Quote Originally Posted by Geezer View Post
That would be the 1896 Fryberg patent transfer bar safety, popularised by Iver Johnson in revolvers as the “hammer the hammer” [and it still won’t fire] safety, and used to this day on Ruger revolvers.

Sounds like Girandoni had the same idea a century earlier?
Yes. Especially in the sense that a crucial need (such as preventing accidental discharge) is often behind innovative "fixes" to design flaws. That innovative safety measures were added to revolvers is as good as proof that this was addressing a real-world problem. Same with the Girandoni. It is only because of a serious safety situation with the original design, that the safety/bypass lever ever came to be designed and implemented. There is no reason for this lever, if there wasn't a real-world problem that the gun makers felt compelled to address.

There is no way that a Girandoni could ever be sold commercially, today. But, if it was, it would require the largest of red safety warning signs "This gun is dangerous. Lack of management knowledge has resulted in unintentional discharge!!!!!!"