I recently picked up one of more recent Type 54 pistols that have the "Glock style" trigger safety. My intention was to swap triggers with an older import that had the add-on frame safety, rendering one piece that was a good represenation of an original military or police pistol, and leaving the older pistol with the "Glock trigger."
Years ago, I had removed the safety from the older type 54 because it was junk and I had rather had no safety than one that was unreliable. I did retain the parts in case I changed my mind later. In the years since, every time I looked at the piece I cringed at the open holes left in the frame. I could buy oversized grips for the thing but they are about as ugly as the holes, they are spendy, and I am a tightwad.
Since I had the pistols down for the trigger swap, I thought that I would address the open hole issue on the cheap. A lid from a Ball Jar (home canning jar) is made of steel, with some kind of expoxy coating on one side (food side) and a clear coat on the other. The lids are thin, which is important because the screws, that seved as the stop for the add-on safety are very short. After removing the clear coat from the ouside of the lid, I found some ten year old paste bluing and doctored the steel up a bit. The lid is thin enough that it can be cut with scissors, and holes puched for the screws with an awl. (sanding off the resulting burs)
I think that I will buy some fresh bluing and remake the piece as I feel I can get a better result, but you get the picture. Whether it is an improvement is in the eye of the beholder, but I felt good about the fix and is reversable without further damage to the pistol.
Years ago, I had removed the safety from the older type 54 because it was junk and I had rather had no safety than one that was unreliable. I did retain the parts in case I changed my mind later. In the years since, every time I looked at the piece I cringed at the open holes left in the frame. I could buy oversized grips for the thing but they are about as ugly as the holes, they are spendy, and I am a tightwad.
Since I had the pistols down for the trigger swap, I thought that I would address the open hole issue on the cheap. A lid from a Ball Jar (home canning jar) is made of steel, with some kind of expoxy coating on one side (food side) and a clear coat on the other. The lids are thin, which is important because the screws, that seved as the stop for the add-on safety are very short. After removing the clear coat from the ouside of the lid, I found some ten year old paste bluing and doctored the steel up a bit. The lid is thin enough that it can be cut with scissors, and holes puched for the screws with an awl. (sanding off the resulting burs)
I think that I will buy some fresh bluing and remake the piece as I feel I can get a better result, but you get the picture. Whether it is an improvement is in the eye of the beholder, but I felt good about the fix and is reversable without further damage to the pistol.
