SW1911 Thumb safety needed

[tylerlayne]

I got my 1911 today. Anyone know where I can get a thumb safety for it? As I said in my other thread, S&W -will not send me the part. They want me to send them the gun and charge me to install it. I looked on Midwest gun works site and they had thumb safety's for many models but not S&W. Will other brands work on the SW1911E?

 

[45Smashemflat]

Not for certain, but assuming it’s a 1911 pattern any thumb safety for a 1911 should work. That said, they are not a drop in part. (But you probably already knew that.)

 

[stang1911]

The issue now is to find a matte black safety if you want it to match.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Looks like Tisas, Midwest, Fusion all say they have the safety in matte black. Not sure how close the match would be.

Was it originally an ambi safety with the tab under the right grip?

 

[smoothshooter]

How did you end up with a S & W 1911 with no safety?

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Contact BMCM here on the forum and ask him if he could help you . I would send it to him before sending it back to the factory .

 

[walter o]

Evolution Gun Works and a copy of Jerry Cuhnhausen s book, the colt 45 automatic before you start swampping parts.

 

[tylerlayne]

Not for certain, but assuming it’s a 1911 pattern any thumb safety for a 1911 should work. That said, they are not a drop in part. (But you probably already knew that.)

The gunsmith who did the transfer for my 1911 said if I get it he will install it for $30.

 

[tylerlayne]

How did you end up with a S & W 1911 with no safety?

The gunsmith said it was broken off. Part of it is still there. I think the tab is what is broken. I read somewhere that a holster will break them. I got it for what I think is a good price. $470.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I got my 1911 today. Anyone know where I can get a thumb safety for it? As I said in my other thread, S&W -will not send me the part. They want me to send them the gun and charge me to install it. I looked on Midwest gun works site and they had thumb safety's for many models but not S&W. Will other brands work on the SW1911E?

Since it is a fitted part and since people could get hurt, literally, it is something you should let a professional install.

I am not kidding when I say that one file stroke too many on the lug of the thumb safety that fits tightly up against the sear and it will allow an unsafe condition and there is no going back.

One file stroke too many and the safety is ruined. If you insist on trying this yourself, buy three and plan to ruin the first two. Or, just have it installed by a professional.

In addition to the three thumb safeties, you will need the jig, the proper file, a bench vise, etc. And, you will need to carefully study a few dozen You Tube videos. Most have such poor camera work you cannot really see what the installer is doing. I think the videos by Wilson Combat and Heirloom Precision have the best camera work as does the one that shows the lady at Colt assembling the Colt Government Model and fitting the thumb safety.

The S&W 1911 does use standard 1911 parts. Any company making a reputable thumb safety for the 1911 will make it oversize and it will require very careful fitting. Very careful.

Here is a video showing how Colt fits a safety during assembly of a new 1911. Next there are videos from two highly regarded 1911 gunsmiths - Jason Burton of Heirloom Precision and Master Pistolsmith Ron Phillips of Wilson Combat.

Assembling a Colt 1911 at the Colt factory | Ever wonder how a Government Model 1911 is assembled at the Colt factory? Here is an excerpt from Panteao**™s Colt Model of 1911 documentary video. For... | By Panteao ProductionsFacebook

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zF3xCZ6CrE[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd5m-Adc97o[/ame]

 

[smoothshooter]

The gunsmith said it was broken off. Part of it is still there. I think the tab is what is broken. I read somewhere that a holster will break them. I got it for what I think is a good price. $470.

I bought one of those guns new several years ago. I did not like the ambidextrous safety and had a gunsmith friend of mine replace it with an old military surplus low-profile left-side only safety. It took him about 5 minutes. No fitting required.

 

[tylerlayne]

Since it is a fitted part and since people could get hurt, literally, it is something you should let a professional install.

I am not kidding when I say that one file stroke too many on the lug of the thumb safety that fits tightly up against the sear and it will allow an unsafe condition and there is no going back.

One file stroke too many and the safety is ruined. If you insist on trying this yourself, buy three and plan to ruin the first two. Or, just have it installed by a professional.

In addition to the three thumb safeties, you will need the jig, the proper file, a bench vise, etc. And, you will need to carefully study a few dozen You Tube videos. Most have such poor camera work you cannot really see what the installer is doing. I think the videos by Wilson Combat and Heirloom Precision have the best camera work as does the one that shows the lady at Colt assembling the Colt Government Model and fitting the thumb safety.

The S&W 1911 does use standard 1911 parts. Any company making a reputable thumb safety for the 1911 will make it oversize and it will require very careful fitting. Very careful.

Here is a video showing how Colt fits a safety during assembly of a new 1911. Next there are videos from two highly regarded 1911 gunsmiths - Jason Burton of Heirloom Precision and Master Pistolsmith Ron Phillips of Wilson Combat.

Assembling a Colt 1911 at the Colt factory | Ever wonder how a Government Model 1911 is assembled at the Colt factory? Here is an excerpt from Panteao**™s Colt Model of 1911 documentary video. For... | By Panteao ProductionsFacebook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zF3xCZ6CrE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd5m-Adc97o

Thanks for posting the videos. Awesome info in them. I am going to let the gunsmith @ Recon rifleworks install it for me. He said he would do it for $30.

 

[stang1911]

My choice for a new safety would be Nighthawk Custom or Stan Chen.

 

[robvious]

if OEM ones in fact have a tendency to break that easily, I would not replace it with a factory piece...

 

[Grayfox]

Its a standard 1911 part. Just pick one from any maker.
Its not that hard to fit, but if you have any doubts, let your gunsmith do it. $30 is cheap.

I can't imagine how a thumb safety would get broken like that. There don't seem to be any other marks on the gun indicating other damage. Did the seller offer any explanation?

 

[tylerlayne]

Its a standard 1911 part. Just pick one from any maker.
Its not that hard to fit, but if you have any doubts, let your gunsmith do it. $30 is cheap.

I can't imagine how a thumb safety would get broken like that. There don't seem to be any other marks on the gun indicating other damage. Did the seller offer any explanation?

No, not any other damage anywhere on the gun other than the broken thumb safety. I read somewhere that they can break off in a holster. I'm not sure if that is true or not. It does not look like its been in a holster. No scratches on the finish. I bought it on a Gun Broker auction from a place in Texas.

 

[oink]

I'm unsure of the quality but when I wanted an ambi safety on my RIA officers model I bought one of the surpluss Remington parts when they were plentiful. It required a little fitting but wasn't too bad. The right grip panel required a bit of dremel work but that was easy once I rigged it up as a mini router.

I don't know if any of the surpluss Remington safety sets are still out there cheap.

 

[cd228]

I've got an E series S&W 1911. I purchased one of the Wilson bullet proof ambi safeties. The local "gunsmith" (armorer) was able to easily install it. I've put a couple hundred rounds through it since then without any issue.

 

[Fastbolt]

For a written explanation of what the woman tech appeared to be doing when she held the 1911 up near her ear in the first video in post #10. Checking for a 'scant safety' condition that needed to be corrected was emphasized in the Colt armorer class.

Safety Checking a 1911

 

[tylerlayne]

Its a standard 1911 part. Just pick one from any maker.
Its not that hard to fit, but if you have any doubts, let your gunsmith do it. $30 is cheap.

I can't imagine how a thumb safety would get broken like that. There don't seem to be any other marks on the gun indicating other damage. Did the seller offer any explanation?

I ordered one made by Kimber from Midwest gun works. Did not order a ambi just one for theb left side. I hope it good quality.