On ambis and being left handed......

[dogdollar]

I am just offering this as a pointer, based on observations I have had, being a left handed person who loves and regularly shoots 1911's.
It is always somewhat amusing to hear the righties debate the merits of the ambi safety; we lefties have no such luxury - it's something we are stuck with, pretty much. And the sad truth is, it's an afterthought part with it's share of potential problems.
One of the problems is that the right side of the ambi connects to the left by means of a rather slop-fit tongue and groove type connection that certainly has the potential to loosen up over time. This situation is all that much more aggravated by those who have a tendency to shoot with their thumb riding the top of the right side safety. A better alternative is to get yourself a nice set of grips that are tall enough to relieve for the safety, just to the extent that the safety engages the grip at the exact position that the safety is swept off and the rear plunger tube cylinder engages the detent in the left side of the safety.
Now you can stomp on it all you want and not needlessly torque that precarious tongue and groove connection between the two halves. Now when you push down, you're just pushing against the relieved portion of the grip.
Last, don't get me wrong - this is a great fix for any lefty, even if you don't ride the safety. Every time you click that right side off with a tad of extra force you're straining that tongue and groove connection. After - what - a thousand, two thousand times - it's only common sense to be expect it to get sloppy. This helps.
Here is a pic of my SCG with the grips relieved for the right side ambi just right:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/SCG2.jpg



DD

[Bud White]

Excellent Post DD ..

I wish they would make the safetys more like the Kings or the Ambi style for the Hi power..

While sure i can flick the safety off with my trigger finger if i torque the gun as i draw but its not a supersure grip i want to try when im drawing and Fighting with for my life..

[dogdollar]

Excellent Post DD ..

I wish they would make the safetys more like the Kings or the Ambi style for the Hi power..

While sure i can flick the safety off with my trigger finger if i torque the gun as i draw but its not a supersure grip i want to try when im drawing and Fighting with for my life..

Thanks, Bud.
And...I agree. I will NOT compromise my grip when I draw to allow for a way around an ambi safety...that is madness.
DD

[CryingWolf]

I won't debate the merits of the ambi safety, I am right handed and in most cases I do just like having an original looking 1911. I would probably end up removing most ambi safeties in my own 1911s. Although, the other night a proud owner of a left handed Randall, was showing me his very fine pistol. It is really a shame with the looks and seemingly popularity of the 1911 and with all the after market parts that there are no real makers of left handed 1911s. I understand manufacturers reluctance to produce left handed pistols on a regular bases, retooling machines etc costs might be higher but simply put the controls for the 1911 are all right hand based. Mag release, slide stop, safety etc. It is nice to at least see a little relief for lefties in the fact that a 1911 can take a ambi safety. Too bad that in the end lefties couldn't find relief in manufactures like Colt, Springfield etc. I think if these companies tried they could produce a reasonable "left hand" 1911.

[dogdollar]

I won't debate the merits of the ambi safety, I am right handed and in most cases I do just like having an original looking 1911. I would probably end up removing most ambi safeties in my own 1911s. Although, the other night a proud owner of a left handed Randall, was showing me his very fine pistol. It is really a shame with the looks and seemingly popularity of the 1911 and with all the after market parts that there are no real makers of left handed 1911s. I understand manufacturers reluctance to produce left handed pistols on a regular bases, retooling machines etc costs might be higher but simply put the controls for the 1911 are all right hand based. Mag release, slide stop, safety etc. It is nice to at least see a little relief for lefties in the fact that a 1911 can take a ambi safety. Too bad that in the end lefties couldn't find relief in manufactures like Colt, Springfield etc. I think if these companies tried they could produce a reasonable "left hand" 1911.

Actually, IMHO the mag release ( and arguably, the slide stop), is a much better situation for a leftie. I don't have to stretch my thumb around to catch it and I KNOW where my trigger finger is.
DD

[RickB]

I tend to apply the safety using the lever on the left side, to reduce the cycles on pin joint. I won't buy ambi-cut grips, as way too much material is removed, leaving the off-side lever "floating", and all torque going straight to that relatively fragile pin. I do the relieveing by hand, so that the lever is riding the top of the grip panel, and the retaining finger is riding a shelf on the inside.

[oilcrash]

For my Kimber Eclipse Pro II, and I will apologize for the lack of pictures, but I don't own a camera.

The ambi-safety I installed on it replaces the sear pin so there is no need to relieve the grips.

[sevenL4]

DOGDOLLAR, I'm righthanded but regularly practice lefthanded. Your idea idea certainly has merit and the photo makes it very clear. Great post! The next leftie I see will be told about your solution.

[CryingWolf]

Actually, IMHO the mag release ( and arguably, the slide stop), is a much better situation for a leftie. I don't have to stretch my thumb around to catch it and I KNOW where my trigger finger is.
DD

Good point! Note to self must try to shoot off hand once in a while. Still, would feel backwards to me though. The Randall owner let me fondle the lefty, which I did left handed, not quite at home because I am right handed but I found the experience to be interesting. I am sure if I was left handed I would want one.

[Bud White]

Actually, IMHO the mag release ( and arguably, the slide stop), is a much better situation for a leftie. I don't have to stretch my thumb around to catch it and I KNOW where my trigger finger is.
DD

I agree The Mag release is super easy to hit with middle finger and slide release with trigger finger

[Hill]

I've had the habit of carrying the 1911 on the halfcock notch since 1968 because I'm lefthanded. Don't use the safety at all. I guess if I wanted to shoot any of the 'action' type matches I'd have to change my ways.

I've noticed that Fusion is selling grips with "ambi-cut". Are yours from him, dogcollar, or do you make them too.

[dogdollar]

I've had the habit of carrying the 1911 on the halfcock notch since 1968 because I'm lefthanded. Don't use the safety at all. I guess if I wanted to shoot any of the 'action' type matches I'd have to change my ways.

I am no expert on the 1911, but I do know a little bit - and to my knowledge the half cock function is meant to serve only as a safety of last resort if the hammer somehow snuck past the sear unintentionally. I don't believe it was ever meant to be intentionally used as a failsafe option, and I'm sure someone will come along with all of the implications of doing so.
Of course, If you've been doing it since 1968 (when I was in middle school), it seems to be working for you, and I won't comment any further.

I've noticed that Fusion is selling grips with "ambi-cut". Are yours from him, dogcollar, or do you make them too.
"Ambi-cut" genarally refers to the grips being relieved under the right side for the "arm" of the right side of the ambi to fit under the grip, which is basically the only thing that holds it on the gun on an ambi configured like that.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/CC.jpg


Some other ambi's. like the King's 201A and one of the Kimber models, come with a replacement hammer pin that extends past the right side of the frame. The pin extension has a groove machined around its circumference which captures the blade of the right side of the safety to hold it in place. I find this a superior alternative because it does not require that grips be relieved on the underside for the safety.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/DocH_RtSd.jpg


It does NOT, however, alleviate the possibility of overtorquing the internal pin connection I talked about earlier.
DD

[Hill]

Thanks, I appreciate your thorough response.

Ummm, is that your pistol in the bottom photo?

SELL IT TO ME!!! :)

I'm guessing (doh) that"LB" in the serial number is Les Baer, and I could go to him to buy my own?
Sometimes you see a pistol that just trips your trigger, you know, and that one did it to me.

The halfcock notch has been used by left handed shooters for quite a while. At least I've run across people over the years who do it. It needs to be an original configuration hammer though, and I'd physically look at the hammer of an unfamiliar pistol before doing it. I think Jeff Cooper even listed it as a viable carry condition but I never memorized his list and would need to go look it up to say which number is attached.

[Hill]

OK, on second study I see "Baer" on the slide. Beautiful pistol!

[dogdollar]

OK, on second study I see "Baer" on the slide. Beautiful pistol!

Yes, that is one of my children.
It started life as a Baer Concept VII, and I had a little work done on it to make it what I consider the perfect carry weapon.
Here's the story:
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=36619

Thanks for the compliments!!
DD