Comment: Controversy continues on this issue.
As a Missile Launch Officer in the late 1960's and early 70's, the S&W .38 revolver was carried continually with no mishaps -- nothing like this. One flight line incident occurred when a youngster guarding a nuclear laden B-52 bomber tried doing a western fast draw and put a round into the aircraft due to over enthusiasm in performing this "stunt." Needless to say we were all severely warned not to duplicate this maneuver.
That revolver is a double action gun which will fire from hammer down to cocked hammer to cylinder rotation to hammer released when the trigger is pulled intentionally and with more force than the lighter pull when the hammer is cocked ahead of the shot.
A visible hammer is missing on striker fired guns making one treat them all like they are cocked and ready to fire with safety off. All to say, more thinking is required in handling a gun witn no visible hammer.
When being handed a firearm for examination, the first question to ask and verify is:
Prove to me this gun is unloaded and following through by doing all procedures necesary to fully unload the firearm in question.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-marine-corps-navy-m18-sidearm
"Army, Marine Corps, Navy have no plan to stop using M18, M17 pistols"
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https://cjtc.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-02/Sig%20Sauer%20P320%20Report%20February%202025.pdf
"SIG SAUER P320 PISTOL REPORT February 2025 Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission"
Quote:
The Sig Sauer representatives provided the following summary conclusion:
- The Sig Sauer P320 can ONLY fire if the trigger has been depressed (5 independent actions).
- No Sig Sauer P320 pistol ever discharged during the Sig Sauer drop testing.
- No Sig Sauer P320 pistol revealed any evidence of the Fire Control Unit (FCU) parts slippage, primer deformation, or discharge during independent laboratory testing. For an “involuntary discharge” to occur, three separate safety components must all fail simultaneously.
• Primary Striker/Sear Connection
• Secondary Sear Notch
• Safety lock
