Extended Safety for 1911

[alfsauve]

Okay, using my birthday funds, I got an Ed Brown wide, extended safety for my 1911  (Colt Mk IV '70 Government)

Now I knew going in that "some gun smithing may be required" and yes it was.  Hard to describe with the little nooks and cranny's what had to be filed, but for those unfamiliar I thought I'd recount.

The instructions assume you know what to file.  They just say try the fit and then "file as necessary".  There is an official "gunsmith black" compound that you coat on a metal surface then fit the parts together and where they rub the black comes off.  But I don't have any of that so I used the very next best thing.   Soot.   Using a small candle (this only works on metal things), I passed the safety through the flame till it was real sooty, then assembled it as far as it would go and wiggled it.  Sure enough I could see what was rubbing.   Slow use of some small files, flat, triangular and rounded did the trick as I tried to make it look just like the original.  Took four "sessions".  Then I took a soft pointed, tear drop shaped stone on my Dremel tool to remove all the tool marks.   

I didn't  try to blue it, but just coated it with a Hoppes lubricant for internal parts.  Works great.  So much better than the original.

To date (over 38 year period) I've put in a pnematic buffer, a flat mainspring housing, plastic checkered grips and high adjustable sights.  (have all the original parts)

Just thought I'd share for other thinking about making some mods.   

Oh, the candle soot works well for blackening metal sights to make them sharper to see.

[1911 Junkie]

I just use a black sharpie.

If you take too much off, it can be welded and you have to start over. I don't know how I know that. 

[deepwater]

spray on layout fluid or bluing compound for valve seating.
you can get them from most hardware stores, machine shops, etc.. loctite makes a good bluing compound.
the layout fluid you spay on and it dries but must score to mark. the blue compound is wet, spread it out on one side, and then join the parts. it will transfer to the surface that needs to be filed. I use this crap a lot at work for grinding exhaust valves and globe valves.

[PegLeg45]

Good info, Alf......I took the liberty of adding this thread to an old thread on 1911's.....Thanks for posting this.



http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=3879.new#new

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=7534.new#new

[m25operator]

I too use a black marks o lot. wide tip.

If you go too far, but not way too far, put the safety between 2 bench blocks, lever side down and using an 8oz ball peen hammer, peen the area square to the face at the point where you removed the metal, point the notch toward you and as you peen, draw the hammer toward the notch, you may need to hit it 5 - 10 times, this will swage some metal back into the notch. Not hitting real hard. I use this on lots of take off safeties that have been fitted to other pistols and if I go too far.

I also use the felt tip marker on bullets when I'm getting the bullet to just touch the rifling, the rifling will show up through the ink.

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

WWMD?

What Would MacGyver Do?

Great info, and great "gunsmithing" resources here.

I like the soot and Sharpie....and a ball peen hammer is one of the best tools ever made...

[Woody]

  Since we are talking about extending levers, I've been looking for an extended slide release lever is SS for my Loaded Champ. ??

[PegLeg45]

 Since we are talking about extending levers, I've been looking for an extended slide release lever is SS for my Loaded Champ. ??

I've used Wilson and Chip McCormick extended slide stop/release parts over the years and all have performed flawlessly.


I have the blued 7B from this link, but the 7S is what you would need:

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/a_slide_releases.asp


Here is where I buy most of my parts:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=0/k=1911+extended+slide+stop/t=P/ksubmit=y/Products/All/search=1911_extended_slide_stop

[Timothy]

  Since we are talking about extending levers, I've been looking for an extended slide release lever is SS for my Loaded Champ. ??

Woody,

I have one you can have, I don't like them much so I switched mine back.  PM me if your interested, I'll even pay the postage.  It's a Wilson Combat drop in part.

Tim

[Woody]

 Thank you, Timothy. PM sent. May angels shower you with blessings.