1911 Thumb safety drops when trigger pulled

danzap

danzap

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Hi, So I just got my first 1911 and as soon as I got it I took it apart to clean the grease off and assembled it back together. Once I got it back together I discovered that the thumb safety does not work. When I pull the trigger with the safety on, the hammer drops and so does the safety, this video better shows the issue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRv1KNM1TVU

My question is: is there a specific procedure when reassembling the safety for it to work properly? or is it a part issue? Cause all that I have found on the internet is that the safety is not properly fitted to the gun. And I purchased this gun brand new and the only tweeking I had done to the gun was a light polish on the trigger bow.

Thanks!
 
This may be a dumb question but is the safety detent plunger and spring correctly installed in the plunger tube? Without examining the gun personally it's hard to understand why the plunger pin isn't keeping the safety engaged. Did the safety operate correctly prior to dissaembly?

Next, Is the sear spring correctly installed with the left leaf properly engaging on the sear?
 
Last edited:
Heddok said:
This may be a dumb question but is the safety detent plunger and spring correctly installed in the plunger tube? Without examining the gun personally it's hard to understand why the plunger pin isn't keeping the safety engaged. Did the safety operate correctly prior to dissaembly?

Next, Is the sear spring correctly installed with the left leaf properly engaging on the sear?
Click to expand...

Yes the safety detent is installed correctly, what happens is when the hammer drops it knocks the safety into the off position, I can see scratches on top of the thumb safety lug where the hammer makes contact with.

The first thing I did when I received the gun was disassembled it to clean the grease off, did not function check first.

And yes the sear spring is making contact with the sear.
 
I would take it all apart again,If you remove the grip safety and assemble the gun, you can get a much better working how the mechanism is working. So whats happening is you think the safety is being engaged but really its not. Safety catch is not sitting on the backside of the sear locking it.
 
RobertMcC said:
I would take it all apart again,If you remove the grip safety and assemble the gun, you can get a much better working how the mechanism is working. So whats happening is you think the safety is being engaged but really its not. Safety catch is not sitting on the backside of the sear locking it.
Click to expand...

Did this and there is something like a 0.015 - 0.02" gap between the sear and safety when safety is engaged.
 
Alright, I guess my next step is to contact the store I bought it from and see what they can do about it. Thanks for the help.
 
Yeah I have a SAM, and I busted my thumb safety and there's NOT a safety out there that's drop in. After 3 safeties later I ended up picking up a sear and fitting it to a safety.
 
You are required to fit every safety that you purchase as an aftermarket part... i have done a few on 1911s and it requires some removal of material from the safety to allow it to lock up the sear properly. if you take too much off then you will get a situation similar to yours.. Sounds like it came that way from the factory... which is surprising.. but i would contact the store to have them fix it properly...

RDG
 
Yeah I have never heard of a safety not working straight from the factory, but I guess that is what you get for buying a norinco. Definitely contacting the store to resolve this.
 
I'd disassemble and re assemble. I know that may sound silly, but you have have buggered up the alignment of the sear/disconnect, and how it engages the safety. My guess would be when you reassembled. Watch a 1911 assembly video and follow it to the T, making sure you're hammer and safety are at the right angle when placing the thumb safety back into the gun.
 
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