Short Sear vs Long Sear

[DonVoigt]

Why? So the pistol can be charged with the safety "on".

When sounds right, and many/most of the earlier ones were modified; so one does not
see them very often.

[Norme]

The relieved sear was introduced in early 1916.
Norm

[Ron Wood]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Why? So the pistol can be charged with the safety "on".

This is not quite exact. The relieved sear bar is a safety measure that is true. But, it is meant to allow clearing the chamber of a loaded weapon with the safety on. If the striker (firing pin) is not already set you cannot cycle the action with the safety on, the sear bar will not ride up over the lug on the striker. Therefore you can't load/charge the weapon with the safety on.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

This is not quite exact. The relieved sear bar is a safety measure that is true. But, it is meant to allow clearing the chamber of a loaded weapon with the safety on. If the striker (firing pin) is not already set you cannot cycle the action with the safety on, the sear bar will not ride up over the lug on the striker. Therefore you can't load/charge the weapon with the safety on.

Makes sense, now that I have thought on it.
IF you could charge with the safety on, the safety would not
prevent a discharge, DUH!

Note to self, think thin write!