I noticed Mas's article says that S&W "does not recommend a loaded chamber except for cocked-and-locked carry".
Reading between the lines, does this suggest the CSX has a non-inertial firing pin and thus no option for Condition 2 carry? Anyone know?
The CSX has an inertia firing pin and a firing pin safety. That said, Condition 2 is always a bad idea. Col. Cooper named all of the conditions, in order to easily differentiate one condition from another. That does not mean that they are all ok for carry.
A single action pistol should always be carried in Condition 1.
Once a round is chambered, to get to Condition 2, you have to safely lower the hammer. That is an accident looking for a place to happen. And, it requires the user to cock the hammer on the way up during an emergency. Bad idea. Then, if you insist on cocking the hammer manually but you don't like or are scared of Condition 1, you are back to de-cocking.
Condition 3 requires you to chamber a round during an emergency, and as much as anyone thinks they will have all the time in the world, they are wrong, they will not, and they will get themselves killed. Plus, due to injury or a fight in progress, you may not have both hands available.
The CSX model was a bad idea from the get-go. That said, if anyone insists on this thing, carry in Condition 1. If you cannot stomach that, then get a different gun.
