half-cock
The M94 incorporated a manual safety sometime in the mid 1990's. Prior that, as designed by Browning, the design had the characteristic hammer with a half-cock notch which served as the "safety".
Once a round has been chambered, the hammer is at full cock, completely rearward. It must now be lowered to half-cock, to allow for safe carry with a round chambered. I read about rifles being carried with the chamber empty, a round being levered into the chamber to allow a shot, but I have never encountered anybody afield practicing that habit.
To correctly and safely lower the hammer to half cock, pressure must be applied the hammer retaining it to the rear with the thumb, then the trigger depressed with the trigger finger, the thumb then easing the hammer forward until the half cock notch engages. The trick is that once the hammer is captured with the thumb, the finger must COME OFF TRIGGER, do not ride the trigger. If the hammer should slip the thumb and snap forward, if the finger is correctly OFF THE TRIGGER, the half cock notch SHOULD catch the hammer and prevent an accidental discharge. If the trigger is somewhat depressed during the process, and the hammer slips off the thumb, the hammer can snap fully forward and allow the rifle to fire. This process requires some dexterity, understanding and hand/finger strength, and I have encountered some (including my wife and grade school age son) who could not safely manage it every time. Winchester (and Marlin) apparently reached the same conclusion, hence the addition of the cross bolt safety in the later years). Though many, including myself, started with a traditional M94 and the half-cock, I do not recommend the rifle for newbies, especially kids. Bamawife, who is kid-like in size and hand strength, will never be able manage the rifle correctly.
I have also encountered those who are inclined to carry the rifle with a round in the chamber and the hammer fully forward, somehow believing the rifle is unsafe "half-cocked". That is not the case, and carrying the rifle chambered with the hammer resting fully forward on the firing pin MIGHT allow the rifle to fire if the hammer is snagged and returns forward or receives a direct blow. Regardless, not using the half cock is bypassing a safety feature.