[quote]Originally posted by Edward Tinker:
<strong> what is the advantage to the safety and what is the reason the police had them and not others? </strong><hr></blockquote>
Ed, my own opinion is that magazine safeties are a solution to a non-existent problem. If I remove the mag the gun becomes a paperweight, unable to fire the round in the chamber - assuming there is one. IMO, the reason for removing the mag safety from police guns is that the powers that be came to the same conclusion.
Possibly the Germans had the same problem with their police as we have with ours now. Not all police are "gun people" or competent with firearms. So, the authorities attempt to make the gun as "idiot-proof" as possible. The sear safety was to prevent the "cannon" being fired while the sideplate was not in place or while the "cannon" was detatched from the frame.
Comsidering that the extractor serves as a loaded chamber indicator that can be both seen and felt, what idiot takes the "cannon" off of the frame with a round in the chamber? Only someone who lacks the common sense to ensure the chamber is clear before field stripping the pistol. Both were, I believe, attempts to make the gun safer in the hands of someone who knew little about firearms and were likely to fire their pistol only for qualification or on the job.... never for practice or proficiency between times.
The above is all conjecture on my part but, unless someone has a better explaination, I think it's correct.
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