I have a springfield armory loaded 1911 that originally came with a beavertail grip safety. Shortly after I bought it, I broke it. The grip safety, thumb safety and hammer were replaced with GI parts. Now I want to return it to its original configuration. Unfortunately I cannot find a beavertail grip safety that I know would work. Wilson combat says they have one that may work and springfield will not sell me one. Any ideas?
Springfield Armory 1911 grip safety
- Thread starter ngoforth
- Start date
I have looked at them and they will not work. I have found out that there is a difference between the GI version and the loaded springfield frames. I called springfield and they said they had a note that the smith and alexander .220 radius safety would work, so I called smith and alexander and was told that they will not work. Smith and alexander told me the only one that will work is springfields. they will not sell me one. My only option may be to send it back and pay them to do the work.
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
Measure the sight radius as best you can if it is a .220 radius any made for that radius will work.. I would get EGW.. They will sell you one if you send them money...
Edit
Ok, I may have erred on this. Check this link..
https://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?44569-Drop-in-grip-safety-on-springfield-loaded
hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
i have a stainless 1911 Springfield that had a faulty thumb safety from the start. I just stuck a colt thumb safety in which worked fine and used it that way for 10 years. It is a blue safety though and i decided i wanted it stock, and SA has a lifetime warranty, so I put the old safety back in, called them and sent it back for repair. If you have the old part you could do the same. Seems like they would fix it for you even if you didnt have the old part. I thought of buying a range officer so Im glad to know about this. You dont say why an aftermarket grip safety wont work. You want it stock Id send it to SA for repair. if it was mine I could make an aftermarket work. Wouldnt be that difficult. Im no smith and dont do work for other people either.
Id be interested to know what differences in the safetys are. if a GI safety would work, seems like the only difference would be the way the frame clearance is ground. thats an easy fix.
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hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
thats what id feel like but that wont change anything. they dont wanna act that way they have to. they have to be very careful about liability these days.
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hoz53
Gold $$ Contributor
dont you mean frame radius instead of sight radius you dirty devil
I can not fault Springfield at all. It was a freak accident that caused the damage. I put it in a rifle case and the wind blew it off a bench, the case opened up and then it got thrown out of the case after another gust of wind and slid across concrete. I had kept the old parts but after 20 years I don’t know where they went or I would put them back in and send it back under warranty. The gun works just fine and it looks like I will just keep it as is. I don’t know if any 1911 smiths near me. I am north of Cincinnati Ohio. I had thought if I could find a new safety it would be worth the money to see if I could fit it and try to learn something and if it didn’t work oh well.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Buy a brand safety that also sells a fitting button jig. Send it to nighthawk or wilson combat- they will fix it
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
Yeah I sure did.. I was very tired when I posted that...dont you mean frame radius instead of sight radius you dirty devil
Cemetery21
NRA Life since 1975
Springfield warranty used to be one of the best in the business. I'ts been a long time since I talked to them, but you might give them call/email and see what options they have. You would get a properly fit part that matched your finish.
Telephone: 800-680-6866
Email: warranty@springfieldwarranty.com
Telephone: 800-680-6866
Email: warranty@springfieldwarranty.com
I guess that Springfield won't because fitting it is safety critical, and a misfit will render it unsafe. Maybe ask if a Gunn Schmidt you're friendly with can buy one, and either fit it or sell it to you?
There are lots of "restricted" parts that companies won't sell to 'Gunn Schmidts'. You have to be an authorized repair shop for that particular company. And, authorized repair shops must follow the same practices and company rules the manufacture uses. If you don't, your "Authorized Repair Center" can an may be revoked, which can cost you a lot of money and future business. Anyone can claim to be a 'Gunn Schmidt' these days.
I have talked to Springfield. The rep said they would be happy to do the work but it would not be a warranty claim and I agree with them. I also talked to some other companies and their grip safeties will not fit. I never would have thought that there would be so many different sizes/cuts for the grip safety. the best thing about this is I am learning something for the future.
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
By fit companies mean, "Not a drop in part". You may need very minor fitting for a Smith and Alexander safety to work. As long as the radius is correct, most are .220" the major work is already done.
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
One more option.. You are about 150 miles to Novaks in Parkersburg WV. Drive there and drop it off. They can mail it back..
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