You can disable the safety without removing the entire mechanism.
Watch this video: M&P Shield Manual Safety Removal - YouTube
Please don't disable the safety by removing an internal part of it and reinstall the lever as the above video mentions.
I don't have to think very hard to imagine a scenario where having an apparently functional safety lever installed on a gun where the safety doesn't actually prevent the gun from firing.
If you want to remove the safety, remove the entire safety, lever and all. That way someone using the gun won't make a mistake thinking it's "safe" and it's not.
Seriously, don't cut that tab.
Best answer: buy a gun without a safety if you want a gun without a safety.
I hear what you are saying, but know that there are some states like California (and others i think) that have an unconstitutional "Approved Roster" of only certain types of state compliant gun models their citizens can legally purchase. CA requires on new model pistols: a safety lever, magazine disconnect lever, and an obvious loaded chamber indicator. In CA, you can buy "off-roster" models (basically used guns), but typically since they're off-roster, there are few amounts for sale and people price them at a premium price thus making them expensive and out of reach for some (having to grossly overpay) and not to mention it's a used gun from a prior owner. For some people, they may not want to deal with the risk of the unknown of having to "take the word" of the prior gun owner for how it was handled, treated, taken care of, and possibly modified with drop in aftermarket parts for a period of time and then brought back to factory set-up for whatever reason.
So just "buy a gun without a safety if you want a gun without a safety" may not be reasonably possible or the best option for some gun people depending on the actual state they live in - and I would think even more for those with the above mentioned mindset if it's a carry/self defense pistol.
I was lucky enough to get one of the black 2.0, 5" barrel with no safety. There were only a few shipped to distributers and my dealer got a call the day they came in, ordered me one, and I didn't even know it. Next day he calls me and says he has something for me. So I stop there and low and behold, there it was. I bought it right then and there. Come to find out later, the distributer was not supposed to send them out as early as they did. Oops! Well, my gain, I suppose.Maybe smith should offer the gun without a thumb safety. I just got a PC shield that only comes with a safety. I thought Id get over it. Nope, now I get to deal with selling it bc Smith apparantly knows whats best for everyone. Just like they sold the M&P 2.0 5in barrel 9/40 in FDE with thumb safety only bc they assume it'll never be a law enforcement gun. They had made black ones but very quickly stopped bc of that reason. Wish they'd pull their heads out of you know where
If you want to remove the safety, remove the entire safety, lever and all. That way someone using the gun won't make a mistake thinking it's "safe" and it's not.
Guess you missed the part "..if you remove the entire safety, the sear pin can walk out and affect the ejector operation..." or words to that effect.
I do agree that if only the owner knows the safety does not function, and it appears normal, it is courting disaster to anyone else. Want no safety? Buy one with no safety.
If you want to remove the safety, remove the entire safety, lever and all. That way someone using the gun won't make a mistake thinking it's "safe" and it's not.
Guess you missed the part "..if you remove the entire safety, the sear pin can walk out and affect the ejector operation..." or words to that effect.
I do agree that if only the owner knows the safety does not function, and it appears normal, it is courting disaster to anyone else. Want no safety? Buy one with no safety.
I've only read online a bit of back and forth about the pros and cons of removing the lever and the possibility of the sear pin walking out. I honestly don't know if it would or wouldn't. Some say it might, some say it won't. I don't know. Fwiw, my shield 9mm has a safety, I leave it off. It's never accidently engaged itself.
I'll stick with my original statement, and I think it needs repeating: don't modify the safety of a gun so it looks like it works, but it doesn't. Ever.
As I said, and you said, and a lot of people said: buy one without a safety if you don't want it. If guns must have a safety to be compliant in your state, you still have options, like moving to a state that respects your constitutional rights. If moving is an impossibility, work on fixing the laws in your state.