Safety Features of the S&W Revolver

This GunTec presentation explains the three built in safety features of a Smith & Wesson revolver. Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA, details the safety features starting with the rebound seat. This protrusion on the rebound slide engages the hammer and prevents the firing pin from protruding through the frame when the trigger is at rest. The second safety feature is the hammer block. This piece prevents the hammer from falling while the trigger is at rest, but cams out of the way as the trigger is pulled. This last safety feature is the hammer stop. Located behind the hammer, the hammer stop prevents the cylinder from being opened while the revolver is cocked, and prevents the revolver from being cocked while the cylinder is open. This is designed to prevent loading a cocked revolver and accidentally discharging it when closing the cylinder.