Colt MKVI Series 80 Grip Safety Problem

[BeanTown]

Hi:

I just bought my first 1911 style .45 today, a used Colt MKIV Series 80 Government Model.

Beautiful gun, great fit and finish, nice and smooth, and best of all... within my current budget... (can't get inexpensive 1911's here in MA unless they are used..)

Only one problem has arisen... the grip safety doesn't seem to be working. Sometimes you can squeeze the trigger a few times (not pressing the safety) before "click", other times you can just give the trigger a good hard squeeze (without depressing the grip safety) and "click"

Is this the sign of a botched trigger job or a worn sear? I looked at a diagram of parts and it looks like the only piece missing in the frame is the firing pin plunger lever, but I did notice that the whole firing pin plunger system was removed from the slide...

Would this have an adverse effect on the grip safety?

Help.

Beantown

 

[1911Tuner]

Grip Safety

Howdy Beantown,

The grip safety blocks the trigger, and isn't affected by the absent plunger lever. It's likely that the trigger lever is also missing, and a shim is in the
frame to fill the space.

There are two things that could be wrong with the grip safety. One is that
it originally required a little more travel to disengage than the owner was
comfortable with, and he filed a little too much off the front or underside of the nose. It can probably be fixed easily.

The other is that the far right leaf of the sear spring is weak or has taken a
set, and is keeping the safety from completely engaging by not pushing it
out far enough at the bottom. Another easy fix. If this one is causing your
problem, you can probably test it by pointing the muzzle straight down
and pulling the trigger to see if it disengages under its own weight. I
suspect that this is the problem, since the safety doesn't fail with every
trigger pull.

The fix is to bend the right leaf out a little to kick the bottom of the safety further out... (Expedient method)...or to replace the sear spring.(Preferred)

The first problem may require a little filing on the safety...I'll walk you through it if you want to give it a try yourself.

Luck!

Tuner

 

[BeanTown]

Thanks for the pointers.

I've forwarded a them with a description of the problem to the dealer that I bought the gun from, and he said that they would repair the problem or give me a refund.

Thanks again.

Beantown

 

[Sunray]

"...can't get inexpensive 1911's here in MA unless they are used..." Can't get 'em anywhere unless they're used.
Nice to hear of a shop that stands behind what they sell. Post the name of his shop. He deserves the free advertising.

 

[BeanTown]

Sure!

It turns out that the gun had been tricked out for target shooting to reduce the trigger pull and in doing so also bypassed the firing pin plunger safety and disengaged the grip safety.

I was looking for a 1911 style with the grip safety, so no fuss, no muss, we traded it for a Springfield Armory 1911A1 custom that was in near mint condition.

The shop is McELHINEY'S, and the owner is Eldon McELHINEY. I highly recommend his shop to anyone in MA.

McELHINEY'S
625 Main Street
Waltham, Mass. 02154
Phone (781) 642-9991___FAX (781) 642-0824

http://www.mcelhineys-guns.com/

 

[1911Tuner]

Trigger Work...(groan)

BeanTown said:

It turns out that the gun had been tricked out for target shooting to reduce the trigger pull and in doing so also bypassed the firing pin plunger safety and disengaged the grip safety.
______________________

Lordy...The things that some misguided people do to a pistol.

Bypassed the firing pin plunger...Was it removed?

Disabled the grip safety...Was the nose filed off short?

I'd say that the shop owner should start examining the guns he takes in trade more carefully. That one could have gotten him solidly wound up in a can of big, red worms.

 

[BigG]

tricked out

More like butchered, imho.

 

[Dave Sample]

Gee Whiz! The nerve of some people, huh, Tuner!