SW1911 Thumb safety & 'rod' backed/fell out

[BlindJustice]

1rst Range Session 2011 ended rather on a downer

SW1911 #108282 5" stainless FLGR
Original Recoiil spring - spoze it's time for a new one eh?

Only mod. to date: at about 1,000 rds fired had the MSH
replaced with Les Baer Stainless Flat w/vert. serrations MSH

Approx. 3,500 rounds through it probably less than 250 +P b

I shot about 55 rounds today - the Thumb safety and I assume
the 'rod' it connects to backed out and ended up cutting the web of
my hand at the base knuckle near the web of the hand. I was
concentrating so much on the target I fired one more round - I was in
an indoor range so I caught the thumb safety and the 'rod' set them
down on the horizontal 'gate' cleared the weapon and dropped the mag.

At home I looked at everything - no marks on the SW1911, and under
magnification neither part that backed & Fell out apear to be broken.

The gun must be stuck in safety Off position as it functions - hammer
releases the trigger with the grip safety depressed, and the
grip safety if not depressed does not allow operation/freleasing the hammer.

In the past, operation of the thumb safety has always been
very positive ON or OFf with no tendency to want to be in - between
those two states.

I talked with the guy who did the MSH swap, he went to an armorers
course & he's a 1911 owner - he said it can happen and will be by
monday to take a look and put it back together.

Is there anything that can be done to make sure it doesn't happen
again? I'd like my trust in my carry gun to be restored.

Opinions/Experience/knowledge appreciated

Randall M.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

The safety and rod is called the thumb safety.
Put a new spring and plunger in it. Maybe the safety needs to be looked at because the detent might be missing.

To remove the thumb safety, cock the hammer. Put safety in 1/2 way position between on and off, then pull out and at the same time wiggle up and down. It will come right out.

To install it, reverse the instructions, use a screw driver and press the plunger/ spring in and snap the safety home.

Remember the hammer is cocked while you do this.

 

[BlindJustice]

Heh, removing it isn't the problem - it fel out and remians so - I'll mention checking the detent on the Thumb Safey

Plunger and Spring <--- what is the proper name of this spring ?

Plunger SPring?

I'll check EGW for parts in case anything is needed.

Thanks for the response.

Randall

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Kimber Plunger Tube Assembly 1911 Blue - MidwayUSA (nice picture of what the spring should look like.

Safety lock plunger, slide stop plunger and plunger spring.
Make sure that spring stays bent.

In the above post, I gave you the info to reassemble it if you wanted to try it yourself. Also, that's how to remove them for service.

Here this is what I normally use, cheaper too.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=987904

 

[BlindJustice]

Hey, 500Magnum Good Morning!

thanks for the links - I've been doing some info
gathering on my part/homework knowledge is good.

I am on the Wilson Combat email 'list' and get their marketing blurbs for sale items and new products. I've been happy with the ETM (5) mags I have from WC and some of the other stuff I got - however, the
Stainless extended slide release/lock I got from them that I used ( after
relieving the upper LH corner of the Guy Hogue Rosewood grips I have )
I found the pin to be undersized for my S&W 1911 allowing a sloppy fit
I've since gone back to the stock slide release/lock.
I'm sure everything WC makes works well for Wilson Combat 1911s but
when I ordered the slide release I asked about the simlarlyh styled
thumb safety and mentioned I have a S&W 1911 and would
that part work - JOhn - nice guy on the phone said to hold on
I'll talk to one of the smiths - physically located elsewhere I guess
- he came back and up to that point none of their smiths had worked on
the relatively new to the market SW1911. So I didn't get the
WC extended thumb safety.

I checked EGW but unfortunately the plunger and
thumb safety they offer are not in stock nor do they state when
they will be available. So, I'vve been studing the Wolf
SPrings website and figuring out different internal innards /parts
of the 1911. I've never been that mechanically inclined - putting
stuff back together as a kid was uh, problematic.

I also noted EGW offers 2 different sized slide release/lock
the diameter of the pin is ..201" or .203" I don't have a micrometer
to measure my stocker or the Wilson Combat one I have but it's
nice to see a 'spec' listed Perhaps Getting a decent micrometer would
probably be a good investment.

I do have a friend who has had a gnsmithing course and
does light smithing - has his own 1911 and will be over tomorrow.
so the more info. I have will lead to a better understanding
of the 1911 and I'll be able to intellilgently follow his thoughts
on the matter.

Questions:
1- Your ref to the plunger and correct name for it,
so am I to understand the plunger tube is tied into the
Thumb safety AND slide release/lock?

2 - What's the detent? on the plunger or the Thumb Safety?

I'll definetly order up some WOlf SPrings - time to replace the
recoil spring imho anyway.


Kinda a rambling response but I very much appreciate
your sharing your knowledge of the 1911 and sources.

R-

 

[shovelwrench]

Check out m1911.org, and their forum site. The knowledge base there for the 1911 is astounding.

Of course I'm not discounting 500 Magnum Nuts knowledge, he is one of the best here.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Questions:
1- Your ref to the plunger and correct name for it,
so am I to understand the plunger tube is tied into the
Thumb safety AND slide release/lock?
Yes, the spring and plunger press onto the side of the thumb safety. The thumb safety has a groove made into it. If the groove is worn the safety can work it's way out. The safety is a fitted part. They don't drop in.
2 - What's the detent? on the plunger or the Thumb Safety?
These parts fit inside the plunger tube. "Safety lock plunger, slide stop plunger and plunger spring"
If the spring is weak or the plunger is chipped there is a chance it won't interlock with the groove on the side of the safety. That's why 1 or more items here needs to be inspected to determine what part has failed.

 

[BlindJustice]

FYI - the item I called a 'rod' is the plunger

THe plunger is a bit dinged

but the thumb safety has some burrs / worn detent
and it looks like the failure was the rear pin that is
the LH side pivot point for the Grip Safety

It'll be going back to Springfield

Thanks all,

Randall

 

[WR Moore]

The plunger spring is typically kinked to keep it in place when the thumb safety is removed. Otherwise, removing the thumb safety lets the plunger(s) and spring shoot across the room.