1911 beavertail grip safety question

[Stilch]

I've had a stainless S&W 1911 for several years now, and the matte
black finish on the beavertail grip safety is fading. Is there a stainless
part that could replace this (with no major gunsmithing), or would I be better off to just order a replacement from S & W? This is my only
1911, and I have no experience customizing or swapping parts. Sure,
the beavertail safety still works, but the fading really takes away from
the beauty of the pistol. Any advice is much appreciated!

 

[mlk18]

When it comes to safeties, especially if you have no experience with installing parts, I always recommend you take it to a qualified gunsmith or send it in to S&W. Drop in parts are not always drop in, a lot still require fitting. I am sure S&W has a replacement part in stainless steel or whatever you want. You could also simply have the part removed and refinished. A phone call to S&W may go a long way to answer some of you questions.

 

[OKFC05]

Most parts on a 1911 are fitted, including the grip safety.

It might not take much, but a new one should be fitted and safety checked.
There are dozens of choices avaiable.

How about a new finish on your present one, if you like it?

 

[Stilch]

thanks for the replies; I'm certainly open to refinishing the present
part, if it will hold up better than the original finish; I reckon that would be the cheaper route to go, as well. Sounds like a good idea to ask the
S&W folks about it; they're easy to deal with. In fact, I was just on the phone with them yesterday ordering a factory grip for my 5906.

 

[shovelwrench]

Has anyone tried exchanging grip safeties from one Smith to the next?

I would suspect they are are an interchangeable radius. The trigger stop tab itself may need to be relieved(moved back), but the part should otherwise drop in. The only other adjustment that might be required is to relieve the ears that limit the grip safeties return (stopped by hitting the corresponding ears on the mainspring/hammerspring housing)

 

[LuddhaBuddha]

You will need to get one with the correct radius and one that is for series 70 guns, if you get an 80 it will not reliably lever the arm that disengages the firing pin safety. After you get it, if you are not comfortable fitting it then you need to take it to a gunsmith and have it done and your good to go.

 

[BUFF]

You can remove your existing part, polish the blackening from it and put it back in.

 

[CliffH]

Stlich, I think the first day I had the 1911 I decided to change out the flat black for a little shine. Not really hard to do just takes a little time.

 

[Stilch]

Wow, Cliff; looks incredible! I've got more time than
money; can you share some pointers?

 

[CliffH]

Well lets see. I usually start out with a small part like the magazine catch. I start with about 1500 paper- wet unless the part has some pretty good pits in it. I take a little piece of wood rapped with the paper - seems to cut better. I finish it off with Mothers Polish which can be found in just about any automotive store. Remember take your time and it will begin to surprise you.

little more current pictures. Off the subject but I just got a set of Hogue grips and man do I ever like them. Anybody tried them?

 

[Stilch]

Outstanding; thanks for the advice, Cliff.
I had the Hogues on a Norinco 1911 that I traded
in years ago for the S&W. They were very nice; I
should've taken them off & put the cheap plastics
back on before I traded the gun.