Springfield 1911-A1 ambi safety problem

[Kokopelli]

After decades in the sport, I finally bought a 1911. I think it is a Springfield 1911-A1 Loaded, and it is chambered in 45ACP. I got it used and have been cleaning and oiling it.

It has a problem with engaging the safety. With the hammer cocked, the safety sometimes hangs up on a pin on the right side of the frame. (See the first picture below.) Is this ambidextrous safety an after market part? Any suggestions for fixing the problem? I'm thinking of replacing it with a non-ambi safety.

Your suggestions and input are appreciated.

[GM4spd]

SA should fix it for free. Personally if you don't need an ambidextrous,I
would just use a regular one. I have never liked them on any 1911 pistol I've handled or shot,but I'm not left handed,either. Pete

[buruli]

Sear pin is evidently too long, or perhaps someone messed with the countersink on the left side of the gun. If you know how to take the gun all the way down, check the pin. Length of the pin as per the original print is 0.780" +0.000 - 0.010 Get a new pin, of file that one down.

[SoldierLife7]

Is the pin "sunk" in on the other side? Maybe it just needs to be centered in the frame?

[mofojoe]

Is the pin "sunk" in on the other side? Maybe it just needs to be centered in the frame?

x2^^^

[Kokopelli]

I lightly tapped the pin flush with a punch. It clears the safety temporarily, then seems to back out and hangs up on the ambi again. It's only a couple thousandths of an inch of movement but apparently enough to hang up.

Is this ambi original to this gun?

[5ZS]

Can't really tell in the photo, is the pin rounded or flat?

If it is rounded, than it should stick out just a little from the frame. So rounded ones are the wrong one for ambi's.

If it is flat, than it is out of spec and too long.

The cheap fix is to just gring/sand the pin down. I would just get replacement, since they are inexpensive and easily replaceable.

[Kokopelli]

Thank you. The pin is flat. Here are two more pictures. The first shows a clearer view and the second shows the safety hanging up on the pin.

[JTROKS]

Yup just out of spec if it keeps protruding out because the pin has a small tapered head on the other side to keep it from doing that. Do you know how to take that out? If the tapered head is still intact you just need to touch up that pin with emery cloth then cold blue. That ambi-safety can be a PITA to take off which is required to remove the problem pin. We can assist you if you feel like tackling the job.

Replacing the ambi-safety with a right handed only safety is not that simple. In most cases the safety is not a drop in part. I've also done a modification by just removing the right side and adding a pin to make it look like a single sided safety.

[1911whore]

Hammer pin has a taper, sear pin does not. File it down, cold blue or so my get a new pin. from the photos the ambidextrous safety appears to be a Springfield ambidextrous safety and would likely be the original safety with the gun....if you don't feel like fixing it you can always send it back to Springfield

[seal20]

I would check to make sure it's also not hanging up on those grips. It looks like the right side is resting on the top of the grip.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

OP, the Springfield Loaded does come from the factory with an ambidextrous safety. It is hard to tell if that is the original part, but I am guessing it is as it wouldn't make much sense to swap the factory ambi for an aftermarket ambi.

[JTROKS]

Hammer pin has a taper, sear pin does not. File it down, cold blue or so my get a new pin. from the photos the ambidextrous safety appears to be a Springfield ambidextrous safety and would likely be the original safety with the gun....if you don't feel like fixing it you can always send it back to Springfield

Both pins have the tapered head.

[Mossy Man]

OP, the Springfield Loaded does come from the factory with an ambidextrous safety. It is hard to tell if that is the original part, but I am guessing it is as it wouldn't make much sense to swap the factory ambi for an aftermarket ambi.

The stainless one i had did also

[1911whore]

Sent that on the fly, I stand corrected.