Any Double-Action that work w/Manual Safety?

DougB

New member
A friend of mine is looking for a semi-auto (.40 or possibly 9mm) that is concealable (he's applying for a concealed weapon permit), double action, and allows the safety to be engaged with the hammer down. He knows this usually isn't considered necessary, but wants to be "extra sure" he won't fire it prematurely when drawing it.

I'm guessing maybe the HK USP Compact, CZ75 Compact, or SIG 239, but I've never focused on this and am not sure what's available. I have a S&W 9mm that can be left with the decocker down (in "safe" postion), but it isn't particulary easy to push it back up with the thumb. I've never seriously considered leaving the safety on when carrying it. Any suggestions (besides convincing him that this is unnecessary)? Thanks.

Doug
 
The Sig doesn't have a manual safety and the CZ safety operates in cocked and locked mode.

DAs with safeties include the HK, the S&W line, the Walther PP/PPK, the Beretta and the Taurus. All these have safeties that can be engaged while the hammer is down. The HK and Taurus have 1911 style safeties (on the frame rather than the slide).

If you are talking about a DAO with a safety, that's a bit harder. S&W will retrofit a DAO with a safety through the Performance Center.
 
When you say DA, do you mean DA only (DAO) or do you mean DA/SA? If you mean DA/SA, then I think the S&W has a number of compact pistols which will fit the bill and with a little bit of practice, the safety lever is very easy to operate with the thumb of the shooting hand. I have trained myself to quickly do it without even giving it a second thought. The Sig239 does not have a safety -- it has a decocker. After engaging it, the weapon can still be fired but in DA and not SA.

If you are referring to the DAO 239 version, I believe that it does not even have the decocker (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Additionally, the only DAO pistol that has a manual safety is the Taurus PT-111. It's smaller & more compact than any of the SIGs or S&W's and it holds 10 rounds of either 9mm or .40S&W. I was actually thinking of getting one but after [Link to invalid post] a question and receiving mixed reviews, I held off.

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Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by buzz_knox:... S&W will retrofit a DAO with a safety through the Performance Center.[/quote]buzz_knox,

I know that the performance center can turn a DA/SA into a DAO and a DAO into a DA/SA but are you saying that they can also create a DAO that incorporates a safety? Would this have the repeat strike capability of their DA/SA model or would the striker have to be preset like their DAO model? This has me interested. Please advise.



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Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD.
 
FUD

Several years ago, Ayoob did an article on DA/SA S&Ws that had been converted to DAO by Rick Devoid. They retained the safety and the double strike. I believe that S&W will do this now but will also install a safety on their standard DAO pistols. I seem to recall this from the web site. The latter weapon would not have a double strike capability. I'll check the site later, now that I'm curious.

By the way, I tried to reply to your e-mail but couldn't. You didn't happen to use an anonymous remailer, did you? If you're still interested in Ayoob's class, I highly recommend it. As an avid self-defense/LE student, an attorney, and a life-long shooter, I learned more about the issue of deadly force in 3 hours than I did in my other experiences. Given that the course ran for a total of 15 hours or so, you can guess my final view of it. Ayoob's sense of humor doesn't hurt either. He's a very personable with a sick, twisted sense of humor. Got to like that!
 
I would hate to have to draw the gun and pull the trigger only to find out that the safety was on... that's why I only buy guns with decockers or NEVER engage the safety.

Ben

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AOL IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ben:I would hate to have to draw the gun and pull the trigger only to find out that the safety was on.[/quote]Ben,

I've carried S&W pistols almost exclusively for about 18 years and putting on the safety has become second nature for me. As I raise the weapon to aline the sights, the safety comes off. When I lower the weapon, the safety goes on. I do this without even thinking about it -- even at the range. I've recently moved to a warmer part of the country and now carry a micro kahr and my thumb still reaches for a safety lever which isn't there (although I sure wish Kahr would add that as an option because like DougB's friend, I too, would like a DAO pistol with a safety).
 
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