Hi All,
Admittedly I'm a Sig guy, but I've got a nice S&W 1911 that is having an issue with the grip safety not functioning. Gun has unknown rounds through it as I got it used but I know I've put close to 1k down the barrel, flawlessly.

Anyway the grip safety no longer works as intended. Even if I push the beavertail up (toward the hammer) the trigger is allowed to travel it's full stroke so I'm not thinking it is the sear spring.
However if I try to purposely pull the trigger will pushing the bottom of it back and up (thus the trigger bow is forced up more at the rear getting closer to the hammer even if only a little) sometimes I can get it to catch and actually work with the grip safety. Does that make sense?

There seems to be a little up and down movement of the trigger. I can put some feeler gauges in there later but I don't have another 1911 to compare so I'm not sure what is normal.

Do triggers or grip safeties wear out?

I'm not afraid to tackle this on my own but I want to know what I am looking for first and I would like to have some parts on hand so I can put a now functioning firearm back together as soon as possible. The current trigger appears to be the stock one but is a nice 4-4.25ish lb pull and I'd like to retain that (or lighten it a little)

On a side note I see some of the newer PC1911s have a magwell. Anyone know where I could get one of those to add to my older one? I checked S&Ws website and didn't see anything. Brownells and like only have other brands and not sure what is good quality or not. I guess the same thing goes for triggers and grip safeties if I need to replace those as well.

Given your apparent lack of knowledge/experience with 1911s and the S&W warranty, I'd suggest calling S&W customer service and requesting a warranty return tag. enclose a note telling them as much detail as possible about the problem.


Everything on a 1911 is fitted so "drop ins don't"




1911 - MidwayUSA

__________________
Science plus Art

I would give the sear spring a look, even though you don't think that's it. You might need to bend it back into place or replace it altogether. If that's not it, have a gunsmith take a gander at it or contact S&W and troubleshoot with them, too see if it needs to be sent in for a tuneup.
For a magwell, there are a few nice ones out there. You'll want to decide what shape and if you want a one piece or two piece. I added a two piece to my pistol and have been very happy with it. I added the two piece in case there was a time where I might want to shoot without it (there hasn't been...).

Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

I guess I wasn't clear enough, sorry.
Yeah... I'm not sending a gun back to S&W for that. It is way older than a year old (I've had it for way longer than that) and it isn't a defects in material and workmanship so warranty is out.

I have no problem learning or fitting parts (it certainly isn't something new to me on firearms) I'm just not versed in the 1911.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

I find the Kuhnhausen manuals useful and informative

The U.S. M1911/1911A1 Pistols Commercial M1911 Type Pistols Volume 2:

__________________
Science plus Art

Okay. I'll try to reshape the sear tonight. I just figured it probably wasn't that since pushing up on the beavertail had no effect. I would much rather tackle this myself than have a gunsmith look at it, I don't learn that way.

Any suggestions on brands? I'd rather spend a little more to get something very nice than cheap out to save $15-25.
Nice. I'll order that up now.
Thanks for the link!

I like the Ed Brown magwell. That's the one I decided on because of the fit and it gave me the profile I wanted. A lot of people really like the S&A and EGW. They all seem to be of high quality.

Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Awesome. Thank you Raven312.
Those are 3 good suggestions it looks like.

I'll reshape the sear spring tonight and report back.

There are some really knowledgeable guys on YouTube that can guide you so watch a few, it ain't rocket science if you already understand how to work on a gun, but stay way clear of the guys on YouTube experts that don't even know the correct terminology for the parts used and their functions - dead giveaway, good luck.

__________________
Dave Ramsey Cultist

My S&W 1911 wears a Smith and Alexander magwell.
Fits and works fine. One piece with the MSH.

Good luck with your project.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Looks sharp TAROMAN!

Sear spring did not solve the problem. Even with additional tweak/bend. I guess I'll tear it down further.

OKay so torn it all down.
The back of the trigger bar/bow is highly polished on the bottom side, rounded even (below were the sear contacts the surface).
Which seems odd to me as that isn't a surface that should effect anything, correct?

If I put my finger on the bottom of the trigger and pull back everything works fine. If I put it in the middle or the top as I pull back the trigger wants to tip up and the hammer will fall without the grip safety depressed. I put in some feeler guages and I can move the trigger up and down about .022-.023" this seems like a lot based on what I am reading.

At this point I'm thinking new trigger. Unless someone else has an idea.

I might as well go all out, any suggestions on an excellent match quality one? One with a slightly rounded face would be great (especially for my wife who doesn't currently like the sharp edges). I know a proper one will have to be fit. I am prepared for that.

Did the grip safety ever work? I'd guess a new trigger isn't going to solve the problem. I'd guess the actual grip safety is the problem.

Fitting a trigger typically isn't too hard. I dislike a sloppy trigger and have done it before. I can't remember if I bought the oversized Wilson combat or Dan Wesson or one of the other name brands to replace a stock Colt trigger but it only took a couple minutes to get it to fit. Or you can always sand down and smooth out the sharp edges on the old trigger.

Yes, it did work at one point when I got it. Honestly not in the habit of trying to fire it with the grip not depressed so I don't know when or how many rounds ago it quit. It is a range use only kinda thing for me.

I'm figuring now if a new trigger doesn't solve it at least it'll have removed the play/slop that I am noticing and then I can fit a grip safety too it if need be (here is to hoping not!).