1911 Custom Grip Safeties

[dubbleakshun]

One of the purposes of this modification from the standard safety is to position the shooting hand closer to the plane of the bore and recoil movement of the slide,spreading the recoil over a wider more rounded surface.To accomplish a higher grip on the pistol a .250"radius cut(.220" for Springfields) from the grip safety pin has to be made,removing a good amount of the original grip tangs.After the .250" radius cut is accomplished the new High Ride safety is fitted in the trigger engagement area and blended to the grip area of the frame.It is here where the custom fit can continue until the highest fit is be made possible by contouring the grip's fit for the owner's requirements.I prefer the Ed Brown safeties for this,with the bottom pad to insure deactivation of the safety with a high hold.I also do all my blending slowly using small hand files,automotive sanding paper,00 steel wool,and dremel buffing pads.Thank You;I hope this helps.One other thing,only the rounded Commander type hammers will work on the "Beavertails",The old style hammer spurs will not work.There are Drop-In "Beavertail Safeties"that work quite well with no blending or modification to the pistol's frame or tangs.One is the Wilson Combat #429 and it features a drop slot for the hammer during slide cycling,a very big improvement over the enhanced versions on the Colts.I hope this helps anyone with questions.

[Mike]

Thanks DoubleAction, I plan to have a beavertail installed on my Colt Commander Enhanced version. Everything else about the gun is great, never had a malfunction although I only shoot ball ammo through it. Was thinking about having a new trigger installed but that is strictly for aesthetics. There is a very good gunsmith in my area that specializes in Colt 1911's and Smith revolvers that I am going to take it to. Mike

[dubbleakshun]

I think you would be very pleased with the results Mike.Alot chooses the Ed Brown because of the higher grip;some of the Wilson grips on the CQBs are hardly any improvement over the Drop-Ins.It's choosing the right grip that makes everything work better.

[DoubleAction]

I'll be doing an Ed Brown High Ride grip safety on my new Colt Trophy after the Christmas holidays.The thing I like about stainless is no re-bluing.All I have to do is blend and polish.Right now I've been using a Wilson Combat drop in beavertail which gives me a good higher grip than the factory and just as high as a CQB,thanks to the shorter commander tangs found on the enhanced series 80 Colts.But for the craft,I am fond of the Ed Brown grip safety.

[DoubleAction]

Good Project before summer comes around.

[DoubleAction]

Now that 1911s are own alot of people's minds,this might help.

[Terrapin]

Double Action, how did you post as a guest?!? I have to log in now even to read posts...

[DoubleAction]

It was easy,because at the time,I was a Guest.