Series 80 grip safety and hammer question

[gfavaron]

I am having a senior moment here. I vaguely recall Tuner saying somewhere that Colt Series 80 grip safeties and hammers differ from those in other 1911's. I have a brand new Colt's Mdl 09091 that is chewing my hand up with it's spur hammer. As I have in my other 1911's (70's and pre 70's) I would like to fit a commander style hammer and a "drop in" grip safety before i bleed to death.

Can anyone (Tuner?) give me some notion as to just what the differences are, and what problems I might encounter?

(And yes OD* my hand IS flabby.)

(And no OD* a band aid and a HOORAH! is not the only "manly" solution. :scared:

[Hersh]

Well I'm certainly not Tuner and I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn last night, but here's my 2 cents. The difference between grip safeties has to do with the frame tangs rather than whether or not the gun is a Series 80.

Wilson has a grip safety that "drops in" in the sense that the tangs do not have to be altered. You may have to alter the shelf where it meets the trigger bow and they include instructions that will show you how to make the adjustment.

Here's one I installed recently.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/Hershel_Van/DSC00105.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/Hershel_Van/DSC00106.jpg

[clughog]

Here's the link to the Wilson Drop In Beavertail grip safety.
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/a_beavertail_safeties_di.asp. The
429SG sounds like the one you need. I got a blued Wilson Drop In from Brownells and it fit just right. Here's the link. http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=16464&st=429SG&s=. The Brownells write up mentions that it fits both Series 70 and Series 80 pisltols.

[gfavaron]

Thanks Hersh. I've "dropped In" Wilsons into a couple of 70 series and am pleased with the result. Frankly I hadn't even noticed the very real difference in the tangs in the 80 series. I was too focused on the internals I guess. Now that you point it out, the difference is huge. How about the hammers?

[Hersh]

Thanks Hersh. I've "dropped In" Wilsons into a couple of 70 series and am pleased with the result. Frankly I hadn't even noticed the very real difference in the tangs in the 80 series. I was too focused on the internals I guess. Now that you point it out, the difference is huge. How about the hammers?

The hammer won't be an issue either. Mine is a Nowlin which was recommended by Wichaka. He suggested going ahead and getting a sear from the same manufacturer as whichever hammer you buy since they should, theoretically, mate up well. I have the Nowlin Pro hammer and Pro Match sear and they fit well!

Btw, I feel the pain on your hand. The gun in my pic originally had the standard GI grip safety. One Saturday I shot an IDPA match and a classifier and got a nasty third degree "strawberry."

If you get the parts from Brownells be sure and use their sponsor banner at the top of the page ... it will make El Commandante smile!

[1911Tuner]

The frame tangs are the same. The lug that blocks the trigger is relieved on one side of the Series 80 grip safety in order to clear the levers in the right side of the frame. The hammers are different, but completely interchangeable.

If you want to switch from a spur hammer to a rowel...Commander...type hammer, the grip safety must be swapped out or altered to accommodate it.

[gfavaron]

Thanks guys - by the way I was comparing tangs on commanders to tangs on govt's. My mistake.