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Keeping Ambi Safeties From Separating
-- Gary Hartle
To keep ambi safeties on 1911's from separating, I often dress the interlocking ends and squeeze the female end to get a tight fit. This makes removing them from the pistol even more difficult. You can mill a shallow notch on the back of the right ambi to allow a small screwdriver a foot hold to pry the lever out. It isn't very noticeable when assembled. It is less noticeable if the pistol and safety are black. Know your customer, there are some who will object to the notch."
There's another twist to this 'kink' that really works. I take the spade end (male end) and put it on the anvil on edge, then peen both edges near the tip. This makes the flat spade tip have the characteristics of a wedge when viewed edgewise. This 'wedge' locks into the slightly 'pinched' female end mentioned by Jennings, preventing separation of the two sides of the ambi safety. Obviously the 'takedown notch' mentioned by Jennings in the RH side lever will be required for disassembly. Assembly of this modified safety is the fun part for me. All I do is make sure the pieces are aligned properly with the spade end started in the female end. I support the LH lever on a wood block then strike the RH lever with a non-marring hammer to seat it. I'll be glad to send a drawing if anyone's interested.
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