The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: fullautovalmet76 on March 27, 2009, 09:41:25 PM
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Do any of you know where I can get the parts to modify one of my 1911s to have an ambidextrous magazine release? Or does such an item exist?
Also, do any of you know whether a beavertail grip safety can be added to a Para Carry 9?
-FA
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Brownells sells an ambidextrous mag release. I don't remember who makes it.
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Check Cylinder & Slide....available through Midway USA...
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Check Cylinder & Slide....available through Midway USA...
Thanks for the info, Timothy. I am relatively new to upgrading/updating 1911s so some of my questions about them are relatively elementary.
If I install the the ambi-mag release button on the right side of the pistol, will that, by design, eliminate the release on the left side?
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I am not 100% sure, but I don't believe anyone makes a right side only mag release...I believe they are ambi. It seems to me grinding off the left side portion of the button might be an option but to what end? Have no idea about the beavertail, but again I ask to what end?
FWIW
Richard
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Thanks for the info, Timothy. I am relatively new to upgrading/updating 1911s so some of my questions about them are relatively elementary.
If I install the the ambi-mag release button on the right side of the pistol, will that, by design, eliminate the release on the left side?
I'm not sure. It's ambidextrous so you should be able to release the mag with either side. 1911 mags have the release/catch notch on the right side, I'd have to look into the design a little further to see how the release works.
From the US Patent Office.
'An ambidextrous release for gun magazines for semi automatic pistols such as Colt, government Model "Colt", and other semi automatic pistols. The new release is built into conventional gun magazine release structures and it only requires a catch lock release lever which is positioned externally of the gun butt or grip on the right side thereof as one holds the pistol operatively. Such lock release lever has a free end normally positioned spaced from the gun butt, the lever being operatively carried by the control extension on the catch body of the magazine release by means of a slot formed in such extension and pivotally positioning one end of the catch lock release lever therein, a fulcrum member operatatively positioned on such catch lock release lever bears on an outer end of the catch lock release member so that when the free end the catch lock release lever is forced inwardly towards the gun butt, the opposite end of such lever moves the entire magazine catch body towards the right to release the magazine by action of the conventional lock members engaging the same, but whereby the release action is readily obtained from the right hand side of the pistol structure. '
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I'm not sure. It's ambidextrous so you should be able to release the mag with either side. 1911 mags have the release/catch notch on the right side, I'd have to look into the design a little further to see how the release works.
From the US Patent Office.
'An ambidextrous release for gun magazines for semi automatic pistols such as Colt, government Model "Colt", and other semi automatic pistols. The new release is built into conventional gun magazine release structures and it only requires a catch lock release lever which is positioned externally of the gun butt or grip on the right side thereof as one holds the pistol operatively. Such lock release lever has a free end normally positioned spaced from the gun butt, the lever being operatively carried by the control extension on the catch body of the magazine release by means of a slot formed in such extension and pivotally positioning one end of the catch lock release lever therein, a fulcrum member operatatively positioned on such catch lock release lever bears on an outer end of the catch lock release member so that when the free end the catch lock release lever is forced inwardly towards the gun butt, the opposite end of such lever moves the entire magazine catch body towards the right to release the magazine by action of the conventional lock members engaging the same, but whereby the release action is readily obtained from the right hand side of the pistol structure. '
Thanks for the info! I might give the gunsmiths at Brownells a call or call Cylinder and Slide to get the scoop. My intention is to have and use both; just like ambi-safeties.......
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It seems to me grinding off the left side portion of the button might be an option but to what end? Have no idea about the beavertail, but again I ask to what end?
FWIW
Richard
No plans to grind off the left end...As for the beavertail, I want to have a more "secure" grip on the pistol. I have had my hand nicked by the slide for having my grip too high on the gun and I want to eliminate that from reoccurring.....
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FullAuto,
I've sent a dozen emails to Para's customer service and always gotten some reply in 24 hrs or less. They are not doing any "custom pistolsmithing" untill they get up and fully operational in Charlotte. When they do get there, I intend on sending my LTC in for some work. Last I corresponded with them they said by the end of this year.
In the meantime, they should be able to answer the question on a grip safety. May not be a drop in part and need some fitting.
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Full auto here is a link to the guy who invented the 1st one, I have 2 and they work well. His name is Alan Smith
http://www.smithandalexander.com/guides.html#mag-release
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My mistake, misread one of the posts. Only heard of someone getting cut with the slide of a Walther PPK and S.
Richard
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Full auto here is a link to the guy who invented the 1st one, I have 2 and they work well. His name is Alan Smith
http://www.smithandalexander.com/guides.html#mag-release
Thanks Timothy and M25,
You guys help make this forum a great resource!
I have a new LTC in 9mm, so that now makes four.....Between you two, Jumbo, and Michael Bane, all of you have cost me alot of money! Thanks alot!!! ;) ;D
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I find it rather easy to use my trigger finger on the mag release and slide lock when I'm shooting lefty. A ambidextrous thumb safety is all I find necessary and it will save you a few bucks if you get used to it.
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If you are a lefty 1911 shooter, you could always pop for a full left handed custom 1911. I am trying to find the manufacturer. I got these pics from a friend and don't know anything other than a big cost...over 3 grand....
***EDIT***
LEFT-HANDED RANDALL PISTOLS
Randall shocked the firearms industry during the week of May 17, 1984 when it introduced the first of 10 left-handed models. These pistols were entire mirror-images of their right-handed counterparts, including the reversal of twist in the rifling from the left-to-right in the right-handed guns to right-to-left in the left-handed guns.
What the Randall Company did was to make the entire breadth of its line available to southpaws in left-hand configuration. All left-handed Randall's are considered to be extremely desirable and highly collectible, due to the fact that only 7.4% of total production was in the form of left-handed guns.
In order to make this truly left-handed handgun, it was necessary to re-tool for 17 major parts changes. This even meant that special left-handed magazines needed to be produced.
First among the lefties was the Service Model B111, which was a full-size government model with five-inch, 10-groove barrel and round-top slide with fixed sights. There were 297 pistols of this model made, with a serial number range of RF02100C to RF03092C. The first Model B111 was made on May 17, 1984, and the last one came off the line September 7th of that same year.
Next was the B121, which sported a flat top slide and fixed sights. Otherwise, it was the same as the B111, and it differed from the right-handed A121 in that Pachmayr did not make left-handed grips, so it lacked the rubber grips of the right-handed counterpart. Randall produced 110 B121 pistols with a serial number range of RF02132C to RF03078C. The B131 was essentially the same as the B121, except that it was furnished with a Millett Model 100 adjustable rear sight. There were 225 of the B131 pistols produced in a serial number range of RF02110C through RF03092C. The first B121 was made on May 17, 1984, and the last one was completed August 28, 1984. The first B131 was made on May 24, 1984, and the last one was completed August 28, 1984.
Also among the most collectible of the Randall pistols are the Models B122 and B123. These left-handers were made in 9mm and .38 Super respectively, and were otherwise counterparts to the B121. There were only two each made of these models, and those were special-order guns when they were produced.
All of the full-size, left-handed pistols represented only 6.4% of Randall's entire production. There were also three different production variations of the left-handed LeMay profile pistol. These were the B311, B312 and B331. The B311 was a LeMay with round-top slide and fixed rear sight in .45 ACP, and there were 52 manufactured in serial number range of RF02100C through RF02207C. The first B311 and B331 were made on July 13, 1984, and the last ones went off the line slightly more than a month later on August 29, 1984.
The B312 was the left-handed LeMay in 9mm with a round-top and fixed rear sight. Only nine were manufactured. The B331 was the LeMay in .45 ACP, with a flattop and Millett Low Profile adjustable rear sight. There were 45 of these manufactured in a serial number range of RF02100C through RF02207C. All B312 pistols were made on or about August 23, 1984.
The left-handed LeMay series constituted only one percent of the Randall factory's production.
http://www.m1911.org/mod_randall.htm
These are not Randall's, however....
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If you are a lefty 1911 shooter, you could always pop for a full left handed custom 1911. I am trying to find the manufacturer. I got these pics from a friend and don't know anything other than a big cost...over 3 grand....
Oh yeah! I can do that with mine too if I hold it up to a mirror. ;)