1911 Grip Safety Question

[Finnished]

Hello all,

I have recently inherited a 1911 from a family member who passed. It is a complete Frankenstein, with an Essex frame, Israeli milsurp slide and a mix and match for everything else. It was in need of some TLC, so I fully detail stripped it, cleaned it, and put it all back together. The two issues I noticed when first inspecting it both prior and after disassembly were that inserting a magazine into the grip was tremendously difficult. I squared that away with a lighter mag release spring.

Second issue, I also noticed that the grip safety did not function. When the hammer is down however, I am able to get the grip safety to engage to prevent further travel of the trigger, but still some travel exists. I understand how this interacts with the trigger bar, but is this common? I'm guessing either someone filed the grip safety down a bit too much, or its just not adequate size. Either way, opinions appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Finnished]

 

[SPDguns]

Without looking at it in person, it's hard to say but the grip safety has to fit properly with the trigger bow. And the grip safety leg of the spring.

 

[Finnished]

Without looking at it in person, it's hard to say but the grip safety has to fit properly with the trigger bow. And the grip safety leg of the spring.

The spring has pretty good tension. The grip safety is reasonably snappy and responsive. I guess then it is the grip safety itself that's just cut too short. I have also heard folks say that Essex frames can be out of spec from time to time and result in wonky part interactions. Everything else seems to work just fine though. Fortunately grip safeties aren't too expensive. Part of me isn't particularly worried about the grip safety but if it's there is supposed to be there

 

[rockchalk06]

Some Stacatto and STI guys pin it or put a rubberband around it. Some of the double stacked 2011, 2019 1911 flavors don't have one.

Unless it's a range queen, my spidy sense says replace it and it's needed. I do know from experience years ago, filing too much on the grip safety area that makes contact with the spring, can deactivate it. That could be the issue or it was done intentionally to deactivate it.

 

[JEVapa]

It's a habit from a long time ago (and we used to do it when we still had 1911s) to fiddle with the tines on the leaf spring to lighten the trigger, and to lighten or disengage the grip safety. It can still be springy and be almost completely ineffective. If you're unsure, get it to a competent pistolsmith.

 

[KurtM]

Never mind, a lack of reading skill on my part

 

[Snattlerake]

Never mind, a lack of reading skill on my part

I have that similar affliction.

 

[Finnished]

Some Stacatto and STI guys pin it or put a rubberband around it. Some of the double stacked 2011, 2019 1911 flavors don't have one.

Unless it's a range queen, my spidy sense says replace it and it's needed. I do know from experience years ago, filing too much on the grip safety area that makes contact with the spring, can deactivate it. That could be the issue or it was done intentionally to deactivate it.

I totally wouldn't be surprised by that. My relative was a gunsmith in the Marines and his to favorite flavors were M14s and 1911s when serving. I bet that's exactly right

 

[HiredHand]

A picture of the grip safety would help. You can also use a hammer to peen the leg of the grip safety that blocks the trigger bow’s rearward travel. It might give you enough material to make the grip safety function again. Otherwise just get yourself a new grip safety.

A grip safety can be tuned to function properly without the need for pinning or rubber bands.

Edit: It also looks like your magazine release isn’t fit properly to the frame. Try removing the magazine release from the frame and taking out the catch lock. Then place the magazine release without the spring and lock back into the frame and check that it moves freely in the frame. If it doesn’t you may need to remove material from the magazine catch until it will move smoothly without the frame.