Ambi to single safety question

[shaneus]

Would appreciate any advice on what parts are required to change ambi-safety to LH only.  This would be on a Colt GC NM Series 80.  Left pistol with gunsmith to fix this and still leaves RH safety too loose for my liking.  If there are better parts out there that will make the RH safety tight please let me know, otherwise it goes to LH only.

Hope this isn't a common repost, I searched but did not get any good hits.

Thanks for any replies,
Shane

[Mikey]

Shane:  I believe all you would have to do is to remove the ambidexterous safety and install a left handed safety.  I know someone makes them as replacement parts but I don't know who.  Hopefully some of the others on this forum will be able to clue us both in.  HTH.

[jhm]

     Shane I have a Colt combat comander stainless that was ambi and I changed it to L side only and used a Wilson replacement, the Wilson stem is a little larger so we had to have the frame drilled to accept the Wilson safety.   HTH   Jim

[williamlayton]

I believe that there are left sided 1911's made.
A faf as Safties are concerned----What JMN and Mikey said.
See what Brownell has to offer or contact them.
If i recall correctly, there was a schooling on this topic over at  the "Pistolsmith" site---why don't you visit them and ask some of theses questions---they have a number of Smiths that respond there.
Blessings

[rbwillnj]

I assume when you say left side you mean left side of the frame......which is a standard thumb safety.   There are a dozen or more companies that make standard "extended" thumb safeties.  Personally I like Ed Brown products.  Those and many others can be found at Brownells.  If you want a military style thumb safety (not extended) the choices are much more limited.   Brownells does sell one under their own brand name, and you could probably pick up an original Colt from Brownells or Numrich gun parts.     

Thumb safeties require fitting to install, and to function properly.   The work is done on the safety, not the frame.

I have installed a lot of Thumb Safeties, both Standard and Ambi.  I have also installed Wilson Thumb Safeties.  I have never had to enlarge the hole in the frame.  That's just not right.

[shaneus]

Thanks for all the replies.  Yes, when I say left, I mean left hand side of frame (standard).  I was just unsure if any pins needed replacing, was thinking of the pin that is slotted on the RH side that holds RH side safety from slipping off.

No opinions on a good replacement ambi safety ?  The RH side is un-needed by me but if I could find good tight assembley I would probably go that route,  just dont want something loose and flapping around like current setup does.

Thanks again,  I will check out the other website for more info.
Shane

[mrussel]

Thanks for all the replies.  Yes, when I say left, I mean left hand side of frame (standard).  I was just unsure if any pins needed replacing, was thinking of the pin that is slotted on the RH side that holds RH side safety from slipping off.

No opinions on a good replacement ambi safety ?  The RH side is un-needed by me but if I could find good tight assembley I would probably go that route,  just dont want something loose and flapping around like current setup does.

Thanks again,  I will check out the other website for more info.
Shane

I have a RIA 1911 with an ambi safety and its perfectly tight on both sides,and its one of the "cheap" ones. (I prefer calling it "reasonably priced" as it certainly does not seem cheap) My point of course is,if mine is nice and tight,then any of the "good" brands should be too.  I like Wilson Combat myself,but there are plenty to choose from. The prices are not that bad and it will probably cost more to have it installed than the part cost. (I understand there is some fitting needed) I personally prefer the GI style safetys. The extended ones I have found can snag and be moved to the unsafe position under some circumstances. While it happened more with certain holsters,I can make it happen,if I really try in all of the holsters I tried. I requires something to hit or snag just right,but I wasn't comfortable with it,so I cut my safety's down with the dreaded dremel tool,polished the raw surfaces with some sandpaper and then reparkerized them. The idea was,if it came out bubbafied,then I would jsut send it to someone to have a GI style installed. It came out perfect though.