S&W 1911 firing pin safety

[Another19]

Can someone please explain how the firing pin safety on the S&W1911 works? I know it is different than the Colt system, and would like to know the difference.

Thanks

[OUSooner]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the Colt is activated off the trigger and the S&W is activated off the grip safety.

[Another19]

I think that is correct, but I'd like to learn more details. I've heard it is actually an old system that was cost prohibitive at the time it was invented, but S&W was able to resurrect it using modern manufacturing methods. True?

[Jim Watson]

In the 1930s Colt made some 1911s with the Swartz safety, in which a firing pin block was cleared by linkage to the grip safety. WWII came along and Colt concentrated on production to mil-spec which does not include such gimmicks. They did furnish the government with a few guns from inventory made for the Swartz safety but delivered them without the added parts. After the war they resumed production of the standard model without Swartz stuff. Few product liability lawyers in 1947.

In 1980 Colt decided once more that they needed a firing pin block. They designed and produced the Series 80 firing pin block actuated by trigger travel. Para-Ordnance uses the same system.

When Kimber decided they needed a firing pin block to be modern and safe, they listened to the people who complained that the Colt Series 80 firing pin block affected the trigger pull. So they resurrected the old Swartz system and ran it off the grip safety. Some redesign applied with CNC milling and MIM parts made it cheap.

When S&W decided to get on the 1911 bandwagon, naturally they had to have a firing pin block because all their other guns already did. They designed their own approach to operating it off the grip safety with leverage different from Kimber or the old Colt-Swartz.

Parts are NOT interchangeable, Colt Swartz-Colt 80-Kimber-S&W. I don't know about PO, theirs works like a Colt 80 but may or may not be interchangeable.

I saw a post today with picture of an Auto Ordnance/Kahr with what looked like a S80 type firing pin block, too.

[Another19]

Is the S&W system durable and reliable?

[OUSooner]

I know early model Smith's had some grip safety problems but believe they have that fixed now.

[Solit Hit]

The problem with the firing pin safety shows up if you do not have a STRONG hold on the grip safety. You get a FTF and a light hit on the primer. If you reload with CCI primers, you may notice it more then with Federals.

It is a very easy proceedure to dissarm if it becomes a problem. and you will still have the thumb and the grip safeties.