PDA

View Full Version : Thumb safety question


Jon
1st February 2005, 01:19
Ok. I have found that it is easier to explain this with a picture:

http://home.comcast.net/~jmaia5/firearms/1991a1t.jpg

I have a Colt 1991-A1 series 80. I installed a "drop-in" Chip McCormick grip safety and hammer. Now, here is the issue. When the gun is in condition 1 (cocked and locked, as in the above image), if I apply pressure to the hammer as illustrated by the black arrow (without touching anything else), the thumb safety disengates (as shown by the white arrow). I suspect this might be something to do with a part being out of tolerance on either the grip safety or hammer, as this did not happen with the original factory parts. This requires maybe 3 pounds of pressure to accomplish. This is also why I have a holster with a thumb break. On the off chance that I accidentally disengage the thumb safety, I don't want a gun sitting in a holster at condition zero with nothing in the way of that hammer.... Anyone have any ideas what else might be going on? Is this a problem with the McCormick parts that people have maybe encountered in the past? I'm waiting to hear back from the tech people at Chip McCormick to see what they say, but figured I'd post it here as well......

wichaka
1st February 2005, 01:57
Tuner might have a different take...........but my first thought is that the hooks on the hammer where the sear engages, is putting the sear at a bit different 'cocking' angle. Just enough so the thumb safety will have to be re-fitted. I suggest you take off the grip safety, and re-assemble everything else. Now look up thru the hole that the grip safety normally occupies, and put the safety on & off, to see how the 2 lugs (sear & safety) are matching up.

When you put the new hammer in, did you do anything to the sear? As in re-cut anything?

Is the grip safety holding the trigger as it should?

Jon
1st February 2005, 04:37
I didn't do any changes to the sear, no. Will check the thumb safety lugs tomorrow..... And the grip safety functions completely normally....

Jon
9th February 2005, 16:44
Well, spoke to the tech guru at Chip McCormick today. He said the best bet is to head over to a gunsmith and have them shape the thumb safety lug to the correct fit for the new hammer/grip safety combo. So now I just need to find a gunsmith that doesn't have a three week backup of work to do....... :(

wichaka
9th February 2005, 17:39
If you're close to me, stop by and I'll fix you up...........no charge.