It must be remembered that most hammerless guns are carried cocked. On most, if there are no intercepting sears, the safety only blocks the triggers and are no different to a cocked hammer gun being carried. Lagopus.....
I'd say they are quite different. Remarkably so.
Lagopus is correct that the safety on hammerless shotguns only blocks the trigger from tripping the sears. On those hammerless guns without intercepting sears, which are almost all boxlock guns except a very few early ones, there is no difference in safety than carrying a hammer gun cocked than a hammerless gun with the safety off. And I see many hammerless guns carried in the field with the safety off, intentionally or unintentionally.
Muzzle control is the only true safety on any firearm.
