A question of..Safety..

[Jerry VanHorn]

I bought this gun last week. It is on the way to me. The factory letter did not have any additional info..(1923 gun). TPS says there were 216 made...VHE 16..32"..Supposedly choked IM/IM..Perfect bores. Has been used but not hurt. I plan on having this one restored...The question..In place of the safety is a plain piece of metal. From the picture, it may have the SAFE engraved on the tang..Any thoughts would be appreciated...j..

[Bill Mullins]

Jerry, my thoughts would be if you are going to have the gun restored is to have the safety reinstalled for obvious reasons. Several yesrs ago a large dealer in side by sides told me he never bought or sold a gun without a safety. He said his insurance carrier informed him he could have a liability issue if he sold one and the purchaser accidentally shot himself.

[Jerry VanHorn]

Bill..I wish I could determine if the gun was made without a safety. The book lists 3 identical guns..consecutive serials...all with ejectors.. I bought this in California..If it had been a 12..I would have passed. In any case..it's a bit scarce, and I didn't have a 32" VH..I'm sure that a safety will be available if I go that route..Jerry..

[todd allen]

Originally Posted by Bill Mullins

Jerry, my thoughts would be if you are going to have the gun restored is to have the safety reinstalled for obvious reasons. Several yesrs ago a large dealer in side by sides told me he never bought or sold a gun without a safety. He said his insurance carrier informed him he could have a liability issue if he sold one and the purchaser accidentally shot himself.

I agree with you on reinstalling the safety. That said, I disagree with the insurance company in regard to someone shooting themselves because the gun didn't have a safety.
If a safety is all that keeps someone from shooting themselves, that person shouldn't have had a gun in the first place.

[Jerry VanHorn]

I probably will have some cosmetics done. I've talked to Mr. Gorman about doing the barrels..and I'll do the wood. Which brings us to a suitable case color artisan...????..I'm on the fence about the safety...I'll probably never run across a consecutive # gun to see if either of those had safeties...

[Brush Buster]

Jerry ,are you planning on ordering a letter , That may tell you about the safety ! That is where I would start if it were me ! A 32" 16 will be a dandy , Nice Find !

[Researcher]

It certainly appears that this gun was made with a safety and that the safety was removed from the gun aftermarket. No safety guns from Meriden wouldn't have the word SAFE engraved on the tang and the plug filling the slot would be almost invisible.

134xxx 02 BHE, 12-gauge,.jpg

[Setter Man]

Originally Posted by Bill Mullins

Jerry, my thoughts would be if you are going to have the gun restored is to have the safety reinstalled for obvious reasons. Several yesrs ago a large dealer in side by sides told me he never bought or sold a gun without a safety. He said his insurance carrier informed him he could have a liability issue if he sold one and the purchaser accidentally shot himself.

Sounds like malarkey to me. Few semi-auto pistols have safety’s, old lever guns didn’t have safety’s, revolvers don’t have safety's.

JDG

[Jerry VanHorn]

The letter arrived before the gun ! It has no additional info..Just the specs..It is probably best to have the safety installed..It's a keeper..one of 216..

[10 bore]

Look to see if the stock has the cut out where a safety parts would go. If it had no safety the stock wouldnt have a hole for safety parts.
Scott