Ambi safety on 1911

[sig shooter]

How much generally would the cost be to have an ambi safety installed on a 1911 by a gunsmith?

 

[Rob Boudrie]

$50 to $125 for the safety itself (www.sviguns.com sells some nice bar stock ones for $102 blued/$108 stainless). Anything more than $50 for the installation is excessive.

 

[sig shooter]

Thanks for the advice and link. I am looking at getting an sr1911 commander and having the ambi or left side safety installed (I'm a southpaw).

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[Wendell]

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/safety-parts/index.htm?avs|Make_3=1911

 

[eo1bart]

I put an Ed Brown 893-T. On my SR1911. It's not difficult

 

[Cuz]

I would buy a 1911 that came with an ambi safety.


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[Fixxah]

Thanks for the advice and link. I am looking at getting an sr1911 commander and having the ambi or left side safety installed (I'm a southpaw).

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Or even the right side.

 

[Greg Derr]

If you are a southpaw, I only recommend the EGW unit. It is the strongest ambi on the market . You will pay more, but it will not work loose or break under hard use. It's the only one I use. It comes in stainless or blue.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

If you are a southpaw, I only recommend the EGW unit. It is the strongest ambi on the market . You will pay more, but it will not work loose or break under hard use. It's the only one I use. It comes in stainless or blue.

EGW (George Smith) is a great company that understands quality. You can't really go wrong with any of their stuff.

The only two companies I know of that machine their 1911 safeties from bar stock are EGW and Infinity. I've had a Brown ambi safety break (I believe it was a cast part)

 

[sig shooter]

I would want a competent gunsmith like Greg Derr to install the safety, I would not want to mess with the manual safety of a SAO pistol.

 

[dcmdon]

If you are a southpaw, I only recommend the EGW unit. It is the strongest ambi on the market . You will pay more, but it will not work loose or break under hard use. It's the only one I use. It comes in stainless or blue.

Greg,

About 8 years ago I bought a Nighthawk Custom Tallon II. It had an ambi safety unlike anything i'd ever seen. It had no visible means holding it together. There was no tab that rode under the grip panel on the right side. It also seemed very solid. I was so impressed that I called up NHC and asked customer service who made the safety. The answer shocked me. KIMBER!!!???!! He said that the design was excellent and Kimber machined them from bar stock and did not MIM them.

Are you at all familiar with this?

Don

 

[dcmdon]

I would want a competent gunsmith like Greg Derr to install the safety, I would not want to mess with the manual safety of a SAO pistol.

It can be a major hassle. I installed one in a colt once. Once I had the actual safety fitted so it worked properly, I had to deal with the fact that the dovetail needed some more filing with a tiny tiny file, otherwise the right hand safety stood out from the surface of the gun.

My next 1911I bought was a Dan Wesson Pointman 9, I sent back to the CZ custom shop to be fitted with an ambi safety. The entire process including 2 way shipping was about $150.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

One trick once you have the ambi safety installed. Put the safety on; pull the trigger hard and release. Take the safety off. If the hammer falls to half cock ask the gunsmith for a refund.

This won't happen if you have someone like Derr fit the safety, but is the sort of issue you see with the "guy in the back" who does stuff at local gunshops. I've even seen this defect from the Colt factory.

 

[Gammon]

The best method to detect an improperly fitted safety is to put heavy pressure on the trigger with the hammer cocked and safety on. Release the pressure and hold the hammer close to your ear. Now pull the hammer slightly to the rear. If you hear a click, the safety is not fitted properly. Pressure on the trigger has moved the sear slightly. The click is the sear returning to its normal cocked position when the hammer is moved.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

It had no visible means holding it together. There was no tab that rode under the grip panel on the right side.

A common method for these sort of safeties is a tongue and groove arrangement that relies on a press fit. The downside is these can work loose over time, though a properly fitted one can be pretty good.

 

[daekken]

Does it make any difference if the pistol is broken in yet or not? I've been thinking of getting 1911 in the relatively near future and as a lefty I would like an ambi safety. Should you break it in first or does it not matter?

 

[Rob Boudrie]

Does it make any difference if the pistol is broken in yet or not? I've been thinking of getting 1911 in the relatively near future and as a lefty I would like an ambi safety. Should you break it in first or does it not matter?

Does not matter. The safety blocks the sear and the part which is blocked does not "wear in". The "feel" of the safety is related to the relationship between the safety and the plunger at the end of the plunger spring, so this will be "new" whenever you have a new safety installed. Your should also check the plunger tip to make sure it is still nice and round and not deformed or chewed up.