Defective 1911A1 Slide Safety

[FPrice]

I recently purchased a 1950ish Argentine Sistema that has a problem with the slide safety. When I first got it the slide safety seemed to work when you cocked the pistol, applied the safety and then tried to pull the trigger. However after firing it today, the slide safety no longer functions. If you apply the safety and try to pull the trigger, after a few seconds the safety disengages and the hammer falls.

Is the solution as simple as obtaining a new safety or this there some gunsmithing needed for this problem?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jim K]

By "slide safety" I assume you mean the normal manual safety, which is on the frame. Your pistol has a defective safety or defective sear, or maybe both. The safety on the Sistema does not block the hammer, it only blocks the sear. In normal operation, the sear cannot be disengaged with the safety on, but if a defect allows that, what you describe will happen.

A fix is well within the capability of many owners of that pistol, but if you are not familiar with the gun, I suggest either finding someone who is, or take it to a gunsmith.

Jim

 

[FPrice]

Jim...

"By "slide safety" I assume you mean the normal manual safety, which is on the frame."

Yep, that's it. I do have a local contact who is a talented gunsmith (he worked at Colt for a few years) and has helped me with my other Sistema.

As I am rushing towards retirement I am trying to learn more about firearms instruction and repair as my post-retirement hobby and part-time job. I do not intend to become a gunsmith myself as my mechanical skills are just not that good. I see myself more as an armorer, able to do basic tasks such as cleaning, disassembling, replacing minor parts, etc.

Thanks for the advice. This pistol is going into the "do not use" pile until I can get some expert hands-on help.

 

[Sunray]

"...my post-retirement hobby and part-time job..." You do have some kind of pension I hope. There's not much money in smithing. Replace your safety at least. Numrich , I think, has Sistema parts.

 

[Jim K]

Sistema pistols are the same as Colt pistols, since they are copies of the Colt M1911A1 made on Colt-installed machinery in Argentina. All parts interchange with Colts of that era and GI pistols (though not all will interchange with Series 80 Colt parts.)

Jim

 

[FPrice]

Sunray...

"You do have some kind of pension I hope. There's not much money in smithing."

Yeah, I'll have a pension but I'll need a supplement. Instructing and part-time work at my local gunstore. Just trying to expand my knowledge base so I'll be the kind of gunstore employee people will like to come to for advice and help.