Converting a Kimber Tac Ultra II safety to lefty only?

[DickP]

Hi all:

I'm a lefty who carries a Kimber Tactical Ultra II as my EDC. I've been wanting to convert the safety from the stock ambidextrous to a lefty-only. Could you guys suggest the best way of accomplishing this?

Thanks!

 

[MICHAEL T]

Other than sliming the left side down Their no practial way I know of .As the plunger spring keeps every thing in place Their is no L/hand safety only made Iam aware of.
Iam a lefty and been messing with 45 for around 40 years I think I have 1 with a ambi safety . Others are as came from box. You can learn to work the safety as it comes .

 

[Zeke Markham]

You could probably have the lever part of the right side safety milled down. I can't imagine it would cost too much.

 

[rcmodel]

Other than sliming the left side down Their no practial way I know of

+1

The actual 1911 safety is the one of the left side.

The ambi lever on the right side is just a dodad attached to the real safety by a dovetail joint or something.

rc

 

[DickP]

Thanks guys - I'll look into having the lever milled off. I'm not losing sleep over it or anything, but it'd be nice to have it customized...

 

[rcmodel]

The left side safety lever is kinda handy to wiggle the safety out when you detail strip the gun.

Careful what you're wishing for, cause what you gain you just might lose!

rc

 

[Greg528iT]

The left side safety lever is kinda handy to wiggle the safety out when you detail strip the gun.

BUT,, for a custom feature... I can kinda see doing it. Order up a spare Ambi Safety, get it fit. then get a file and start grinding on the new lever. At most it'll cost you the price of the new safety and getting it fit. Play with field stripping it, once the new safety is on, see how much of the tab you want to grind off.

 

[2wheels]

Cut it down a bit if you want, but don't cut it OFF. Leave enough that you can use it to remove the safety when detail stripping.

 

[BYJO4]

I suggest you leave it as is.

 

[rcmodel]

There's a lot to be said for that too.

The original intent of the ambi safety wasn't so left handers could shoot a 1911.

The intent was so right handers could still shoot it left handed in case their right hand was disabled in a gun fight.

The same thing applies to left handers if their left hand is disabled in a gun fight.

rc

 

[steven58]

I'm a lefty and I carry a 1911 with ambi safety and Esmeralda slim grips (Kimber Ultra Elite) in a strong side IWB holster (Milt Sparks VM II).

I found that every now and then the combination of ambi safety + slim grips + getting in/out of the car or sitting in just the right chair would wipe my safety to the "off" position.

I field stripped the pistol, put 3 layers of duct tape under and around the left side safety lever and put a ziplock bag over the whole frame with a hole for the safety lever to poke through.

About 10 min with a Dremel tool and some fine files and I returned the left side paddle to a small "GI" style nub.

I can still actuate it with my right hand but it hasn't snagged off on anything in over nine years of use.

 

[rcmodel]

Good holster design will keep the safety on as long as it is in the holster.

You might look into that.

rc

 

[DickP]

I found that every now and then the combination of ambi safety + slim grips + getting in/out of the car or sitting in just the right chair would wipe my safety to the "off" position.

My problem exactly. But yes, the issue might well be my holster, rather than the gun itself.

Any thoughts as to weapon retention issues? It's by no means the primary factor in my wanting to convert it to lefty only, but it does seem to me that if someone were to overpower me and access my gun, most likely they'd be right-handed. If the safety were still engaged, a righty might have a good deal of difficulty figuring out how to deactivate it.

Obviously an unlikely event, and one that would be the culmination of a series of failures on my part - but supposedly a lot of cops do get shot with their own guns. I don't see why I shouldn't take what advantage I can of my handicapped status...

 

[Greg528iT]

I field stripped the pistol, put 3 layers of duct tape under and around the left side safety lever and put a ziplock bag over the whole frame with a hole for the safety lever to poke through.

Why not just detail strip it.. and work on the thumb safety only? This would give you a LOT better control of just the safety.

I do like the idea of returning the left side tab to a Mil Spec sized tab.

 

[steven58]

RC,
It was my impression the holster in question is one of the best IWB on the market. the problem is that on an ambi 1911 the outboard lever is vulnerable to contact under certain circumstances. If you could provide a link to either a low profile OWB or IWB leather holster that covers the outboard ambi lever I'd be very grateful.

In over 6 months of carry I found the safety off twice. Once due to car and seatbelt contact when I twisted around to look to the rear with the seatbelt fastened. And once, sitting in a folding chair, if I slouched just the right way the outboard lever would catch on the back of the chair and be pushed off.

I used the tape and bag method because for such a simple mod on a stainless part I didn't feel like detail stripping the gun. Also, as I wasn't quite sure how much of the original lever I was going to remove, I'd cut some off and re assemble and asses how it felt and how hard it was to rub off the safety while holstered. Then break it down and cut a bit more off.

 

[rcmodel]

If you could provide a link to either a low profile OWB or IWB leather holster that covers the outboard ambi lever I'd be very grateful.

I use a Wilson Tiger Shark paddle with the optional belt loop attachment.
It is molded on the inside to prevent the standard safety from moving off.
Also covers the right side ambi safety if you have one.
I don't.
http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Tigershark/products/195/

Wilsons version of the Milt Sparks Summer Special is also molded on the inside to lock the standard left safety on until the gun is out of the holster.
The right side safety can't move if the left one can't move first.
http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Summer-Companion/products/194/

As does this one:
http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Featherweight-IWB/products/193/

This one:
http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Rapid-Response/products/192/

And this one:
http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Lo-Profile/products/196/

I'm not real clear on this, but I think Safariland makes them all for Wilson.

rc

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The original intent of the ambi safety wasn't so left handers could shoot a 1911.

The intent was so right handers could still shoot it left handed in case their right hand was disabled in a gun fight.

The same thing applies to left handers if their left hand is disabled in a gun fight.

Why not leave that option open?

 

[Skylerbone]

If you're looking to buy a holster I'd recommend one for your vehicle. If the seatbelt is wiping the safety, what will it interfere with if you need to draw? Cutting the left-side paddle to a nub is a different proposition for an ambi-safety as the pin is not accessible from the right side to allow pushing the safety out during disassembly.

If you're having problems with the safety coming off, double check the plunger tube and the safety's fit, you may have an actual problem that provides a solution to your current symptom.

 

[steven58]

Thanks for the links RC. I really like that Tigershark compact practical.

 

[rcmodel]

Yea, but I think you picked the only one without the safety stop / clothing guard on the inside.

rc

 

[steven58]

Either way it looks like They don't make it in 3". At least I know that type of holster exists. Worst case I can have a custom maker Put one together for me or ask Wilson if they would make one up in 3".
For now, it's been almost a decade since I modified the port side lever and there's been no more issues of the safety being wiped off.

 

[JTQ]

Maybe you need a new plunger spring and better detent in your thumb safety.

I see these comments often on forums, about folks getting their thumb safety moved either by their holster, or because they didn't have some kind of holster device.

Admittedly, I'm a righty with a single sided safety, and a non-extended model at that, but I can't imagine anything other than my thumb moving my safety either off or on.

 

[steven58]

Thanks JTQ but the safety works fine. It has a good detent and the plunger spring is strong with a properly staked plunger tube. All contact surfaces were deburred and polished.

It goes on and of only with appropriately solid effort and with an audible "snick". There is only the barest minimum of play in the right side paddle.

As I have previously stated: the safety has not wiped off in the 9-10 years since I modded the LH lever.

I think it was a combination of LH carry, slim grips and ambi safety that exacerbated the issue in the first place.

G*d forbid I mention that I had the mag release button ground shorter and a stronger spring installed therein to resolve a similar thin grip issue (note: "RESOLVE"