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Author Topic: experience with ambidextrous safeties?  (Read 2380 times)

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Offline cmetzger

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experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« on: February 18, 2016, 02:41:20 PM »
Okay here's the deal I've got an itch to get the ambidextrous safety for my witness so I can more easily use it with my left hand. I know it's not a necessity and I know that I can pretty easily work the safety with my right hand (im right handed) but I have been reading horror stories on ambi safeties breaking alot and I'm trying to figure out if this is just a rare occurrence or if it is on a particular type of gun. Any experience with ambidextrous safeties is appreciated very much. Obviously what I'm wanting to hear would be it won't cause a problem but if anyone knows otherwise please let me know before I make a mistake on getting one. :) thanks again team!
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Offline jwc007

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2016, 01:26:33 PM »
The Ambi-Safety on my older .45 Witness took me a whole 5 minutes to install, and I've NEVER heard of, or seen, an Ambi-Safety on a Tanfoglio or Tanfoglio based Pistol break.
You've probably heard of plenty of 1911 Ambi-Safeties breaking, but the Witness design is quite a bit different.
All that said, I rarely ever use a Safety.  Some USPSA/IPSC weak hand drills have required it.


From Left to Right
EAA Witness .45 (1992)
EAA Witness .45 (2004)
SAR K2-45 (2013)


Tanfoglio Series 88 TA90
Tanfoglio Armscore RIA MAP1
Both with 19 round Mec-Gar Cz75 Magazines and Hogue Grips
« Last Edit: February 19, 2016, 01:34:06 PM by jwc007 »
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Offline M1A4ME

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2016, 04:44:11 PM »
 I put them on all my 1911's.  Never had one break yet.

That is one reason I bought the P07 and P09, the ambidextrous thumb safeties.  Those haven't broken yet either.

Even in the 1911's there are at least a couple different designs.  One has a long curved "finger" that requires a cut out under the right grip to hold it in place (I have one or two sets of those).  The other uses a longer trigger pin with a notch cut through one side of it.  The right side safety has a beveled edge that fits into this slot to keep the right side safety in place as it pivots between safe and fire.  I have that style on my old Combat Commander.

The P07/09 have slots in the safeties that are engaged by metal pieces in the frame.

How are the safeties held in place on your gun?
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I just keep wasting time and money on other brands trying to find/make one shoot like my P07 and P09.  What is wrong with me?

Offline jwc007

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2016, 12:35:39 PM »
Quote from: M1A4ME on February 19, 2016, 04:44:11 PM
How are the safeties held in place on your gun?

The Right Side Lever is held in place by a Roll Pin through an elongated shaft hole.
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"Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego." - Yoda


For all of those killed by a 9mm: "Get up! You are not dead! You were shot with a useless cartridge!"

Offline M1A4ME

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2016, 05:06:04 PM »
I guess that's pretty solid, but it would make field stripping a little tougher.
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I just keep wasting time and money on other brands trying to find/make one shoot like my P07 and P09.  What is wrong with me?

Offline cmetzger

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2016, 11:14:02 PM »
Awesome I'm going for it. Thanks alot guys!
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Offline jwc007

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2016, 01:11:42 PM »
Quote from: M1A4ME on February 20, 2016, 05:06:04 PM
I guess that's pretty solid, but it would make field stripping a little tougher.

Nope! Not at all. Rarely do you remove the modular Sear Block Assembly.
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"Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego." - Yoda


For all of those killed by a 9mm: "Get up! You are not dead! You were shot with a useless cartridge!"

Offline M1A4ME

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2016, 02:28:37 PM »
You're right.  I typed field stripping.

I used to tear my 1911's down all the way (sometimes) but I've never taken any of my plastic pistols down to individual parts on the table top.  Using carb/break cleaner like I do these days there's probably no need to completely tear one down.
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I just keep wasting time and money on other brands trying to find/make one shoot like my P07 and P09.  What is wrong with me?

Offline cmetzger

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2016, 12:14:24 AM »
I hate to ressurect my own thread but I'm 99% sure that Eaa has sent me the wrong safety. The one they have sent me has a standoff on the left side of the gun and it is incredibly loose. The order page has the correct part number for the one that I wanted but I noticed that both the polymer and the steel witness has the same part number for the ambidextrous safeties and yet the pictures on Eaa look totally different. This safety is also too long. I was hoping somebody with an ambi safety could tell me if they have experienced this and if their ambidextrous safety for the steel witness has a standoff on the left side. Thank you guys so much. I would contact EAA with this but what do ya know it's Friday night :/
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Offline jwc007

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2016, 11:24:32 AM »
Quote from: cmetzger on February 27, 2016, 12:14:24 AM
This safety is also too long. I was hoping somebody with an ambi safety could tell me if they have experienced this and if their ambidextrous safety for the steel witness has a standoff on the left side. Thank you guys so much. I would contact EAA with this but what do ya know it's Friday night :/

standoff???  Please post a pic of your issue.
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"Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego." - Yoda


For all of those killed by a 9mm: "Get up! You are not dead! You were shot with a useless cartridge!"

Offline cmetzger

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2016, 12:06:14 PM »
I'm not with my gun at the moment but it looks just like this http://eaacorp.com/gun_accessories/index.php/parts/tanfoglio/witness/safety/polymer-ambi-safety-102085.html I am pretty sure they sent me the safety for the polymer version rather than the correct ambi safety for the steel witness. Thank you again JWC
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Offline jwc007

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Re: experience with ambidextrous safeties?
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2016, 08:23:37 PM »
You are most Welcome! :)

Quote from: cmetzger on February 27, 2016, 12:06:14 PM
I am pretty sure they sent me the safety for the polymer version rather than the correct ambi safety for the steel witness.

Good luck getting the proper part!  :(
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"Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego." - Yoda


For all of those killed by a 9mm: "Get up! You are not dead! You were shot with a useless cartridge!"
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