Ambi Thumb Safety Issue

**jdhaines32** · 26th November 2025, 23:57

I took my Springfield Armory Ronin 1911 10mm to the gunsmith to have a ambidextrous thumb safety installed. I chose the Wilson Combat Bullet Proof Ambi Thumb Safety. I got it back from the gunsmith today and when I got it home I didn’t sone functioning test with snap caps. I am having issues but I’m not sure of the cause since this is my first 1911.

When the hammer is placed in full cock and the thumb safety is engaged if I pull the trigger and the press the grip safety as if firing the gun the hammer will drop about 1/4 of the way forward almost every time even with the thumb safety engaged. If I continue to pull the trigger with the grip safety some of the times the hammer will fall even farther ward so that it is now about 3/4 of the way forward toward the firing pin. Other times it will drop the hammer all the way forward when pulling the trigger and pressing the grip safety in with the thumb safety still engaged, which would obviously allow it to fire a round. When it doesn’t drop the hammer all the forward in this situation and I disengage the thumb safety it will then allow the hammer to drop all the way forward as the safety is disengaged again allowing it to fire just by taking the safety off.

I’m sure none of this is supposed to be happening and I am really surprised the gunsmith allowed this to leave his shop without seeing this was happening. I am going to take it back, but I would like to have a bit of an idea as to what would be possible causes for this situation to happen. My limited 1911 knowledge makes me think that maybe too much material was removed somewhere when the safety was being fitted. Has anyone experienced this issue before or what would be some possible causes for this to be occurring with the thumb safety still engaged in the on position? Thanks for any info or suggestions that can be provided.

**Rick McC.** · 27th November 2025, 21:45

Either the parts are very much out of spec (which I doubt); or something went awry with the ‘smith’s work.
I’m very surprised the he let it leave the shop that way, as well.

Let us know what he says…

**Doran** · 28th November 2025, 03:00

Welcome to the forum.

I agree with Rick McC; incorrect fitting more likely than the Wilson parts causing the issues. I would revert back to the old parts and find a different gunsmith. It's one thing to make a mistake but unacceptable to release the firearm back to you in that condition.

**Hawkmoon** · 29th November 2025, 22:53

If the trigger is pulled with the thumb safety engaged, the sear should not move and the hammer should not move, not even to the half-cock position. Unfortunately, your pistol is now unsafe. The gunsmith who installed the ambi safety botched the job. He should not have allowed it to leave his shop in that state.

Return it to him and ask him to fix it.

**jdhaines32** · 1st December 2025, 19:58

I got my 1911 back today and it is now working as it should have from the beginning. The issue ended up being that the right side of the Ambi safety was slightly hitting the underside of the slide when the safety paddle was pushed up to engage the safety. There was the very audible click of the safety snapping into place but apparently it was not fully engaged which is why the safety would disengage and allow the hammer to drop with enough pressure on the trigger. A little material had to be removed on the top of the right side of the safety to clear the slide and now it is functioning as intended. The gunsmith said everything worked as it was supposed before he put the slide back on so apparently he didn’t check function after putting the slide back on and before returning it to me the first time.