Sketchy grip safety on my older Norinco 1911?

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boomer49

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Hi Guys,

I'll preface my question with the usual caveat ... I never trust any safety on any firearm. They're there just to improve your odds if you ever have a brain-fart.

In around 2008 or 2009 I ordered a totally basic Norinco 1911 .45 from Marstar. They were highly-regarded on CGN even then ... great forged steel and a decent price. I toot-sweet shipped it (before ever firing it) off to a well-regarded (on CGN) gunsmith in Prince George, Gunnar Christensen, to have his basic $99 disassembly and cleaning and polishing/tweaking/relieving tune-up. Money well-spent. After I got it back, I added the perfect $$$ period-correct walnut grips from Herrett's down in the Excited States. It looks classic, and perfect. Especially in its new Longmire Galco ... :p

It has run flawlessly ever since. But, I have a question ... the "grip-safety" (when carefullly tested) typically (and totally) fails completely about 25% of the time. Simply put, when the grip-safety is not-at-all depressed, a firm squeeze on the trigger (while gripping the pistol a bit awkwardly but firmly) will often "drop" a cocked hammer. I am wondering ... has anybody else experienced the same situation with them early (and otherwise excellent) Norks?

Thanks in advance.
 
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If the 3 finger leaf spring is still the Chinese one, I'd start with either re-tensioning it, or swap it out with a North American one.
 
If you can score a copy of "Hallock's .45 Auto Handbook" it has a, to scale, side profile illustration of the correct bends for the 3 leaf spring.

Used it many times to re-set the springs in various 1911 to proper specs for correct function.

Hallocks Book.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Hallocks-Auto-Handbook-Kenneth-Hallock/dp/B0007BKXAY

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NAA.
 

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boomer49 said:
... and I am wondering ... has anybody else experienced the same situation with them early (and otherwise excellent) Norks?
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No


~~~

Are you looking for repair suggestions?

There are a lot of things going on inside the 1911's. The grip safety is supposed to prevent the trigger from moving rearward, you need to determine if the grip safety allows the trigger to move when engaged, or if the grip safety is unable to actually engage the trigger. Consider a combination of factors, take into account the previous work performed. An altered or damaged trigger, sear, hammer or grip safety are factors. As mentioned above the leaf spring is a common source of issues, should be relatively available, buy a high quality replacement if needed.
 
Just one answer (in the negative) to my question! My situation must be a major anomaly.

So I will still keep my handgun pointed in a safe direction ... and continue acting like there is no such thing as a grip safety.

Works for me. Idiot proof.
 
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Lodi said:
No


~~~

Are you looking for repair suggestions?

There are a lot of things going on inside the 1911's. The grip safety is supposed to prevent the trigger from moving rearward, you need to determine if the grip safety allows the trigger to move when engaged, or if the grip safety is unable to actually engage the trigger. Consider a combination of factors, take into account the previous work performed. An altered or damaged trigger, sear, hammer or grip safety are factors. As mentioned above the leaf spring is a common source of issues, should be relatively available, buy a high quality replacement if needed.
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No. I was just asking if anyone else has experienced a similar situation with that gun from the era.
 
NAA said:
If you can score a copy of "Hallock's .45 Auto Handbook" it has a, to scale, side profile illustration of the correct bends for the 3 leaf spring.

Used it many times to re-set the springs in various 1911 to proper specs for correct function.

View attachment 632146

https://www.amazon.com/Hallocks-Auto-Handbook-Kenneth-Hallock/dp/B0007BKXAY

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NAA.
Click to expand...

Yikes! That's 'way beyond my pay-grade! It took an hour to install them Herrett's ... and I was more-than-pleased that I did it without shedding blood. They are on there for life.
 
boomer49 said:
Easy for you to say ... :)
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I'm not sure what you mean? Understand that I'm not saying that is the problem, as others have pointed out there can be several causes for the grip safety to become inoperable, I'm just suggesting where I'd start as the leaf springs are notorious for losing their tension over time.

If you're concerned about disassembly, you really shouldn't be. The whole pistol is held together with a few pins and it comes apart relatively easily. I'd recommend watching a few Youtube vids on disassembly and reassembly, ask any questions you may have here and give it a try. As a kid, if you could put a jigsaw puzzle together, you can certainly strip a 1911.
 
Never had an issue with any Norinco 1911 I've had. But none of them had been "tampered" with.

I've always smoothed mine out the old fashioned way, by shooting them.:)
 
Painkillers said:
I'm not sure what you mean? Understand that I'm not saying that is the problem, as others have pointed out there can be several causes for the grip safety to become inoperable, I'm just suggesting where I'd start as the leaf springs are notorious for losing their tension over time.

If you're concerned about disassembly, you really shouldn't be. The whole pistol is held together with a few pins and it comes apart relatively easily. I'd recommend watching a few Youtube vids on disassembly and reassembly, ask any questions you may have here and give it a try. As a kid, if you could put a jigsaw puzzle together, you can certainly strip a 1911.
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I appreciate the gentleness and tactfulness of your encouragement ... thank you. But I am not very good at stuff like that ... and probably never will be.
 
trebor2880 said:
Never had an issue with any Norinco 1911 I've had. But none of them had been "tampered" with.

I've always smoothed mine out the old fashioned way, by shooting them.:)
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I mentioned the fact that the firearm had been given a minor clean-and-tune, so I am aware of that possibility. However, that gunsmith in in Prince George (Gunnar Christensen) seemed to be held in high regard at the time on the CGN forum ... and actually "specialized" in 1911's.

Yes, lots of shooting is a good idea. I am 12(6), and bought my first handgun in Winnipeg (a S&W) in 1970 ... my last year at university. My most recent purchase was a few months ago ... that cool little $199.95 Norinco .22 Olympia that is based on a classic old target pistol from decades ago. It is still "making its way" from Marstar "through the system" to sunny southwest Alberta.
 
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boomer49 said:
Just one answer (in the negative) to my question! My situation must be a major anomaly.
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Your question was specific to the Norinco brand, had the question been asked about 1911's in general my answer would be yes. The grip safety issue is common and is usually a quick and easy repair.
 
As has been said, detail stripping & reassembling 1911's is not really all that difficult.

For example, first thing I did when I received one of the unmarked Norc 1911's was to detail strip it & remove all the factory gunk out of it.

DSCN5061.jpg

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Cleaned up pretty nice:

DSCN5069-1.jpg

Taking one down far enough to get out the 3 leaf spring for a tweak is a simple enough operation. ;)

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NAA.
 

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Lodi said:
Your question was specific to the Norinco brand, had the question been asked about 1911's in general my answer would be yes. The grip safety issue is common and is usually a quick and easy repair.
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Thank you. It is comforting to know that I am not the only person to have had some (minor) bad luck. I have since purchased three more Norincos.
 
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