1947 LC Smith 30" Field: how safe is the safety?Archived Message
Posted by Jason on October 25, 2015, 2:48 am
Hello,
I just paid for a 1947 LC Smith 12G 30" Field SxS shotgun, but have to wait 11 days to pick it up.
I have been doing a LOT of reading about it for the past 48 hours, yet have one main question that I can't find a suitable answer to, and a lot of other ones I plan on just reading for another week to understand better.
I've used snap-caps to test the trigger/hammer, and also to test the safety. I am content with the trigger feel. What I am unsure of is the safety.
How 'safe' are these guns with the safety on?
I have NEVER shot a SxS shotgun. The only time I've been in a room with one was at a gun shop. My entire knowledge base regarding SxS [or O/U, for that matter] is based on movies/tv, and mainly shows set before WW II, with shotguns from before WWI.
In those, I always noticed the shooter carrying the shotgun broke open, and draped off his weak arm. When either entering the stand or game flushes, they snap the gun together, lift and fire.
I am more familiar with handguns/rifles.
I know not to jump/climb/drop any firearm while a round is in the chamber, even if on safety- and to always keep it pointed in a safe direction.
What I want to know is if the safety design of the LC Smith Field [1947 production, Armor/armory steel barrels] is safe enough to walk through a flat field with the action locked in the fire position, safety on, fingers off the trigger- like my Savage 99 or 1895 Mauser.
Can anyone give me an answer, but with an explanation? I am all about context and understanding. A simple 'yes' or 'no' leaves me frustrated, as I want to ask 'but, why?' or 'why not?'
I want to UNDERSTAND the system, not just know the bare-bones minimum to avoid shooting anyone unintentionally.