Grip safety help please...Series 70

1446 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Brent Chambers, Nov 3, 2001

Brent Chambers

Discussion Starter · Nov 1, 2001

Hi all:

My dad, who doesn't shoot often, has a Series 70 .45 ACP. A few years ago I had a trigger job done on it for him, which involved a new trigger, sear, hammer and installation of a drop in beavertail.

The trigger is fine, but the beavertail looks like crap and he asked that I put the stock one back on.

When I put the stock one back in the gun the trigger freezes and the hammer doesn't engage the sear.

Obviously the "drop in" one was modified somewhat and would seem to be pushing on the back of the trigger or something.

What can I do to make the stock one work again? Can I take some metal off of the arm coming off of the beavertail until it doesn't lock the trigger up?

Thanks!

Brent

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Hunter Customs

· #2 · Nov 1, 2001

Hi Brent,
I'm assuming that your trigger must be hanging upon the nose of the grip safety. The reason I say this is you mentioned the sear is not resetting and engaging the hammer. If the trigger is hanging up on the nose of the grip safety the grip safety will need to be fit to this trigger. Before you do any cutting on the grip safety make sure everything is assembled correctly. If you assemble the gun and leave the thumb safety out you can look through the hole the thumb safety lug fits in and you should be able to see the relationship of the grip safety nose and the trigger bow. I hope this helps and if you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.
Regards, Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com

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Metal Smith

· #3 · Nov 1, 2001

Hi Brent, sounds like the new trigger bow is longer, you may have to shorten the tang on the G/S and or remove some metal from the under side of the tang, remove the hammer, sear etc... and pivot the G/S and you should be able to see how much metal to remove, file slowly keeping the angle parrallel to the back of the bow. WARNING....IF you have any doubt in the fit take it to a pistolsmith or get a book. If you run into trouble write back, stock G/S are a dime a dozen.

Hi Bob, you must type faster then me, your post appeared as I was typing. Nice post

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Metal Smith

The only thing I know for sure is what I can measure!
NRA Life Member

[This message has been edited by Metal Smith (edited 10-31-2001).]

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Bob Brown

· #4 · Nov 1, 2001

Brent,
If you can't see enough of the relationship by looking through the thumb safety cutout, take the grips off and you can get another look at what that arm does when you move the grip safety and/or the trigger. And like you've already been advised, be very careful fitting the end of that arm so that it blocks and then clears the trigger stirrup.

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Hunter Customs

· #5 · Nov 1, 2001

Hi Pete,
I'm very slow at typing one of those one finger on each hand typist. Thats a class I skipped out on in school didn't think I would ever need it, fooled me didn't they.
Thanks for the kind words on the post. I believe you did a very good job yourself and hopefully with everyones help we can get Brent's gun working again.
Regards, Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com

[This message has been edited by Hunter Customs (edited 11-01-2001).]

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Brent Chambers

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 1, 2001

Thanks a lot you guys. Great responses- I think I can pull this off. I bought a shop manual and hopefully this coupled with your advice will help.

I'll give it a shot after work tonight-

Again, thanks- not that anyone will be losing sleep but I'll keep you posted.

Have a good afternoon-

Brent

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NRA, USPSA, IDPA and MCRGO member
http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~bchamber/10mm.html

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Cactus

· #7 · Nov 1, 2001

Brent,

You said that the trigger job included a new hammer. Was this a Commander style hammer? If so, could it be that the Government Model safety is interferring with the ability to be fully cock the hammer? Check to see if the hammer comes into contact with the safety spur when attempting to cock it.

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mshuell

· #8 · Nov 1, 2001

Dear Brent,

Just so you're aware, I have both volumes of the Kuhnhausen 1911 manuals. Just call the house and stop by if you want to use them.

Mark Shuell.

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Brent Chambers

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 1, 2001

It is a Commader hammer.

Mark, thanks for the offer. I have the Ed Brown one- using it and the forum responses I'm going to give it a shot when my daughter goes to bed.

Thanks!

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NRA, USPSA, IDPA and MCRGO member
http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~bchamber/10mm.html

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Brent Chambers

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 2, 2001

Well guys, you were all right.

After some careful filing the trigger freed up and the sear was enganging properly.

However, in my amaturish stupidity I failed to notice that the Commander style hammer was too long in the spur area to work with the stock safety.

So, back to the crappy looking newer one.

Where could I get a "real" stock hammer, trigger, sear and disconnector for a Series 70 Colt?

Either that, or maybe just have a nice beavertail actually fit to the gun?

It isn't a gem- it was bought off a friend of the families after he retired from 28 years of police work in which this gun rode in his car as a "non-okay'ed" back up gun (things were different when he was working it would seem). HE got it from the evidence room! It has been reblued, is a little rough around the edges, but still fun to shoot.

Hey, thanks a lot for the input. This forum is the greatest thing on the Internet.

Well, one of them anyway...

Brent

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NRA, USPSA, IDPA and MCRGO member
http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~bchamber/10mm.html

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BBBBill

· #11 · Nov 2, 2001

If you/your dad like the trigger job the way it is, you can do what we used to do before beavertails were available. We ground a clearance for the hammer spur in top of the stock grip safety. Even Bill Wilson used to do this on some of his package guns. It doesn't look bad & is easy to do even for a novice. A smith should be able to do it for you for a few dollars.

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blindhogg

· #12 · Nov 2, 2001

Brent
What it sounds like you need is a govt style grip safety that has been clearanced for the commander hammer. They are out there as a matter of fact here is a link to a gun that has one. http://www.blindhogg.com/pictures4.html
Ask around someone here might have one.
Good luck
Chris from Va

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Brent Chambers

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 3, 2001

Chris:

That type would indeed solve the problem.

I'm sorry to read that you cannot take work until 2003- your photos look nice and your prices look even better.

The 70 Series on your page is really nice.

Thanks- I've bookmarked your site and will check back when you're in business full time.

Brent

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NRA, USPSA, IDPA and MCRGO member
http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~bchamber/10mm.html

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