How 1911 safetys work...

Replaced the pictures that disappeared. Click to enlarge.

Photos courtesy of John Holbrook.

Signed:
Your friendly neighborhood Tuner

 

Thanks for the clear lesson, John.

 

Question - if the sear should break, does the thuimb safety block the hammer from falling?

 

Great pics of how the 1911 safety system works.

 

Good picture, they do help with understanding how the various safeties work.

What'd you do to your gun for those pictures, man?

 

Pictures

Excellent Pictures John, and thank you VERY much! A man would wear out a keyboard tryin' to describe what you just showed us with those cutaways.

The question:

>Question - if the sear should break, does the thuimb safety block the hammer from falling?<
********************

shield20...No. It will slow it a little...depending on how positively the plunger engages the safety...but it won't stop it.

 

John,

Thanks for posting. As Tuner says.. it would take all night to explain what your pictures show.

Keep it up...

 

Excellent photos

Thank you for posting, I am going to attempt to fit a new safety in a few days, and that really helped me visualize the surfaces I am working with.

 

hey

This should be a sticky!~Nathan

 

Thanks John, but did you really have to cut away the sideplate just for these pictures?!?

 

He has a 1911 that has been cut away for display purposes.

Mike

 

Thank you John! Do you mind if this picture is distributed as needed?

 

Pictures

Anybody noticed that it also shows a very good view of a secondary/breakaway angle on the sear?

If nobody objects, I'm gonna copy and sticky this one on the smithing forum.

 

Thumb Safety 101

Another lesson learned. Thank you, John.

 

What file would you recommend for fitting the pad of the thumb safety? A local gunsmith recommended a chainsaw file, and when I looked that up it was a round file which seems like it would not be suitable for make the pad square against the sear.

I have a set of hobby files with 5 different shapes, would that be suitable?

[EDIT]Apparently the round shape is correct[/EDIT]

 

1911 safeties

The afore mentioned safeties on a 1911 are correct unless you install a Cylinder & Slide Safety Fast Shooting System. See their web site for details on the operations.

 

Thanx

Thats a very cool, clear, simple way to show how it works.

 

This proves that the internet IS the Bomb. Thumb safety blocks the sear. Grip safety blocks the trigger. WOW!

 

Hammer hooks appear a bit negative in the 2nd & 3rd pic.

 

Ambidextrous safety removal

Hi John,

You seem to be very knowledgable on this subject so I have a question. I'm trying to remove a S&W 1911 ambi safety and don't know how to get it out. I have most everything else out but the grip safety, hammer, and sear/disconnector. and of course the trigger. Can you help me? This ambi safety is driving me nuts.

Thanks for any information you may have.

Regards,

John Gafford
210-422-4822
gafford@wildblue.net

 

Field strip the gun and remove the right grip panel. Pull the right side of the safety out of the gun while wiggling it up and down. It can difficult because the safety is stuck in there good. Once you have the right side out you do the same thing with the left side. It will come out when it is raised all the way to the top.

 

Helpful advice

Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it. Sorry for the late reply, I have been out of town for a few days.

John

 

I tried the suggestion but to no avail. That safety just won't come out. I don't want to break the arms off it. They are the skinny tactical type.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

John

 

If you are doing it by hand you will not break the gun or damage the safety unless you are the man of steel. It will put up a big fight and it can take some struggling and cursing if the fit is tight.

 

1911 ambi safety

Adweisbe,

My hat is off to you sir. I just wasn't puttin' enough elbow grease into the job. I did exactly what you said and it came off no problem.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards,

Two Shot