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Old 04-27-2011, 02:45 PM
crsides crsides is offline
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Default mod41 safety too stiff

With help from you guys, I bought a 1959 mod 41 and have cleaned it up and adjusted the trigger pull. Next, I want to reduce the effort required to put the gun on and off safe. I have read other comments about the stiff safety levers. You would think after 50+ years it would lighten up a bit.

I removed the screw on the tab that puts pressure on the lever and see nothing to cause the stiffness - burrs, rust, gunk etc. If you have tackled the safety lever on your mod41, I would appreciate you sharing the experience.


Charlie
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Old 04-27-2011, 07:35 PM
eljaydubya eljaydubya is offline
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If you intend to keep your 41 and not worried about modifications, here's what I did. Removed the screw and clip that covers the safety lever and located the small bump on the inside (safety side) of the clip. I carefully filed it down to about half and cold blued it. Added a small dab of grease and it helped a lot. Jim
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Old 04-28-2011, 06:14 PM
USBP SW USBP SW is offline
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I believe this to be a problem with all Mod. 41's. I have owned and shot mod. 41's for over 30 years and only became aware of the stiff safety recently because of another post. I always shot the model 41 at a range, mostly during competitions and the pistol was either unloaded or loaded and being fired. I really never activated the safety. Based on the size and amount of leverage you can apply, it's really no wonder the safety is stiff and most likely engineered to be seldom used.

Take care, Steve
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Old 04-28-2011, 10:16 PM
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I completely concur with USBP SW. I've had my Model 41 since new in the late 60s, and the safety probably wasn't used 5 times until last year. I only used it for NRA matches and practice for the same, and safeties just aren't used for that.

My wife borrowed it for a handgun safety class which had them pushing the dang thing on and off all day long, and by lunch she had a big blister from operating it. That 41 probably got more safety action than any ten will over their lifetime, and it's STILL stiff.
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Old 04-29-2011, 05:13 AM
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I think if someone like Ed Brown Wilson or made a "speed safety" for the Model 41 with a wider and longer paddle/thumb purchase portion, they would sell a few. I only carried my M-41 as a squirrel or rabbit gun once or twice because the safety issue. It wasn't designed for frequent or easy use because of the intended purpose of the M-41 and that same thing makes it a less-than-perfect field or holster gun.
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Old 04-29-2011, 12:20 PM
crsides crsides is offline
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I can see where the pressure points are with the tab that is screwed onto the frame. Looks like an easy fix, but I don't want to end up with a sloppy safety or one that has a mind of its own. So looking for some direction to properly relieve some of the tension.

BruceB, I struggled with the safety lever the same way your wife did. Struggling with a loaded 2 1/2 # pistol that has a 2 # trigger pull is not what I consider a "safety". More like an unsafety.

any other help appreciated.
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Old 04-29-2011, 07:59 PM
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crsides, I felt the same way with my 41 and it's very stiff safety...so, one day when I had some time, probably watching a game, I just worked the thing back and forth about a thousand times. It's still stiff but works, and more importantly it's not loosy goosy! Good luck.
T
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Old 04-29-2011, 08:23 PM
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Take a good look at the end of the sear spring inside the frame that can drag on the safety. Slightly file some material off the end of this spring.
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Old 04-29-2011, 11:44 PM
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Here's the story.

Decided the do no harm thing was to put something under the screwed in tab to raise it slightly away from the frame, reducing the downward pressure on the safety lever. Cut a piece of business card stock, punched a hole for the screw to go thru and mounted all back on the gun. Really didn't help anything, so took it back out, and re-installed the tab & screw as it was when I got it. Viola, safety is working just fine now. moves easily enough, stays put and no looseness anywhere.

Sure wish I knew what I did. Thanks for your help and suggestions. Those still struggling with a stiffer than need be safety, I wish I could help.


Charlie
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Old 04-30-2011, 01:14 AM
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When I had my model 41 (which I no longer do stupid, stupid me!), when I first got it, the insides of it were full of goo where someone had filled it full of oil and it was just nasty. So I took a can of non-chlorinated carb cleaner and just blasted it out and got it clean as a whistle. Also dry as a whistle. I put a drop or two of oil in some strategic places, one of which was the safety and never had a nother problem.
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