Need ambi safety cut in 1911 grip - Bucks County

[RHGregory3]

Can anyone recommend someone in bucks county to cut an ambi safety in my cocobolo grips? Thanks!

[red dog]

do not know anybody up your way. being a lefty myself i have done this numerous times on my 1911,s. for what a smith will charge you and the possible wait time go get a inexpensive dremel tool kit and do it yourself. just remember you can not put back what you take off so slow and easy is the rule. better to have checked fit and function often than remove to much. this is a nice beginner project that can be done by anybody that can field strip their gun for cleaning. worst case, you tried and your only out a set of grips. good luck, have fun and remember we are smarter than it is. red dog

[mollymayhem82]

One word: dremel. Just take your time with it. Go a little bit at a time.

[cdi]

A bit of shameless self-promotion:
I am a gunsmith in Bucks.

I would not cut that stock panel with a dremel. I would fixture it in the milling machine and make the precise cut.

One slip of the dremel and your stock panel will forever look like ass.

[Python73]

I am a gunsmith in Bucks.

I would not cut that stock panel with a dremel. I would fixture it in the milling machine and make the precise cut.

If you don't mind sharing, what would you charge for that service? Ballpark fine. I think if gunsmiths had decent websites that listed their basic services (shit you do every day or week) and prices, they'd get a lot more business. For instance I'm interested in having a hammer replaced in a 1911, and an ambi safety replaced with a non-ambi. But not only would I have to find a local GS and go there or call them, I have no clue how much such a thing would cost. So I don't bother. It just goes on the long list of things I'll probably never do.

[cdi]

It would be somewhere in the $20.00 range.

Replacing your hammer and safety would cost you about $10.00- and I'd do it before your very eyes- IF you brought the parts in with the gun.

There is a big IF on that though. The parts have to fit. Depending on who made your 1911 and what parts you select, it is unlikely that the standard thumb lock (safety) will just drop into the gun.

Most of the time the thumb lock has to be fitted and there is very little room for error. Fitting for the new thumb lock would be in the 25.00 range.

It is likely the hammer will not need to be fitted. That being said, the hammer should be checked for compatibility with the existing sear. It is possible to change the angle on sears and hammers but I do not recommend it.

It is usually better to purchase them as a set.

Sorry about the lack of a web site,but I would much rather be repairing arms than maintaining a web site. If you are interested in a ball park figure for work, you have but to pick up the phone and talk to me directly.

You can PM me here or call the shop or email- I am not hard to find.

Sean

[Python73]

Sorry about the lack of a web site,but I would much rather be repairing arms than maintaining a web site.

The above statement covers just about everyone with a small to medium business of any kind. I don't knock you for it, I understand perfectly. However, I am part of the generation of people who pretty much demand web access to the businesses we deal with. So I feel it is always worth saying, just to help business owners understand how important having a useful website is.

As for the rest of the info... that's great stuff. Thanks! I wish I lived in your neck of the woods, we'd be doing some business.

[ranger1974]

I am a lefty too and I feel your pain...as others stated, use a dremel...just take your time removing a little bit of material at a time. It's not a big issue and you CAN do this by yourself. I did mine and it DOES NOT look like sh**. Also, you'll have the satisfaction of having done it all by yourself : )