Question about 1911 safeties.

[WinchesterAA]

My governtment model thumb safety fits my officer model just fine. I've done a thorough, and prolonged function check with all results being positive. Is this a universal trait?

Main reason I tried it is because I don't like the ambi safety on my OM. I mean, I like it and all, but it adds width, seems a little cheesy, and gives me unnecessary concerns with CCW.

That being the case, I want a normal safety for my OM, but can't seem to find a non-extended-non-foofooed up version on the net.

 

[Mad Magyar]

My Colt OM is not ambi-safety? What make/model do you have, a Kimber?

 

[XavierBreath]

No, it's not a universal trait. The OM uses the exact same basic thumb safety as the GM, but the part is fitted to individual guns. It's not infrequent that they will swap out to another gun once fitted to the first, but there is about a 50/50 chance it will not fit or it will not do it's job properly.

If you want a GI style thumb safety for your OM, then my suggestion is to ask a few older gunsmiths. Some may still have a box of GI thumb safeties that they took off pistols for people upgrading surplus M1911s decades ago.

 

[WinchesterAA]

I have a high standard. It's a pretty good pistol, but I was more interesting in the price than the ambi-safety it came with.

I reckon I'll try and track down a GI thumb safety then.

 

[Mad Magyar]

I have a high standard

I guess I'm not up on nomenclatures any more. A Hi-Std with a short-barrel, or any pistol w/shortened barrel are called OM's?
Not being facetious, but I always assumed that it was part of a trademark for Colt....
Anyway, glad you got it to work for you....

 

[WinchesterAA]

High Standard Crusader Compact with 3.5" barrel is what I meant to say.