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Ambi to Left Side only safety - 1911

gknaka2
I have a Springfield with an Ambidextrous safety. Because of my anatomical match grips, I will have to cut the grips to get them to fit. These are $250 grips that I don't want to chop up.

How difficult is it to swap out to left side only? Is there any special gunsmithing required to fit a Wilson Combat, Brown, etc. part?
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • gknaka2
    Thank you. Sounds like something I could probably accomplish with my dremel and a bit of trial and error on a $20 - $30 part. Your excellent reply is appreciated.
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  • dfletcher
    quote:Originally posted by gknaka2
    Thank you. Sounds like something I could probably accomplish with my dremel and a bit of trial and error on a $20 - $30 part. Your excellent reply is appreciated.


    You can use an ambi thumb safety that may not require grip alteration - Mueshke brand makes a set that use a long disconnector pin to capture the weak side paddle, carried in Brownells catalog.

    http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=22910/sku/S_S_Extended_Ambi_Safety

    I've fitted perhaps 20 or so 1911 thumb safeties over the years, only good enough at it I suppose to remember I can still screw it up. I'd stay away from any power tools, a small fine file is more than enough. Compare the cut on the currently attached to the new one, also fitting with the MSH unit removed can give you a nice view of how the parts work.

    Safe fitting is part of the challenge, getting that smooth off & on function with a solid stop as the safety is thunmbed off is important too.
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  • gknaka2
    What if I just cut off the right side, near where it meets the slide/frame?? The grips will cover it.

    As you can probably tell...1) I am a lazy and cheap B%$@%@ and 2) I love my Dremel
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  • Justjump
    quote:Originally posted by gknaka2
    What if I just cut off the right side, near where it meets the slide/frame?? The grips will cover it.

    As you can probably tell...1) I am a lazy and cheap B%$@%@ and 2) I love my Dremel


    Just reminded me of my wife telling me "step away from the power tools"
    If you like a dremel you should try a a die grinder with a flex shaft and a foot reostat MOre power!!!!!
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  • perry shooter
    OK guys maybe I am an old fogey BUT .Please take into account that the fire control system of a 1911 has a number of interacting parts + a dremel in the wrong hands have ruined many a gun and made many more an accidental discharge waiting to happen. . Make sure you test Before thinking you have a safe pistol. One common problem is you put the gun together engage safety pull trigger and the gun does drop the hammer so then you try with a round in chamber you engage safety pull the trigger and hammer does not fall you think great. you remove the magazine then without your finger on the trigger you attempt to disengage the safety so you can cycle the pistol to eject the round from the chamber to unload the Pistol and KABOOM because the safety was not fitted correctly to the sear. [xx(][V][:(!][:(] Make sure you know how to fit parts.
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  • dfletcher
    quote:Originally posted by gknaka2
    What if I just cut off the right side, near where it meets the slide/frame?? The grips will cover it.

    As you can probably tell...1) I am a lazy and cheap B%$@%@ and 2) I love my Dremel


    Unlike a single sided thumb safety the pivot pin does not run full length through the frame, it goes halfway where a "male to female" joint locks up with the other half of the ambi lever. So if any cutting & grinding is to be done, it would be done on the stump of pin left over. I'd suspect, if function is all you're looking for, you could simply remove the right side paddle and be done with it.

    But I think I'll back off and go with Perry Shooter - perhaps fitting by a gunsmith and no dremel is the way to go here.
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