I watched "Jesse Stone: Thin Ice" in which Stone is wounded, crimping the use of his right arm.

One of his deputies says his 1911 poses a bit of a problem with only a right-hander's safety. He suggests an ambi.

Stone replies that he doesn't like ambis because they tend to break due to "too much torque."

Wondering how true that might be.

Any way, Stone then relies on a wheelgun used in his left hand.

Danski

I watched "Jesse Stone: Thin Ice" in which Stone is wounded, crimping the use of his right arm.

One of his deputies says his 1911 poses a bit of a problem with only a right-hander's safety. He suggests an ambi.

Stone replies that he doesn't like ambis because they tend to break due to "too much torque."

Wondering how true that might be.

Any way, Stone then relies on a wheelgun used in his left hand.

Danski

All of the designs I know of just sit there. There is no torque at all. The assembly just slides together. The user would be the one who applies the torque.

This is something from a movie, right?

In the movie, after thinking about it for a few hours (and a drink or two), he puts the 1911 away in his nightstand drawer and breaks out a revolver....

I didn't watch it yet, I was watching DVDs last night. I asked the same question on the other thread because my S&W 1911 has an AMBI safety

Haven't measured torque in handgun.

IMHO, it is the revolver which has the torque, due to the direction of the rifling.

I had a Redhawk 44 Mag and a 629, each of which would recoil up and to the opposite side, due to direction of the rifling.

I could hold one in each hand and fire them with definite torque opposite the other. One would roll in and the other out.

Then changing hands and firing, they both would recoil either towards or away from each other depending on which gun was in which hand.

Holding position A, they would tend to roll inward and meet in the middle. Reversing into position B, they would tend to roll to the
outside, away from each other.

I happened upon this odd event, as I was practicing with heavy loads for IHMSA with the Redhawk, and had gotten to where I was about ready to step up from "A" category to "AA" category. I upped my practice schedule, and added a 629, which I was surprised to find I couldn't shoot as accurately. I traced the cause down to the fact the guns recoiled in opposite directions due to the torque on the rifling, so said my gunsmith.

I don't believe the torque in a 1911 has anywhere the same influence on the shooter, as much of the recoil impulse is transferred to the slide. Maybe I'm wrong.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I would assume what they were meaning was the torque applied across the frame to disengage the detent on the other side. Woouldn't amount to a hill of beans but trying to figure out what a dim witted writer would think.

Ambi safeties were reputed to be more unsure than stock Colt design - about 20 years ago!

Anyone living since the '80s knows modern mettalurgy and manufacturing overcame that issue decades ago. If you know anyoone who has ever - first hand - had that problem, I'd like to hear about it!

The tongue and grove ambi safety is at best a poor substitute for a regular safety. I would not have one unless I was lefthanded. Yes, I have seen them fail. Yes modern ones from Colt and others.

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the world is round everywhere

Just wanted to say "Thanks" to the OP for ruining the surprise for me. I usually buy the "Jesse Stone" DVDs when they come out. I had been looking forward to this one . . .

what GLV said

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C & L

OK please explain how my S&W 1911 safety can fail. and if it did I still have the grip safety pluse I carry cocked and locked with the retaing strap on my holster between the hammer and the slide

Sounds like I missed a good one. I've got to get my Dumont fixed.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

By sweeping off the ambi thumb safety paddle from the right (ejection port side) with enough gusto, to wrench the fragile linkage that transfers the rotational energy to the OEM shaft. Adrenalin is a powerful drug...
Makes me shriek like a little girl, it do.

I've seen a couple of them fall out at the range, however none break off.
Home spun gunsmithing was the cause in both cases.

I only have one 1911 with an abmi. I'm not crazy about them either. I swept the safety off during the day once, so my carry 45's are minus the ambi thumb safety.

Thanks, Spotteddog. GLV, C&L, this is what you mean? This is what the Stone character means by the comment in the movie above? (I ain't a 1911 guy, yet, but I do have aspirations. )

Exactly..."fragile connection" kinda like a screwdriver in a screw slot

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C & L

Once you own one you will be.You will probably always have at least one.Great design,greay gun..Mike

I had an Armand Swenson built Colt's Govt Model in the 70's. He was an early adopter of ambi safeties for 1911's and being a left hander I needed one. He fitted them up better than most I've seen since. An ambi definitely feels mushy compared to a right hand only safety. Some think that an ambi safety could be an issue since the safety is positioned on the outside when holstered...making it easier to swipe off inadvertently.

If I had my time to go over, I'd have kept my Randall Portsider...problem solved

I've never had an ambi on my 1911s for a couple of reasons. I've always felt, rightly or wrongly, that it would be more easily swiped off accidentally while holstered, and the extra protrusion spoils the straight line that's part of why a 1911 is so easy to carry concealed.

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Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

I only "needed" an ambi safety on one, once?
And BOY, did I ever "NEED" it that night! As a right hand shooter having to operate it L/handed, with one hand.

I think the character expressed a personal opinion that is at least shared by a few others in the real world, but it was also a plot line to bring out the revolver which I believe belonged to his injured friend.
I believe Tom Selleck knows about as much about guns as any one in the movie buisness, probably a good bit more than the average hollywood type.

Plus he seems to have an afinity for the 1911, it's what he carried on Magnum PI.

I've always liked Tom Selleck and he's a perfect fit for Jesse Stone.

I have an ambi on my duty gun (it came that way).

my concern is the weak screwdriver (as someone mentioned) connection

I ride the safety with my strong hand.

I ride the safety very lightly if shooting weak side in fear of over twisting the weak lever.

I have never had one break, but I am knocking on wood as I type.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Carried one as Cooper, the owner of the casino, in Las Vegas, also. Had the Gunsite symbol on the grip.

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I always take precautions

Finally got around to watching Jesse Stone tonight off of the DVR, and he was carrying a Gunsite 1911 in the beginning, too. You could see the logo on the rear of the slide as he was bringing it out of holster during the opening gunfight.

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