1911: Best Ambidextrous Thumb Safety?

Hello,

I'm wondering which safety, in your opinion and experience, is the best for a lefty.

I have experience with four different types now, and am not 100% pleased with any of the ones I've tried. I really liked one except for its quality - the operation was very rough with the detent gouging the safety after a while - and I did not have the detent set tightly. It was an MIM part, and it was just coming apart. I'm sorry; I do like MIM for some things and I had high hopes for this one, but it did this and I gave up on it.

I hope to locate someone who has a King's in stock and give them a try.

I'll throw a number of brands of ambi safeties into a poll and see what you think.

Thanks,

Josh <><

I've tried

Mueschke: twice, both fell apart at the joint. The pin tends to break as well.

Kimber: love the retention method using the hammer pin, but the MIM steel gouged out on the plunger. It would have snapped at the joint had I used it in an emergency. MIM is good in some things, but not a safety.

Auto Ordnance: looks cheap, works well. It's held together with a screw which passes through the pin and joint and all. I question its strength. At $16 and some change though, I wouldn't complain (nor be surprised) if it broke. The screw does come loose, and I've heard of the screw stripping out if blue loctite is used on it. The AO went away with a 1911 I got tired of fooling with. It was a nice race gun though. Wouldn't trust my life to the safety.

STI: very good quality. Made from, I believe, tool steel. Dense, weighs about 1.5x that of the MIM Kimber. SOLID. It's what I have on the gun right now, but I had to ruin a pair of grips (well, cut a relief) which really bugs me. Did I say good quality? If only they'd adopt the hammer pin retention!

I really want to try the King's. They're cast, not MIM, use the hammer pin retention system, and get rave reviews. In fact, they're so good the MEU/SOCOM units use them in their 1911 pistols, and King's is usually out. I just shot off a couple emails trying to locate one as I really want to try it.

I personally don't think the perfect one exists yet. I'd like to see a tool steel version that uses the hammer pin retention system as well as having the joint either snap together like the STI (don't know if the King's does this...) or use a screw like the Auto Ordnance.

Josh <><