New Colt 1911 Thumb (Hammer) Safety Defect?

[freepatriot]

Take a look at these pics. The blued part is from my new Colt 1911. The Stainless part is from my Springfield.

Now, I'm no expert, but I expected both parts to have a very similar shape, and even more important, I expect the blued part NOT to have silvery facets.

I think the (blued) part from the Colt is chipped.

This might explain the twenty-pound trigger pull.

What do you think?

http://freepatriot.com/imagewarehouse/colt1991november/defect/DSCF3296.jpg


http://freepatriot.com/imagewarehouse/colt1991november/defect/DSCF3297.jpg


http://freepatriot.com/imagewarehouse/colt1991november/defect/DSCF3298.jpg


http://freepatriot.com/imagewarehouse/colt1991november/defect/DSCF3299.jpg


http://freepatriot.com/imagewarehouse/colt1991november/defect/DSCF3301.jpg


http://freepatriot.com/imagewarehouse/colt1991november/defect/DSCF3302.jpg


http://freepatriot.com/imagewarehouse/colt1991november/defect/DSCF3304.jpg

[tous]

Scott, the Series 80 thumb safety may be milled differently to clear the trigger bar lever which is on the right side of the frame at the rear near the hammer and shares the trigger pin.

<--- has little experience with Series 80 Colts

[gcmj45acp]

Umm...No. I'd be more inclined to argue that the blued safety actually required fitting to the sear in your particular gun. I can't see enough of the surface but it really looks more like someone filed some of the engagement surface away. The stainless part looks like it's never been fitted and was just dropped in. Sometimes thumbsafeties do just drop in and require no fitting to the sear. But that's not always the case and the "chipped" area on the blued safety looks just like someone might have filed away excess material to properly fit the lug against the sear.

[Rob96]

Colts have a little more hand work done to them than others.

[Robert McLeod]

I agree, the Colt part is not chipped, just fit. Looks exactly like the one that I pulled out of my Series 70 reissue. BTW where are the pics of the gun Scott? You can't come over and play in "club" without posting pictures of your new 1911.

[gwalchmai]

Scott, what happens when you put the stainless safety in the blued gun and vice-versa?

[freepatriot]

Originally posted by gwalchmai
Scott, what happens when you put the stainless safety in the blued gun and vice-versa?


Gwalch, you know, Tous asked me the same question and I did not get around to trying that out last night. I will try it and report back.

The thumb safety does not seem to be malfunctioning in any way.

[Critter]

Part has been fitted and should have nothing to do with trigger pull if fitted properly. I'm trying to wrap my head around how the thumb safety could affect trigger pull and cannot figure out how, but never rule out anything anymore without seeing it. Had an improperly staked hammer strut pin do me in on someone's job once that kept me busy for several hours trying to figure it out and had the pistol in my hand! Cannot help with just the pic's on that one though.

Now, let me add this. Safety parts are not/should not automatically be interchangeable. Every one in a blue moon it can happen, but the thumb safety should be fittid and needs to be checked to insure it is blocking the sear properly.

[1911Tuner]

Critter said:

> I'm trying to wrap my head around how the thumb safety could affect trigger pull and cannot figure out how, but never rule out anything anymore without seeing it.<
***************************

Howdy Bill,

I've seen it happen once. The cause was that the man that did the fit cut the wrong point and allowed the safety to travel too far down,
and caused the middle point to butt against the sear pad. The plunger was just right to put a little pressure on the safety in
the OFF position...and the trigger pull jumped up to about 15 pounds until enough pull was applied to cam the safety back up a smidgen.
Had me by the short hairs for about an hour 'til I figured it out.
Lucky that I just happened to notice the thumb safety jump a little
when pulling the trigger. Just in case you run into it.

From the looks of the fit on that Colt safety, it looks like the installer didn't understand that a sharp corner can lead to a crack...and often does.

[quantico]

Originally posted by Critter

Safety parts are not/should not automatically be interchangeable. Every one in a blue moon it can happen, but the thumb safety should be fittid and needs to be checked to insure it is blocking the sear properly.

Wise words .... I have interchanged slide stops.... and recoil spring plugs etc... but never fitted parts , or ignition parts.

[Critter]

Originally posted by 1911Tuner
Critter said:

> I'm trying to wrap my head around how the thumb safety could affect trigger pull and cannot figure out how, but never rule out anything anymore without seeing it.<
***************************

Howdy Bill,

I've seen it happen once. The cause was that the man that did the fit cut the wrong point and allowed the safety to travel too far down,
and caused the middle point to butt against the sear pad. The plunger was just right to put a little pressure on the safety in
the OFF position...and the trigger pull jumped up to about 15 pounds until enough pull was applied to cam the safety back up a smidgen.
Had me by the short hairs for about an hour 'til I figured it out.
Lucky that I just happened to notice the thumb safety jump a little
when pulling the trigger. Just in case you run into it.

From the looks of the fit on that Colt safety, it looks like the installer didn't understand that a sharp corner can lead to a crack...and often does.

It's one of those things you need your hands on for sure. The strut pin one was where the fellow staked it in a press, center on the pin, and swelled it into the strut. Out of the gun it was fine but when it stressed at full cock it walked to one side and put pressure on the sides of the receiver giving it a nice mushy 12.5 lbs. Ruined the strut and pin, but I was able to salvage the hammer I think, it's been a while.

Anything is possible.

[1911Tuner]

Quote:

>Anything is possible.<
*********************

Amen to that. You shoulda been here to watch me blow my cool on a
Micro Springer about 3 weeks ago. I was ready to fling it across the bottom before I found the sweet spot. ;g