I hit the thumb safety sometimes when moving or picking the gun up from a table. This is series 80 combat government and the safety is kind of extended and ambi. I am right handed. I have a series 70 with a shorter safety that I don't hit as much. What is best - tie the safety down some way, or replace it with an old-style safety, or purchase a more extended safety? Also, I don't feel the need for a thumb safety if it can be disabled.
1911 Thumb Safety
- Thread starter russ45
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The Lone Haranguer
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Being shorter and flatter to the side of the gun as well as more rounded edges, it stands to reason that the current standard thumb safety would be less likely to be jarred on a hard surface. I've had 1911s with both standard and extended safeties, and I found the standard just as easy to push off, but slightly harder to push back up.
mljdeckard
Member
I'm not sure whether you are talking about a thumb safety or a grip safety, why picking it up off a table is something you would do frequently, why you would do it frequently if it is a safety problem, or which style you are thinking of switching it to, but I do absolutely know that to artificially disable any safety on a handgun is a bad idea.
OK, making it difficult to engage will probably work, because it is VERY easily engaged now. I think shaking the gun or a weak grip would engage it now. Thanks David E, I'll try to figure out how to do this. I have thought of taping it down with duct tape, but that would look bad.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Now I'm not sure.mljdeckard said:
Well it seems like no one is recommending removing that safety, so I'll try to modify my grip some, but I don't hold look for a lot of success there. Maybe I'll try to find a series 70 thumb safety and that might work better without that extension. I don't know if all series 80 guns have this funky extended thumb safety, or just this model.
mljdeckard
Member
I'm sorry man, I still have no idea what the problem is or why you are having it.
Thanks guys. I'll close this thread and work on my grip, but it seems unnatural to hold my thumb on that lever. I'll also try to work on the thumb safety to make it catch in the off position. My model 70 thumb safety binds a little in the off position and I'll try to achieve that with the model 80. Also, the model 70 does not have the extra lever and maybe I can find one like that for this gun. Thanks again.
REAPER4206969
Member
JamisJockey
member
Why are you just laying the gun on a table? Put that damn thing in a holster.
RUSS45,
No offense intended. I think you may benefit from some professional instruction. It is in now way desirable to disable the thumb safety on a 1911. Based on your post I get the feeling that maybe you really don't understand the 1911 or the way it is intended to function. Again...I'm not slamming you. We're all new to it at some point. Get some professional instruction from a reputable trainer and along with some practice you're be good to go in no time.
russ, something is wrong with the safety and/or something is wrong with the way you're handling the gun. The thumb safeties on all my 1911s have a very positive engagement and a very positive disengagement. They are easy to learn to use, and should not be disabled. And I shoot with my thumb on the safety.
steveracer
Member
If you are in fact talking about the thumb safety, and you can't make yourself put your thumb over it when you are shooting, you can VERY easily change out to the GI-style thumb safety, which is port-side only, and will be much less obtrusive. The exdended safeties have their place, and ambis, too, but the GI style is easy to install, and safe to use, and will be less likely to place into "safe" inadvertantly.
MICHAEL T
Member
Install a regular safety and forget the lager paddle . Also not every one shoots thumb on the safety. That is a personal thing We didn't shoot 1911's that way in the 60's or 70's and I don't to day either My thumb is on the grip. Its a personal choice.
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1. Work on picking the gun up witout bumping the safety.
2. Get a gunsmith to fix it so there is more tension in both the on and off positions. It should "snick" on and off with a little effort, but be very positive both ways.
2. Get a gunsmith to fix it so there is more tension in both the on and off positions. It should "snick" on and off with a little effort, but be very positive both ways.
i must be dense...i had to read about half way down the thread before a realised that the OP was talking about bumping the safety up, rather than down. it's not a mechanic problem as much as a training one.
i learned to shoot a 1911, my first experience with a CF handgun, with my thumb riding atop the thumb safety. i never knew why, especially since riding the thumb safety creates the problem of not fully depressing the grip safety...one would think the obvious answer would be to take you thumb off the thumb safety and gain a more secure grip on the gun.
it was only recently that i learned that the thumb atop the thumb safety had a real purpose, it was developed to keep the thumb from knocking the thumb safety "on" in recoil
The Bushmaster
Member
Best idea I have is to suggest that you put that thumb in your pocket until it gets better trained. I have both a Kimber and a Colt 1911. The Colt has an extended safety. I have a trained thumb and have no problems with it tripping the safety off...
MackTwain
Member
If your thumb safety comes off to easy it could be 2 things.
1) the safety lock plunger spring could be weak, or
2) dimple on the safety may not be deep enough and the safety slides off to easily.
1) the safety lock plunger spring could be weak, or
2) dimple on the safety may not be deep enough and the safety slides off to easily.
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