Handgun safety mechanism

A handgun frame assembly comprising:

• a frame extending along a bore axis from a proximal frame end portion to a distal frame end portion, the frame defining an upper portion of a magazine well and a takedown pin opening extending laterally through the frame;
• a fire control assembly attached to the frame, the fire control assembly including
• a trigger,
• a striker movable along the bore axis between a cocked position and a firing position, and
• a sear operable between a first position and a second position, wherein the sear is configured to engage and retain the striker in the cocked position until the sear disengages from the striker due to pulling the trigger;
• a takedown actuation lever with a lever shaft extending through the takedown lever opening and having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a lever wing extending transversely from the first end portion for operation by a user, the lever shaft defining a recess with a catch surface, wherein the takedown actuation lever is rotatable about the lever shaft between a firing position and a takedown position;
• and
• a safety bar extending longitudinally along the frame and operationally coupled to the takedown actuation lever, the safety bar having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the distal end portion including a head portion extending up from the safety bar and configured to be received in the recess in the lever shaft, wherein when moving the takedown actuation lever from the firing position to the takedown position the catch surface engages the head portion and moves the safety bar distally, thereby disengaging the sear from the striker when the striker is in the cocked position.

A handgun with a takedown lever assembly, a frame, and a fire control group that includes a sear and a striker, the takedown lever assembly comprising:

• a takedown actuation lever operable between a firing position and a takedown position, the takedown actuation lever including a lever shaft extending laterally through the frame, the lever shaft defining a recess having a catch surface positioned to engage the distal end portion of the safety bar when the takedown actuation lever is moved from the firing position to the takedown position;
• and
• a safety bar operatively coupled to the takedown actuation lever and extending along a side of the frame, a distal end portion of the safety bar including a head portion extending upward from the safety bar and received in the recess, the safety bar further including a proximal end portion configured to directly engage the sear;
• wherein the catch surface engages the head portion and draws the safety bar distally along the frame in response to moving the takedown actuation lever from the firing position to the takedown position, thereby disengaging the sear from the striker.