Winchester model 59 'oversize safety'

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Does anyone know anything about 'oversize safety' buttons for Winchester model 59's ?

Possibly an after market item.

I think the '59' is an overall excellent upalnd gun - EXCEPT for the forward-of-the-trigger safety.

I missed an easy shot at a magnificent cock pheasant in thick cover this morning all because I couldn't get the safety off quickly enough and took 3 'Hail Mary' shots.

I came across a 'left handed over size safety' for a '59' on one of the auctions a while back - ever since which I've been wondering where I could find an 'right handed over size safety.'

If anyone knows anything I'd be much obliged.

I'd even appreciate a detailed enough sketch that I could have one fabricated from.

 

[10X]

Boy, do i understand about the tiny or can't get to it safety problem.

This is a long shot (pun intended) try Nu Line Guns

http://www.nulineguns.com/

They don't have any 59 parts showing on the web page, but it would be worth a call.

I purchased an oversize left handed safety for a Model 12. It made a different gun out of it for me. I was going to get rid of it, now there is no way I will.

 

[rcmodel]

William's used to make over-size "Big Head" safety's for a number of guns.
They no longer make them due to liability concerns, or so they said when I called them last fall.

A gunsmith could probably drill & tap your safety and add a plate like the M-1 Bennelli.

Or, you could practice more before hunting season.


rcmodel

 

[SwampWolf]

I still see the Williams "Big Head" at gun shows and I believe they were made to fit 59s but not sure.

As far as the best location for a safety mounted on a trigger guard, I much prefer one positioned on the front of the guard (ala Winchester) as opposed to one mounted on the rear (ala Remington). For me, it's far easier to transition my finger smoothly from the front of the guard(where I keep it in the "ready" position) to the trigger than from the rear to the front. Probably has a lot to do with what you're used to but I still think a front to rear movement will always be an intrinsically more natural "sweep" of the finger.

But then, you just can't beat a good tang safety !

 

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Update:

I called Numrich - they have 'Left Hand' oversize safety buttons, but not 'Right Hand'.

I called Williams - they are 'out of the safety business'.

My quest will give me something to scrounge for at gun shows; I will also have to practice getting the safety off; and I will give serious consideration to drilling & tapping a larger 'button' onto the existing safety.

 

[wraco]

Wild Bill: -- The safety ahead of the trigger is easy to get used to. Well, maybe for me, as I've been shooting Model 12's and a model 50 for quite a long time.

It seems natural to have the safety ahead of the trigger because I wrap my back 3 fingers around the pistol grip and my thumb around the top and lay my index finger alongside the trigger guard. Much similar to holding a handgun in the getting ready to fire hold by keeping the finger off the trigger.

When a bird comes up and I'm bringing the stock up to my cheek, I depress the safety as I slide my finger back and into the trigger guard and as the stock hits my cheek and I lean into the gun, my finger's on the trigger and ready to pull on lead.

The Model 88 has a similar safety to the M12, M42, M50 and M59. The difference I notice is the right side push area has an oversize circumference than the left side. It sounds like this is what you're referring to with your M59.
To me, the oversize safety makes no difference at all as my finger's already there to push in when the times comes.

I find with the safety behind the trigger to be ackward. But I've been shooting Model 12's for quite some time and it could be more what you get used to.

Regards:
Rod

 

[Wild Bill Kelso]

WRACO -

It's all what your used to; and I admit that I am not used to the 'Winchester 59' - yet.

In normal field situations, when I have the luxury of semi-level ground & low vegetation and the birds are flushed by my dogs, I have no problems.

It's when I'm in chest-to-chin-high gnarley vegetation, standing in a combination of mush / branches and field stones, with a bird blasting up in front of me making a right quartering-in shot that I blame the safety's position & size for when I miss.