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How to Install an Over Size Grip Safety on a 1911

The M1911 pistol -- designed by John Moses Browning over 100 years ago -- is still used by military units, police and civilians. The 1911 is designed with a safety in the rear of the grip. The safety blocks the trigger from moving unless the gun is gripped. When a shooter grips the pistol, the palm of his hand pushes the grip-safety inward and allows the trigger to be pulled. A stock grip-safety can be replaced with one that has an oversized bump. This allows for quicker de-activation of the safety.

Things You'll Need

1/8-inch punch
Plastic mallet

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the magazine and ensure there are no live rounds in the chamber.
- 2
  Retract the slide, and line up its takedown notch with the slide-stop lever. Pull out the lever from the left side of the frame. Pull the slide assembly forward and off the frame.
- 3
  Cock the hammer. Wiggle the thumb-safety back and forth while pulling it out of the frame. Catch the plunger-tube pin, because it is under spring pressure.
- 4
  Manually de-cock the hammer. Hold the hammer with one hand, pull the trigger with the other and gently lower the hammer. Do not let the hammer fall directly on the frame. Doing so might damage the frame and hammer.
- 5
  Use the punch and plastic mallet to tap out the mainspring-housing pin. This pin is located at the base of the mainspring housing, near the bottom rear of the grip. The pin has a dished end and a rounded end. Always push or tap it from the dished end.
- 6
  Slide the mainspring housing slightly downward, just enough to uncover the bottom of the grip safety. Remove the grip safety. Install the new grip safety.
- 7
  Re-assemble the pistol in the reverse order that you took it apart.
- 8
  Test the new grip safety for proper function. Ensure the gun is unloaded, click the thumb safety up and grip the pistol. Try to pull the trigger; it should not move. Click the thumb safety to the "off" position . Hold the pistol so that the grip safety is not depressed, and pull the trigger. The trigger must not move. Grip the pistol to disengage the grip safety, and pull the trigger. The trigger moves and the hammer drops.

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