Changing your ambi safeties?

[Gorgeous Gun Nut]

I've just gotten my first 1911. It's an RIA 1911A1 full size two-tone Tactical with ambi safeties.
I was told that I should not change anything on the gun till I had shot it quite a bit first. Except the thumb safety should be replaced immediately.
I don't need ambi safeties anyways, and they interfere with my Delta Elite grips. So my question is; If I am replacing the thumb safety, can I just remove the one and just replace the one for the right hand? I don't know anything about it and I would have to replace them myself so I would need a lot of info on how, but first I just want to know if it can be done.
Thanks
GGN

 

[gunplumber]

I would suggest you contact RI and see if they have a single side safety. Then get a smith to fit it for you. A misfit thumb safety causes all types of problems and is terribly unsafe. Also be aware that the fitting of aftermarket parts such as Wilson or Ed Brown wil take a considerable amount of work; The RI is not an exact clone of the Colt 1911 and I have had to recut the inside of frames on these guns to make A-M parts work.

 

[Onmilo]

If you can luck out and find a USGI safety, 99% of the time they will drop in fit on a majority of guns.
Failing that, I would and do use Ed Brown Hardcore safeties.
Best in class and easy to fit to most guns.

I personally never alter a frame and always alter the part itself if fitting is required.
ETA: I never alter a frame UNLESS the frame is grossly out of specification, let me clarify that.

 

[gunplumber]

I have never been asked to replace a thumb safety with an orignal; they always want the bigger paddle. Also I have never used and orginal USGI but am greatly pleased there will be no fitting involved; which will be a first time ever. I agree that when possible, parts should be altered rather than the frame. I will be anxiously waiting to hear how simple retro fitting a new thumb safety to the RI turns out for you. Best regards

 

[Ronbo256]

I replaced my single sided safety with one off a RIA tactical like yours, I really like it except for the small bit more work it is to remove from the frame. To each their own, but I sometimes use the "lefty" paddle when shooting weak hand stages in IDPA. BTW they are a bit pricey, but I really like EGW's thumb safety, it's really wide, but you can trim it down.