Winchester Repeating Arms Supreme (Historic Manual) - Manual (Page 31)

You Are Responsible For Firearms Safety.
As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these
responsibilities can mean the difference between life and death. Failure to follow any of these
instructions can cause extensive damage to your gun and/or possible serious injury or death to
yourself and others. There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm. At all
times handle any firearm with intense respect for its power and potential danger.
READ AND
UNDERSTAND all of THE CAUTIONS AND PROPER HANDLING PROCEDURES
OUTLINED IN THIS BOOKLET BEFORE USING YOUR NEW FIREARM.
1.
ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF ANY FIREARM POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
Do this even though you are certain the firearm is unloaded. Never point any firearm at
anything you do not intend to shoot. Be extremely alert and aware of all persons and property
within the range of your ammunition.
2.
NEVER RELY TOTALLY ON YOUR SHOTGUN'S MECHANICAL "SAFETY" DEVICE.
Always assume that your gun can be fired at any time, even with all the safety mechanism
engaged. The word "safety" describes a gun's trigger block mechanism, sear block mechanism,
hammer block mechanism or firing pin block mechanism. These mechanical devices are
designed to place your gun in a SAFER status. No guarantee can be made that the gun will not
fire even if the "safety" is in the "on safe" position. See "Operation of the Safety" in your
owner’s manual for instructions on operation of your gun's "safety."
3 . LIKE ANY MECHANICAL DEVICE, A "SAFETY" CAN SOMETIMES FAIL; IT CAN BE
JARRED OR INADVERTENTLY MANIPULATED INTO AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
Mechanical "safeties" merely aid safe gun handling and are no excuse for pointing your
shotgun's muzzle in an unsafe direction.
While it is a good idea to "test" your shotgun's mechanical "safeties" periodically for proper
function, never test them while your firearm is loaded or pointed in an unsafe direction. Safe
gun handling does not stop with your gun's mechanical "safety" devices -- it starts there.
Always treat this shotgun with the respect a loaded, ready-to-fire firearm.
NEVER TEST THE
MECHANISM OF ANY FIREARM WHILE IT IS LOADED OR POINTED IN AN UNSAFE DIRECTION.
4. WHENEVER YOU HANDLE A FIREARM, OR HAND IT TO SOMEONE MAKE SURE IT IS
COMPLETELY UNLOADED.
Always open the action immediately and visually check the chamber magazine. Make certain
the chamber does not inadvertently contain any ammunition. Always keep the chamber empty
and the "safety" in the "on safe" position unless shooting is imminent.
5. DO NOT TRANSPORT ANY FIREARM LOADED. KEEP ALL FIREARMS UNLOADED
DURING TRANSPORT, WHETHER IN A SCABBARD, GUN CASE, OR OTHER CONTAINER.
6. HUNTING FROM ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS TREE STANDS IS DANGEROUS.
Doing so may increase the risk of handling a firearm. The following rules should always be
observed by you and those you hunt with: Always make certain that the stand being used is
safe and stable. Always make certain that your firearm is unloaded when it is being taken up
and down from the stand. Always make certain that your firearm is not dropped from the stand,
or dropped while it is being taken up or down from the stand. Remember, a loaded firearm
may discharge when dropped, even with the safety in the "on safe" position.