underneath a duty holster that has come unsnapped and moved around). It's an added security measure that I prefer and if my 1911 were as light and comfortable to carry in the same situations, I wouldn't be interested in this gun in the first place.

Keep us posted on whether you get an aftermarket safety made.

 

[SMMAssociates]

Absent licensing and/or patent issues, the gang at Apex might just surprise us with respect to the enlarged safety lever....

Ambi might be a bit tougher - IMHO, S&W could have done that very easily at introduction if the right-side room was there. The quest for "thin" might have gotten in the way, though.

Gotta get one....

Regards,

 

[Jhp147]

I have seen the video on how to remove the safety on You Tube. I am not sure I want to do that, but I keep looking at a way to add a tiny set screw or plastic block to make sure that it stays down. Neither may be needed as the one Shield I handled had a very positive detent. Just something I'm considering as a southpaw. But this is really academic since I can't get my paws on one anyway. The one on GB is 460 with 8 hours to go, guess I'll start making daily visits to Academy, seems to be the only source of 399 ones, if only for the lucky very few that have managed to get them before they vanish.

 

[kris7047th]

Strange .. that the left handed safety is of more importance than a left handed mag release.