Slide Lock Problem

[co35fire]

I just came into possession of my first 1911. It is a Colt Gold Cup Trophy and it looks to be in excellent shape.
The problem I am experiencing is w/ the Slide Lock. If I engage the slide lock and I'm holding the pistol so the backstrap safety is depressed and then wiggle the trigger a couple times the hammer will fall.
This shouldn't happen, correct? I have reviewed the manual and it says that w/ the slide lock safety engaged, the sear pin should prevent the hammer from falling.
Could the trigger be adjusted incorrectly?
Like I said, I'm new to the world of the 1911 and I would greatly appreciate any help you could provide.

Thanks!

[paul45]

Are talking about the slide stop or thumb safety? .........and I had to get my magnifying lens out to read your tiny font!!

[Pappy]

I just came into possession of my first 1911. It is a Colt Gold Cup Trophy and it looks to be in excellent shape.
The problem I am experiencing is w/ the Slide Lock. If I engage the slide lock and I'm holding the pistol so the backstrap safety is depressed and then wiggle the trigger a couple times the hammer will fall.
This shouldn't happen, correct? I have reviewed the manual and it says that w/ the slide lock safety engaged, the sear pin should prevent the hammer from falling.
Could the trigger be adjusted incorrectly?
Like I said, I'm new to the world of the 1911 and I would greatly appreciate any help you could provide.

Thanks!

First let me welcome you to the Forum.
Do you mean the thumb safety? The slide lock will hold the slide back and no way will the hammer fall.
I'll let others comment on the trigger/thumb safety/sear. Good luck...Pappy

[co35fire]

Sorry for the confusion, in the manual it is referred to as the 'Slide Lock Safety', but it is engaged and disengaged w/ your thumb. So, I presume that it is referred to as a 'thumb safety'.

With the slide forward and the hammer cocked, you slide the safety up w/ your thumb to prevent movement of the slide. But if I fiddle w/ the trigger a couple times, the hammer will fall. Just curious what might cause this to happen? (improper adjustment, excessive wear).

Thanks for your replies!

[Pappy]

Sorry for the confusion, in the manual it is referred to as the 'Slide Lock Safety', but it is engaged and disengaged w/ your thumb. So, I presume that it is referred to as a 'thumb safety'.

With the slide forward and the hammer cocked, you slide the safety up w/ your thumb to prevent movement of the slide. But if I fiddle w/ the trigger a couple times, the hammer will fall. Just curious what might cause this to happen? (improper adjustment, excessive wear).

Thanks for your replies!

The thumb safety will lock the slide (while forward) and prevent hammer fall. The slide lock will hold the slide back.
Does the trigger face have a hole for an allen wrench?

[co35fire]

OK, it's the thumb safety then.

Yes, the trigger face has a hole for an allen wrench and an allen wrench is included in the case.

[Pappy]

OK, it's the thumb safety then.

Yes, the trigger face has a hole for an allen wrench and an allen wrench is included in the case.

Hang in there my friend. I've asked O.D. to respond. He and many others have more knowledge in this area...Pappy

[co35fire]

I really appreciate the help! I got this pistol from a friend. I have wanted one of these for a LONG time. I had a HK USP Compact .45 that he wanted so we worked out a deal. He got the Colt on a trade and he is more into tactical weapons.
We made the deal last night and I was checking it out and found this. I'm hoping it's just an adjustment. The gun doesn't look like it's been shot a tremendous amount.
I was checking on the web and found this forum.
I do appreciate all the help!

[d90king]

Co35,
Welcome to the forum. Are you fully engaging safety when gun is chambered and cocked? If you are and that is still happening it sounds very dangerous especially if you planned to use it as a carry piece. What do you mean by fiddling with the trigger? Are you trying to dry fire and it is allowing you to fire while safety is fully engaged ? Be carefull until you figure it out, there are plenty of folks here who can point you in the right direction.

Patrick

[OD*]

co35fire,

Sounds more like a poorly fitted thumb safety, if the adjustment screw was tightened too much, the hammer wouldn't fall, even if you pulled the trigger deliberately, it wouldn't trip the sear. If it were loose or even missing, it wouldn't have any effect, I take the adjustment screws out of pistols that will be carried for SD.

[co35fire]

Not going to be used as a carry piece, just target shooting. There is no round in the chamber when this happens.
When I say 'fiddling' w/ the trigger, I mean squeezing it a couple times. I was checking to see if the Thumb safety prevented a cocked hammer from falling on a dry chamber. The thumb safety is fully engaged and the first time you squeeze the trigger it prevents the hammer from falling, but if you squeeze and release the trigger several times the thumb safety releases itselfs and the hammer falls.

Thanks!

[Pappy]

Not going to be used as a carry piece, just target shooting. There is no round in the chamber when this happens.
When I say 'fiddling' w/ the trigger, I mean squeezing it a couple times. I was checking to see if the Thumb safety prevented a cocked hammer from falling on a dry chamber. The thumb safety is fully engaged and the first time you squeeze the trigger it prevents the hammer from falling, but if you squeeze and release the trigger several times the thumb safety releases itselfs and the hammer falls.

Thanks!

OK, the thumb safety lever moves down by itself while trigger is repeatly pulled?
If so, than a weak plunger spring folks??? Pappy

[co35fire]

Yes, the thumb safety drops out by itself if you squeeze and release the trigger several times. What would cause the plunger spring to weaken?

[Pappy]

Yes, the thumb safety drops out by itself if you squeeze and release the trigger several times. What would cause the plunger spring to weaken?

At the very top of the left hand grip panel is the plunger tube. Inside is a spring and at each end is a plunger. Left plunger contacts the slide stop and the right plunger should prevent thumb safety lever from moving down until you push lever with some force. Look at this area closely. What do you see??

[OD*]

Pappy,

Even with the plunger spring and it's caps removed from the pistol, the thumb safety shouldn't move when pulling the trigger. ;)

[co35fire]

I know this might be a stupid question, but I assume you want me to remove the grip panel, correct?

What will I be looking for?

[Pappy]

Pappy,

Even with the plunger spring and it's caps removed from the pistol, the thumb safety shouldn't move when pulling the trigger. ;)

But what else holds/keeps it in place? W/O the spring/caps, isn't the lever is free to 'float'? i.e. "squeeze and release the trigger several times". may let it fall by it's own weight?

[Pappy]

I know this might be a stupid question, but I assume you want me to remove the grip panel, correct?

What will I be looking for?

No need to remove grip panel. Only directing you to look at that area. Does the lever move up and down easily?

[co35fire]

yes, the lever moves up and down pretty easy. It has a bit of tension, and seems to snap into place when engaged.

[OD*]

Pappy,

This is what the TS should look like, looking at it from the right side of the pistol;
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/tech/safety_on.jpg

If it falls from it's own weight, or by pulling the trigger (with the thumb safety on), it is not fitted properly.

[Pappy]

yes, the lever moves up and down pretty easy. It has a bit of tension, and seems to snap into place when engaged.

Go here:

http://www.m1911.org/technic_forum.htm

And click on:

How to function-check an M-1911 (courtesy of D. Camm) (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:redirectWin4%28%27technic25.htm%27%29)

[co35fire]

Thanks for the link, I checked it out and under the Thumb Safety Check section it says:
'Holding gun normally with firing hand, slide forward, hammer cocked, thumb safety ON. Attempt to pull trigger. The hammer should not fall, nor should you feel any perceptible movement of internal parts. If you squeezed the trigger and it didn't come to a quick, hard stop (i.e. the trigger felt mushy) then there may have been some sear movement.'
When I squeeze the trigger the first time, it DOES come to a quick, hard stop. But, if you squeeze it one or two more times, the thumb safety drops out and the hammer falls.
So, it looks as though I might have a faulty thumb safety or sear. What might have caused this, and what is the best way to go about getting it fixed?

[John]

The thumb safety is NOT blocking the sear properly. It has nothing to do with the plungers or anything else. The thumb safety needs either to be replaced or peened a little to better block the sear. Remove the grip safety from the gun and reassemble everything else. In that way you will be able to see what's happening in the rear of the pistol. Move the thumb safety up and down a couple of times to figure out the area which blocks the sear. If you now squeeze the trigger, you will probably see that the safety allows the sear to move a little, instead of totally blocking it. Eventually the sear moves enough to allow the sear nose to move away from the hammer hooks and let the hammer fall.

You can try using a hammer to peen a little the area of the thumb safety which blocks the sear (elongate it a little) so that there is no movement of the sear when the trigger is pressed. Admitedly not a new-comers job, but it can be done. Otherwise you need a new thumb safety.

[Pappy]

Thanks for jumping in John. I wanted to help, but this is beyond my expertise...Pappy

[co35fire]

I'm not so sure I want to start putting a hammer to parts of my 1911 just yet! :)

But, I will dig into the pistol and see what I can see. That's the best way to learn and it looks like this place has a wealth of knowledge I can dig into.

I have to sign off for awhile, but I will definitely let you folks know what I find when I get into the pistol.

THANK YOU very much to all who replied!

[Hunter]

Welcome to the forum. Do you know if the thumb safety is factory or aftermarket. My guess is it has been misfitted, I would call Colt at 1 800 962 Colt and get a replacement thumb safety.