Manual

LOADING
Do not load the pistol until you are
ready to use it. Keep your finger
outside the trigger guard until you are
ready to fire.
WARNING:
Smith & Wesson centerfire pistols
are designed to disengage the
trigger linkage, and thereby prevent
the trigger from firing the pistol,
when the magazine is removed from
the pistol. After inserting a
magazine, always test to make sure
it is locked in place by applying
some removal pressure to the
exposed portion of the magazine
butt plate.
Only use Smith & Wesson
magazines specifically manufactured
for your particular model of pistol.
Do not interchange magazines from
one model pistol into another model
pistol.
Smith & Wesson has provided you
with a magazine designed to operate
in your specific model of pistol.
While your magazine may be able to
be inserted into another model
pistol, it will only function in the
specific model for which it was
designed.
Follow instructions in this manual
and any other specific instructions
which may be marked onto, or
accompany, a magazine. Failure to
use the particular type of Smith &
Wesson magazine specified for your
model and caliber of pistol may
result in the malfunction of your
pistol.
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Load the magazine by pressing a
cartridge head (rear of cartridge)
downward on the forward portion of the
magazine follower (or download on the
case of the previously-loaded cartridge)
and sliding the cartridge fully under the
lips of the magazine until the cartridge
head is against the rear wall of the
magazine. Repeat the procedure for
the number of cartridges you wish to
load, up to the magazine capacity. Do
not attempt to load your magazine with
more than the specified number of
cartridges because doing so can cause
a feeding failure. Inspect the pistol as
previously described.
Hold the pistol in one hand with the
muzzle pointing in a safe direction and
with your finger off the trigger and
outside the trigger guard. Rotate the
manual safety lever fully down into the
"safe" position. Insert the loaded
magazine into the magazine well of the
pistol until it is locked in place.
WARNING:
Do not use excessive or violent
upward force when inserting a
loaded magazine into the pistol.
Excessive and violent upward force
could cause the slide to move
forward, chambering a round and
making the pistol ready to fire.
To make sure that the magazine is fully
and securely inserted, apply some
removal pressure to the exposed
portion of the magazine butt plate.
Press down on the slide stop to release
the slide and allow it to carry fully
forward. This strips a cartridge from the
magazine and seats it in the chamber
of the barrel.
II you wish to restore the magazine in
your pistol to its full capacity, depress
CENTERFIRE PISTOLS
the magazine release and remove the
magazine from the pistol. Remember
that there is a round in the chamber;
therefore, the weapon should be
holstered or safely secured during this
process. Load one cartridge into the
magazine to replace the one which was
chambered when you allowed the slide
to carry forward. Re-insert the loaded
magazine into the magazine well of the
pistol until it is locked in place. To make
sure that the magazine is again fully
and securely inserted, apply some
removal pressure to the exposed
portion of the magazine butt plate.
Your pistol is now fully loaded. The
hammer IS down and resting against
the manual safety block, the trigger is
forward and the firing mechanism is
disengaged. Your pistol is now in a
safe condition to be holstered and
carried. Never holster, carry or store
your pistol with the hammer cocked.
Remember to keep your pistol pointed
in a safe direction under all conditions
and always keep your finger off the
trigger and outside the trigger guard
until ready to fire. Never leave a loaded
firearm unattended.
WARNING:
A loaded Smith & Wesson Pistol,
Model 39, 52, 59, and 745, which has
an inertial firing pin without an
automatic firing safety plunger, can
discharge accidentally with the
manual safety in the "fire" position if
subjected to sufficient impact, such
as being dropped onto the muzzle.
Therefore, it is absolutely essential
that the manual safety of any loaded
Model 39, 52, 59, and 745 be kept in
the "safe" position until you are
actually ready to fire.
Also, remember that pulling the
trigger with the manual safety in the
"fire" position will fire a loaded
double-action pistol.
Pistols bearing Model Nos. 39, 52, 59,
and 745 do not have an automatic
firing-pin safety plunger; therefore, for
safety, they were manufactured with a
hammer which has a half-cock notch.
Second generation Smith & Wesson
pistols bearing Model Nos. 439, 459,
469, 639, 659, 669, and 645 and third
generation Smith & Wesson pistols
bearing Model Nos. 411, 915, 3904,
3906,3913,3914,5903,5904,5906,
6904,6906,4506,4516, 1006, 1066,
4006,4013,4014,4505,4566,4567,
5905, and 4596 are manufactured with
an automatic firing-pin safety plunger.
The automatic firing-pin safety plunger
prevents the firing-pin from moving
forward and firing a cartridge unless
the trigger is held to the rear. This
feature and the decocking function of
the manual safety lever eliminate the
need for a hall-cock notch on the
hammer.
All second generation pistols were
originally manufactured with hammers
which had hall-cock notches. Some
hammers in third generation pistols
have hall-cock notches and others do
not. The presence or the absence of a
hall-cock notch on the hammer of a
second or third generation pistol, as
shipped from the factory, does not
interfere with its function in these
models, the hall-cock notch is not
necessary to function or carry the
pistol safely.
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