Ambidextrous Magazine Release on a 1911?

[fullautovalmet76]

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

[Big Frank]

Brownells sells an ambidextrous mag release. I don't remember who makes it.

[Timothy]

Check Cylinder & Slide....available through Midway USA...

[fullautovalmet76]

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?

[ellis4538]

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

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

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. '

[fullautovalmet76]

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.......

[fullautovalmet76]

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.....

[Timothy]

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.

[m25operator]

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