1911 Ambi Thumb Safety

[ultraspec]

I use ambi's on all my 1911's. However I too have an ultra raptor and have found the safety swiped off on its own while holstered however Im a lefty so I guess I just need to change to another ambi safety for that one as this doesnt happen on my other 1911's with ambi safetys

 

[jbombelli]

As a lefty I gots to have me an ambi safety.

 

[Drail]

While I definitely understand the need for ambis (the world is built for right handers - and all those left handed guys mess up the battle drill) it is almost always the weakest part on a 1911. I installed tons of them (several brands) and they all would come back in a month with loose right levers. Now I have been out of the game (smithing) for about 15 years so maybe someone has come up with a solid design for attaching the right lever that doesn't flex and start loosening and I just haven't seen one yet. If you must have one, keep a very close eye on it. Take it apart and learn exactly how it works so you can tweak it yourself. The original design was so poor IMO it has no place on a 1911 used for serious business.

 

[Fordtough25]

I prefer mine to not have the ambi-release but I am right handed so...... I don't like the looks of them personally but they have their place for sure. I just single out the ones that don't have it for myself, no biggie.

 

[Craigh]

I'm right handed as well and use to be on the page of single sided safety only... That is until I took classes where your right hand/arm was out of commission. These classes made me rethink (and retool) my carry 1911's to include ambi safeties. That being said, Drail makes an excellent point. Ambi safeties for the 1911 are of dubious design and inherently weak (I wish it were otherwise). With heavy use, these safeties can and will loosen so, Drail’s words of caution are well taken.

I like to separate my handguns into two categories; 1. heavy use (completion and training) and 2. concealed carry. I’m OK with my training pistols needing additional attention and experiencing parts breakage due to high round count (>10,000). I keep the round count of my CCW handguns as low as possible (few hundred rounds). This allows me to keep my confidence high in my CCW handguns while maintaining/improving my skills.

To me the bottom line is this: if you carry a 1911 for self defense, it should have an ambi safety and you should be practiced in deploying it with your support hand (left for me), as you may not always have your primary.

Thanks,

Craig

 

[m82mike]

I have a Kimber Ultra CDP II for EDC and am thinking of removing the Ambi.
Safty so I can add Laser grips. A matter of what you're comfortable with.

 

[gpbrooks]

I have the ambi and don't care for it. I have noticed the safety disengaged a few too many times for my comfort. Will be changing the ambi out soon.

 

[Titanium_Frost]

I'm a righty and installed an ambi on my 1911. I have never had it come off before. I also carry a Taurus PT92 with an ambi safety and it has never come off either.