1911 grip safety

AJ said:
People that pin or tape the grip safety just have not got the proper grip in the pistol. Should look for another gun..........
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but the issue usually arises when the thumb is carried on top of the safety rather than below the safety. Raising the thumb to ride on top of the safety causes the palm to not be in contact enough to reliably and always operate the standard grip safety. Naturally, if you grip the pistol with the thumb under the thumb safety sooner or later you unintentionally activate the thumb safety which is terrible in a match, and a matter of life and death in a self-defense scenario.

The best solution is the grip safety with the raised hump, and if that doesn't do it, Wilson makes a thumb safety with the paddle down low so you can get a proper grip without compromising the activation of the grip safety.
 
I routinely disable the grip safety on all my 1911’s.

I’ve found that a proper firing grip (at least for me) involves gripping high that can inadvertently activate the grip safety. That’s why all my 1911 grip safeties get pinned.
 
jeffrefrig said:
(I didn't want to hi-jack the Tisas thread.)
I did a search here to find one I read couple years or so back about guys, mainly competition shooters, that have their grip safeties drilled & pinned to disable it. One post said that it's there as a drop safety. Another guy cut a piece of bicycle tube to fit over the handle to disable it, which eliminates my duct tape idea. And, no, that was not gonna happen; I was only kiddin'. I just don't like the awkward two-handed way of dropping the hammer on a live, chambered round. My thumb is only so long. The gun is my standby house gun (in one area of one house level) so when I load it I chamber a round, drop the hammer, then top off the mag. Rifles & revolvers are easy, one-handed, but not the 1911 pistol. Sorry this is so long, so I ask is pinning the hammer back a bad/stupid idea? It's not a CCW, just recreational shooting and hopefully not for home invaders, but it's in its place, waiting. For my own reasons I don't keep it cocked & locked, but there is a first click when cocking it that keeps the hammer off the firing pin but not fully cocked. Similar to the some older rifles. So, please gently tell me the errs of my ways or to just keep it cocked & locked or is the semi-permanent pinned back safety a real thing?
Thanks...Jeff
Click to expand...

Send it to a PWS smith, (kc’s kustoms is great). They can make adjustments to the grip safety that will allow it to disengage sooner. This was a spec in some delta force 1911’s.
 
shawn mccarver said:
Perhaps, but the issue usually arises when the thumb is carried on top of the safety rather than below the safety. Raising the thumb to ride on top of the safety causes the palm to not be in contact enough to reliably and always operate the standard grip safety. Naturally, if you grip the pistol with the thumb under the thumb safety sooner or later you unintentionally activate the thumb safety which is terrible in a match, and a matter of life and death in a self-defense scenario.

The best solution is the grip safety with the raised hump, and if that doesn't do it, Wilson makes a thumb safety with the paddle down low so you can get a proper grip without compromising the activation of the grip safety.
Click to expand...


Have never seen anyone have the problem you are describing. When I grip my pistol with both hands I have one thumb above the thumb safety and one below. That allows me to control the thumb safety easier.
 
I have been using and carrying 1911 pattern pistols my whole life...70 years young now.. and have always rode the top of the thumb safety.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AJ
AJ said:
If that works for you then so be it. I learned the two thumb method when I was a student at MCSF Bn. Schools.
Click to expand...

I grew up my father and 2 of his brothers were cops in Houston Texas and they all carried Colt 1911 pistols. They were all taught how to use these pistols by Texas Ranger Johnny Klevehagen. They in turned passed that to me at an early age. It worked for them and it has worked for me. Johnny taught this because in times of stress your thumb was already in position.

Johnny was a family friend as well.

Semper Fi brother
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AJ
MCSF Bn Schools Combat Pistol and Combat Shotgun courses were set up with the help of Jeff Cooper and Gunsite. Our instructors were trained at Gunsite. Wish I would have been able to go to that course!

Semper Fi!
 
I have never had a problem with any of the 1911's I have owned with regard to getting the grip safety to release. Unless you have had issues with that problem I would not even think of disabling it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AJ
The grip safety should be transparently passive. You should not even think about it.

If people struggle with it, their grip is unsat.

That said, depending on hand size and meatiness thereof, some with the high thumb position can greatly benefit from a grip safety with a tactical speed-bump as that position can open up the area where the palm contacts the safety.

Skeeter Skelton was big on drilling and pinning the safety...not sure why.

Just my $.02.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Papa Lee
1911 Grip Medallion Identification
Replies
9
Views
358
03hemi
03hemi
A
Hopkins and Allen Safety Police triple safety manufacturer date
Replies
3
Views
283
Goony
Goony
D
Grip SOP
Replies
0
Views
228
Drm50
D
CH4
The Grip Trip
Replies
1
Views
129
CH4
CH4
R
Colt 1911
Replies
9
Views
567
silicosys4
S

Latest posts

Back
Top