Problem with 1911

sgtstephenson · March 21, 2006, 12:49 AM

I have a problem with my 1911. When the weapon is lock and cocked and I pull the trigger to see if it is on safe the hammer will fall. In other cases I pull the trigger with the safty on and the hammer will not fall until you take the weapon off of safe. Any suggestions would be helpful.

moredes · March 21, 2006, 01:33 AM

There's a problem with the sear, hammer, or thumb safety, or a combination of any of them. The surfaces are not mating correctly due to excessive wear, or because someone has messed with them (and maybe honed or filed on them too much). Most likely something will at least need replacing if not fitting, also.

Since you asked the question (no offense meant here) it shows you don't know what to look for, and this task should then be assigned to a competent gunsmith. Your gun is dangerous and cannot be depended on to be (reliably) safe at any time until it is repaired.

steve1589 · March 21, 2006, 09:43 AM

When in the safe position, the thumb safety on a 1911, when properly fitted blocks the sear from movement when the trigger is pulled. If the sear has been damaged or stoned to much this can cause the sear to move away from the ear on the thumb safety. This allows the sear to move enough when the trigger is pulled with the safety on that the hammer will drop when the safety is pushed off. This can also happen when a new thumb safety is installed. If the hammer and sear are not damaged, the ear on the thumb safety can be welded up and refitted. The way to see just what is happening is to remove the slide. Next pull the trigger and Ease the hammer down. Remove pin in the mainspring housing. Slide the mainspring housing off the bottom of the frame. Now pull the hammer back to full cock.Put the safety in the safe position and grab hold of the thumb safety with your fingers and wriggle it up and down slightly while pulling out. Put one hand around the back of the frame to capture the plunger and spring in case it decides to take off. Now remove the grip safety. With the grip safety removed reinstall the thumb safety with the plunger and spring. Hammer at full cock and wriggling the safety and gently pushing in. It will stop when it hits the plunger. Push the plunger in with a small dowel or the tool that made for this. With the plunger depressed, push the safety the rest of the way in. Pull the trigger and with your fingers move the hammer to the down position. Hold the hammer strut out of the way and install the sear spring making sure the little ear is in the hole in the frame. Slide the mainspring housing on enough to hold the spring in place. With the hammer in the down position rotate the hammer strut so it is laying on the sear spring. Slide the mainspring up untill it makes contact with the hammer strut. Make sure the strut is centered in the mainspring plunger. Now push it the rest of the way and put the rounded end of the pin back in the through the frame. Now you can cock the hammer and put the safety on and pull the trigger. Now you can see what is happening. With the safety on and pulling the trigger do you see the sear move? If it is you need a new safety fitted or the old welded up and refitted.

March 21, 2006, 12:49 AM	#1
sgtstephenson Junior Member Join Date: March 21, 2006 Posts: 5	Problem with 1911 I have a problem with my 1911. When the weapon is lock and cocked and I pull the trigger to see if it is on safe the hammer will fall. In other cases I pull the trigger with the safty on and the hammer will not fall until you take the weapon off of safe. Any suggestions would be helpful.

March 21, 2006, 01:33 AM	#2
moredes Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2001 Posts: 325	There's a problem with the sear, hammer, or thumb safety, or a combination of any of them. The surfaces are not mating correctly due to excessive wear, or because someone has messed with them (and maybe honed or filed on them too much). Most likely something will at least need replacing if not fitting, also. Since you asked the question (no offense meant here) it shows you don't know what to look for, and this task should then be assigned to a competent gunsmith. Your gun is dangerous and cannot be depended on to be (reliably) safe at any time until it is repaired.

March 21, 2006, 09:43 AM	#3
steve1589 Member Join Date: December 12, 2005 Posts: 55	When in the safe position, the thumb safety on a 1911, when properly fitted blocks the sear from movement when the trigger is pulled. If the sear has been damaged or stoned to much this can cause the sear to move away from the ear on the thumb safety. This allows the sear to move enough when the trigger is pulled with the safety on that the hammer will drop when the safety is pushed off. This can also happen when a new thumb safety is installed. If the hammer and sear are not damaged, the ear on the thumb safety can be welded up and refitted. The way to see just what is happening is to remove the slide. Next pull the trigger and Ease the hammer down. Remove pin in the mainspring housing. Slide the mainspring housing off the bottom of the frame. Now pull the hammer back to full cock.Put the safety in the safe position and grab hold of the thumb safety with your fingers and wriggle it up and down slightly while pulling out. Put one hand around the back of the frame to capture the plunger and spring in case it decides to take off. Now remove the grip safety. With the grip safety removed reinstall the thumb safety with the plunger and spring. Hammer at full cock and wriggling the safety and gently pushing in. It will stop when it hits the plunger. Push the plunger in with a small dowel or the tool that made for this. With the plunger depressed, push the safety the rest of the way in. Pull the trigger and with your fingers move the hammer to the down position. Hold the hammer strut out of the way and install the sear spring making sure the little ear is in the hole in the frame. Slide the mainspring housing on enough to hold the spring in place. With the hammer in the down position rotate the hammer strut so it is laying on the sear spring. Slide the mainspring up untill it makes contact with the hammer strut. Make sure the strut is centered in the mainspring plunger. Now push it the rest of the way and put the rounded end of the pin back in the through the frame. Now you can cock the hammer and put the safety on and pull the trigger. Now you can see what is happening. With the safety on and pulling the trigger do you see the sear move? If it is you need a new safety fitted or the old welded up and refitted.