Releasing the safety drops the hammer. I’ll let that sink in. I have it field stripped and the issue is the Sear Release Lever. Push down, drops hammer. When slide installed, safety rolls over Sear Release Lever. What am I missing? Anyone seen this?
Thanks in advance
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Welcome @kevin556
You may get the answer you need at Smith-Wesson forum. There is a lot of knowledge there on 1st generation pistols
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Hi Kevin and welcome.
Just for clarification, is the hammer coming down when you “release” the safety as in taking the safety to the off or fire position, or when you ENGAGE the safety which is moving the safety to the safe or locked position.
If it’s the later that is how the gun is supposed to work. What most folks call a safety on the 59 is actually a de-cocking mechanism or de-cocker lever.
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@kevin556 Welcome to the community, and hopefully you’ll resolve that issue with your S&W model 59. Enzo_T gave a good description.
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Welcome to the community. Your Place for Self-Defense Education, Training and Discussions with Responsibly Armed Americans
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Sorry, when moving the safety to the ‘fire’ position, the hammer drops as though one had pulled the trigger.
I will try that.
Have you tried this with a round chambered in a safe environment, i.e. pointed downrange at an appropriate backstop? If it does not fire when the hammer drops, then it is indeed a de-cocker.
Edit: @Robert1246 pencil advice below is perfect! Put the eraser end in the barrel first 
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Pencil in the chamber of an unloaded gun pointing up. If the pencil doesn’t pop up the firing pin didn’t engage.
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Yeah and I corrected does to doesn’t.
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Fwiggin’ bwilliant! Now I get it. Decocker, scary to watch, but works like a charm. It is far better for one’s nerves to decock manually than to see this drop, but it does work as intended.
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