[TX1911fan]

Ok, my status as an amateur gunsmith is officially recognized. I am replacing internals on my Springfiled GI 1911, and one of the parts is a Chip McCormick bobbed commander style hammer. I put it on even though I don't have a beavertail grip safety installed, and now I can't disassemble because there is no notch for the hammer to go down in. It hits the grip safety, preventing the thumb safety from coming out. Any suggestions?

[redneckrepairs]

personaly i think you worked way too hard to get the safety in in the first place lol . That being said if i had to " notch " anything it would be the grip safety since it is the cheap easy part , OH yea , if you do and dont like the notch in it , chances are you may well need to fit the arm on a new one .

[TX1911fan]

Well, that's the thing, I didn't have to work hard to fit the pieces back together in the first place. It all went together easily, or I would have thought about the problem first. As soon as I got it back together, I thought, "uh-oh, I'm not sure that hammer will cock back far enough." And guess what, it doesn't.

So, I can notch or cut off the end of the grip safety, is that what you are saying? I'm replacing the grip safety with a new one anyway, so I don't care about it.

[redneckrepairs]

Yes that is what i mean , remove material from the gs to give yourself clearance would be the easy way now . either notch or since your replacing it anyway just cut it down . its been a while since i did any 1911 stuff and i dont have one handy in front of me , but right now off the top of my head that should get you going handily , i will say sometimes safetys kinda hang trying to pull them so try wrapping a piece of felt or leather over it and gently wiggeling up and down( onsafe to offsafe ) while pulling out from the frame with a pair of pliers , dont pry on it . if that dont release it , i guess its cut metal time lol .

[TX1911fan]

The plier trick worked! Thanks! That's another mistake I won't make again.

[redneckrepairs]

I thought it might lol , but anyway NP and good luck on your build

[BluesBear]

With the mainspring housing removed you don't need to be able to place the hammer into full cock to remove the thumb safety.
You just have to move it far enough for the sear to move out of the way of the safety. After all you got the thumb safety in past the sear with the hammer and grip safety in place.

It can be a little frustrating but it can be done.