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How-to pin a grip safety please

27K views 45 replies 27 participants last post by  Old Rooster  
#1 ·
I would like to pin my GS on my ATI 1911 45acp. Where to go to see how it's done or maybe someone here could explain?
Thank you for all replies
 
#4 ·
There a lot of ways to do it, some neater than others.

I like the "shock buff on top of the MSH" method. You can cut down a shock buffer to place atop the MSH and wedge the grip safety in the disengaged position.


I have also seen a hole drilled in the top of the MSH with a pin inserted to accomplish the same thing.

You can also drill and tap the bottom flange of the grip safety for a set screw to do the job. The screw should protrude rearward enough to keep the grip safety pressed in.

These are all invisible from the gun's exterior, BTW.

The ugliest way I've seen is to simply drill hole through the side of the frame for a pin to hold the GS in.
 
#8 ·
There a lot of ways to do it, some neater than others.

I like the "shock buff on top of the MSH" method. You can cut down a shock buffer to place atop the MSH and wedge the grip safety in the disengaged position.


I have also seen a hole drilled in the top of the MSH with a pin inserted to accomplish the same thing.

You can also drill and tap the bottom flange of the grip safety for a set screw to do the job. The screw should protrude rearward enough to keep the grip safety pressed in.

These are all invisible from the gun's exterior, BTW.

The ugliest way I've seen is to simply drill hole through the side of the frame for a pin to hold the GS in.
KEn's way is simple
He's 2nd way is the way I do it.
Drill hole in MSH and insert a pin and file it down to fit.
1/8 will work but is large for the area requires careful drilling. 3/32 is better or 1/16 and move drill hole out slightly . I make the hole slightly loose so I can remove the pin easily.
 
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#17 ·
That didn't come out right, sorry. I just meant that no one has to understand or approve of what I do or how I build my pistols as they just for me. No offense was intended. :)

I have a very high grip (I once got bit by the slide rails on a 1911 a long time ago) with a 2XL hand and unless I take the time to grip the pistol perfectly I may not compress a grip safety completely. It happened on more than one occasion during competitions and I have no intentions of having the same thing happen in a life threatening situation.

That and JMB didn't think one was required in the 1911 and didn't design one in. But the silly Army wanted it, for reasons only they understood at the time. But I agree with John in that I don't think they're necessary either. :D
 
#20 ·
I pin all my personal guns. Years of IPSC shooting with thumb riding on the high thumb safety and a very high grip actually causes me to push up on the grip safety not in, which is the opposite direction needed to deactivate it. In all my travels around the country competing don’t believe I ever saw a upper level competitor with a grip safety that wasn’t deactivated in some way.
 
#31 ·
I have the grip safety not disengaging consistently without a perfect grip as you all..except because my hand is a bit small for riding the thumb safety. The whole rear of my pistols are configured for me. It happens to work for other big paw challenged folls also…

I keep all my grip safeties functional, even my competitive 1911’s. I don’t shoot open class. Just a preference. In addition to everything else I relieve the gs and housing tangs to allow the gs to move outward more…then adjust the disengagement on the shallow side.

1911’s…gotta love ‘em.
 
#34 ·
This is how I would do it. I assume your grip safety is working. I would not modify the Grip safety or the frame by pinning it. I would buy a new trigger and modify the back of the bow to make the Grip safety not work. This way you can simply change out the trigger to get the blaster back to all safeties working. Plus if you pin the safety it may look funny as many custom smiths fit the grip safety in both the engaged and dis engaged position and if it is always in the disengaged position it may not look right. Anyway just a different way to get what you are after. Good luck.
 
#36 · (Edited)
Tune the grip safety as desired and you shouldn't have an issues. You can typically leave this safety function intact.
This is what I would try (in progression) before disabling.

  • Reduce the tension of the right leg on the leaf spring (viewing from back of pistol) by bending near the start of the leg.
  • Fit a speed bump grip safety.
  • Remove the grip safety, put it in your vice upside down and take one fine file stroke (only) off the bottom, see photo.
Re-install and test after each. It does NOT take much to turn a perfectly good grip safety to trash. Easy does it.

If you still feel you need to disable it after all this. Consider the 1/2 shock buff mod, or pin it.
If you decide to pin, remove the hammer with strut and mark where you need to pin. You want the grip safety depressed fully without wobbling. Drill a 1/16" hole in the top of the MSH where you marked it. An ejector roll pin works nicely.


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#38 ·
Part of “properly fitted” involves the right leaf spring on the sear spring that controls the pressure required to depress the grip safety. On most of my 1911’s the required pressure is moderate, but on a recent Dan Wesson Classic Commander that leaf spring required considerably more grip force to consistently depress the grip safety. There is enough room on the top of the mainspring housing to drill and insert a 1/16 inch pin, but there is not enough room on the bottom of this pistol’s grip safety to drill the appropriate hole to receive such a pin. For me, the most satisfactory answer was to simply reduce the pressure of the controlling leaf spring by very slightly bending it down with my Leatherman needle-nose pliers. Worked like a charm. The grip safety remains 100% functional because it isn’t pinned down or jammed down by a cut-down shok buff, yet is now much easier to depress. The grip safety is now “properly fitted”, because an extra strong grip on this pistol is no longer required.

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