Shield 45 ACP THUMB SAFETY question

[old-school]

I got an S&W shield in 45 ACP, great pistol, but there is one thing about it that I don't like- THE THUMB SAFETY. Can it be disabled-or would a drop of gorilla glue do the job? I know that people say not to worry about it, but for my peace of mind, it need to go away.

 

[awtavani]

I just got a Shield 45 with the thumb safety and I don't see a problem with it. It's not in the way for me. If you don't want to use it just don't.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

 

[ultratec00]

The safety lever can be removed from the sear housing, just need to drift out the rear roll pin and remove the entire sear housing assembly. Didn't try reinstalling w/o the safety lever because I'm happy with the configuration as it is. If the safety is such that you can't live with it regardless, removing may be a better option than trying to disable it but that is your decision.

 

[berudd]

My Shield 9 has the thumb safety as well and you can easily just leave it off and not worry about it. I've seen others recommend removing it but I'm not sure I'd do that. If you ever had to use it, I can see some attorney trying to use this bit of info to paint you as some lunatic looking for a chance to shoot someone because you removed the safety. The fact that you can purchase the same gun without a safety would be irrelevant to the attorney and likely lost on an uninformed jury. Perhaps in NC this would be less of an issue because if your actions are deemed legal and appropriate then you are protected from civil liability.

 

[GKC]

I got an S&W shield in 45 ACP, great pistol, but there is one thing about it that I don't like- THE THUMB SAFETY. Can it be disabled-or would a drop of gorilla glue do the job? I know that people say not to worry about it, but for my peace of mind, it need to go away.

Personally (and I hasten to add that this is my personal opinion, and neither an official nor legal opinion) if I felt so strongly about the safety, I'd sell the gun and buy one without the safety before I'd disable it. While it may be a stretch, it's conceivable that if you are ever in court, the prosecutor could say "Here is someone with such reckless disregard for safety that he disabled the built in safety mechanism."

I have a thumb safety model, and I like it...it's unobtrusive, easy but positive to engage and disengage, and hasn't shown any signs of unintentionally engaging. Still, it's basic training to make sure the safety is off. As in many other things, though, it's up to you.

 

[Shield9mm]

Personally (and I hasten to add that this is my personal opinion, and neither an official nor legal opinion) if I felt so strongly about the safety, I'd sell the gun and buy one without the safety before I'd disable it.
I have a thumb safety model, and I like it...it's unobtrusive.

Agree, I had a shield with TS, didn't like the safety lever, but at the same time it wasn't interfering with anything, you can easily forget it is there. Sold it, and got me a NTS version.

To the OP might sound like a stupid question, but why did you bought it if you didn't like the TS?

 

[357 shooter]

Personally (and I hasten to add that this is my personal opinion, and neither an official nor legal opinion) if I felt so strongly about the safety, I'd sell the gun and buy one without the safety before I'd disable it.

I totally agree. I picked up two Shields last year and both are the non-safety versions.

 

[FLS&W]

Agree with the statements regarding the potential for legal issues by removing a factory installed safety device. If it came without it then you would be ok. I removed it from the M&P 9c that I owned and installed the Safety Frame Plugs from Speed Shooter Specialties. That's when my gunsmith, a retired LEO, told me that I better not get into a shootout with it because I was in legal danger by removing the factory installed safety.

 

[andyo5]

I prefer a thumb safety. I wish that my Glock had one.

 

[GKC]

I prefer a thumb safety. I wish that my Glock had one.

There is a fix for that:

1. Sell the Glock.
2. Buy a S&W with a thumb safety.

 

[Amp]

I bought the 9mm Shield when it came out and never carried it because the safety confuses me. Turns out I am still used to the third gen where down is safe.
So bought the 45 Shield with no thumb safety.
Both are good guns and do what they should.
Unfortunately for them, they sit in the safe and I use my 3913 for carry if not the revolver.

 

[Bonephish]

I know that people say not to worry about it, but for my peace of mind, it need to go away.

Revolver people and Glocksters have a problem with thumb safeties. My go-to handgun is always a 1911, so I'm used to a thumb safety. I have a thumb safety on every pistol except my LCP and Glock 19. Triggers in most of my guns have been tweaked for lighter and shorter pull. I installed a thumb safety in my M&P 9C, others have factory thumb safeties.

 

[texagun]

I personally wouldn't buy a 45 Shield without the thumb safety. That was a big selling point for me. I carry IWB with safety engaged to protect some of my favorite parts. Being a 1911 guy, it is 2nd nature for me to swipe off the thumb safety. Wish my Glocks had one.