Ambi Safety

The internal lug on the safety is what engages the sear, when the safety is "on". There is a very fine tolerance fit between the two pieces. Your new safety has the lug oversized slightly to allow fitting to the sear. Unless you are sure what you are doing, I would suggest having a smith look at it.

Generally, the safety lug is filed to match the contour of the sear. Do not file the sear. The fitting is done with the safety only. If you remove the mainspring housing and grip safety, you should have a better view of how the two pieces match internally.

As far as the safety sloppiness goes, I'm not sure how you can tell the two pieces don't fit togethter properly, if you can't even insert the safety because of the sear interference?

[This message has been edited by shane45-1911 (edited 08-28-2001).]

Sammy
When you replaced the sear you changed the relationship between the sear and the thumb safety (TS). They are closely fit, The TS comes new oversized to be gunsmith fit to your sear. Now it is possible that if you can not install the safety that more material must be removed to fit again. If so you are in luck and can refit the safety to the new sear. Now on the fitting of the two halves of your TS after the left side is in and properly flush with frame install the right side and firmly pop it with a nylon faced hammer to seat flush. Thats how I do it, hope this helps

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Chris from va

Originally posted by blindhogg:
Now on the fitting of the two halves of your TS after the left side is in and properly flush with frame install the right side and firmly pop it with a nylon faced hammer to seat flush.

Click to expand...

Ummmmm.....uhhhhh.....careful. If you don't have the "male" and female" halves lined up properly, that's a good way to wreck your ambi safety. They should fit together with very little force. I'm thinking that Sammy should get his safety/sear fitting done first, before determining if there is a fitting problem of the two safety halves. I'll bet there isn't once the left side is properly fit to the sear.

The safety now fits OK after a little trimming and is functioning well. I am questioning the connection between the two safety halves. The only engagement is between a blade and a slot, after working on the LH safety for a while, it becomes a little sloppy relative to the RH side. Tapping it in would help snug it in a little more until it works loose again. Is that why a portion of the LH safety is under the grip? so it does not fall out when it got loose?

Sammy
You got it, thats exactly why there is a tab under the right grip. the two halves should go together fairly tightly, hence having to pop one side with hammer. If not dissasemble and very lightly, either squeeze with vise or use a hammer and slightly close the slot. be very carefull here it would be very easy to ruin a safety in this step.
Good luck

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Chris from va