Safety Question About Witness Safety

[Sprout]

I recently purchased a full-sized steel witness with a single-sided safety. I ordered an ambi safety, but when I installed it--which, sadly, is the far outer limits of my gunsmithing skills--I noticed something odd. As before, the safety blocks the trigger when I engage the safety, and the hammer stays cocked when I rack the slide. So far, so good. However, when I thumb-cock the hammer, it doesn't stay cocked. If I cock the hammer, hold it back, engage the safety, and then disengage the safety, it does stay cocked. The hammer will thumb-cock with the slide off. It will also thumb-cock with the slide pulled back 0.3 inches.

Is this normal? More importantly, is it safe to shoot in this condition?

Thanks for the help everybody.

 

[dfariswheel]

This is NOT normal or safe.

Possibly you got something mis-assembled when you installed the safety and it's interfering with the sear.

Get this looked at by a pro gunsmith and don't load it until you do.

 

[Sprout]

Thank you. I've contacted a gunsmith, and he'll do a trigger job and undo any damage I've done. He thinks I might have bent the sear. I'll send it to him, and I won't shoot it until then. Thanks.

However, I did take it to the range before I saw your post. I started with one round per mag five times, and then two rounds per mag until I finished the box. It didn't seem any different than the dryfiring before I "installed" the safety. But, I'll play it safe here on out.

Thanks.