Rufus The Bum Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 I'd like to buy a set of Swenson Ambi's because I have Gorilla thumbs and am curious as to their quality. Not too much info here about how they hold up in the long run. Any opinions? Secondly, I'm assuming they are legal in Limited, is this correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Suber Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 They are Limited legal. Mine seem to hold up well so far. However, the quality (finish) of the product stinks. They come unfinished (you have to polish them) which is a pain. Mine also had pits all over the metal. In my opinion, for what you pay for them, they should be finished. Another alternative is a thumb shield that Bob Londrigan (Brazos Custom) designed that goes between your grip and the frame. It requires modification of the frame. But it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazos Custom Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 The originals were a decent part. As of late they are a piece of junk. Every surface has to be fit. The pins are not the right size, sear pad is not right, surface finish is non-existant, and the casting job is poor (many pits). Last one I put in a gun took three hours and I still was not pleased with how they looked. I won't be using another. We do make a thumb shield but I can't take credit for the orginal design that was Marc Krebs. Once he stopped making them I asked for permission to copy it and he graciously said go ahead. I made a few improvements and came out with a new product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffro Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 Several months ago I ordered two Swenson safty units. I took them (along with the two 1911s) to my gunsmith to install, and he looked at them and said to send them back.......... that they just aren't worth the hastle because of all the time that would be required to "get them right". I did what he told me and never looked back. Did I have a bad experience with them? NO. Do I trust my gunsmith's judgement? YES. He also gave me a "mini-lecture" about talking to him BEFORE ordering parts with which I am not well versed!! He is a good friend, and I listened to that advice also!! My Papa used to have a saying, "As we go.... we learn." Best of luck, Jeffro (Jeff) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 I sent a set back as well. I think there is a thread around here on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rufus The Bum Posted May 28, 2004 Author Share Posted May 28, 2004 Interesting. I thought they had a better reputation than that. I will look into the Krebs Thumbguard. If Brazos uses them, then they must be on to a good thing. Thank You. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 The only reason they're popular is they're all you can get for ambi-thumbguards. Swenson's patent has a few more years to run and they're cashing in on it to the max. Most smiths hate the latest ones and would rather gnaw off a leg than fit one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehli Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 There was a thread on this a while back. Bul makes some too, but someone (was it you, Shred?) had broken the shields off. Shooter's Connection sells 'em. Me, I'm going with Bob's thumbguard on my Open gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 I have the brazos part on my open gun and it works great. The slide is milled off on top so I need to get a slide racker . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singlestack Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 There was a thread on this a while back. Bul makes some too, but someone (was it you, Shred?) had broken the shields off. Shooter's Connection sells 'em. I am the breaker of shields. I am also the breaker of Swenson's. I am done with Swenson's and Bul. Me, I'm going with Bob's thumbguard on my Open gun. Thats what I did and it works great and I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 I had them on my first Open Gun and they were some of the earlier era and were great! So, when I got the pistol that I run now, I had Rusty install them, and they worked, but as stated here earlier, gunsmiths hate them as they take forever to fit and finish. So, when I had Bob Londrigan build my Limited pistol, I had him install his shield and love it. I'm getting the Open gun back today with a new set of safeties as the Swensons that I had broke during a 3-gun match (I don't fault Swenson, I fault 35,000 rounds). I'll run with it this way for a while and if I need some buffer between the thumb, I'll definitely go with Bob's shield. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 Previous Thread on Swensons AFAIK nobody makes a right-side thumbguard that isn't a Swenson.. Somebody help a lefty out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shipster Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 Shred, No body makes Bass Ackwords parts , just ask my brother. I keep telling him he's shooting using the wrong side of his brain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 I just cannot wait for Swenson's patent to run out. I have a set and spent a couple hours polishing them and making them right. I'm not sure I have the patience to do another set. Bob, Has anyone tried a workaround around the patent? Is that why nobody makes decent set? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 I looked at the patent for a while and it's fairly comprehensive. I thought of a couple workarounds that might fly with the PTO, but there would probably be lots of lawyer-welfare involved, and given the original's only got another year or so to run, the value proposition is low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 I looked at the patent for a while and it's fairly comprehensive. I thought of a couple workarounds that might fly with the PTO, but there would probably be lots of lawyer-welfare involved, and given the original's only got another year or so to run, the value proposition is low. People should lose rights to their patents for executing them as poorly as Swenson has done as of late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazos Custom Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 Shred, I do have a left handed version of the thumbshield (goes on the right side of the gun) almost ready for production. I sent some of the first batch to Mike Tilley for testing (Chris likes them on both sides) and had to modify the program to change the shape to clear the ejection port a little more and have not had a chance to re-do them yet. I will have some in production in the next month or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted May 28, 2004 Share Posted May 28, 2004 Cool.. Let me know when you've got one I can dink with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted May 29, 2004 Share Posted May 29, 2004 Are thumbshields Limited legal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted May 29, 2004 Share Posted May 29, 2004 They aren't an external mod to reduce recoil...so they would only fall under the "500 produced" clause. I am sure there have been 500 thumb shield made for the 1911's. I'd say they are a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted May 29, 2004 Share Posted May 29, 2004 They aren't an external mod to reduce recoil...so they would only fall under the "500 produced" clause. I am sure there have been 500 thumb shield made for the 1911's. I wonder how that works. I have seen a number of people machine part of their Swenson shield as to reduce its size yet serve its purpose. I am a bit fuzzy, but does that still count as produced part or is it one of a kind? If it is still legal, then could I build up a CMC safety to have a small shield and till be legal? How would be different then the machined part? As for lawyers, as long as I build my own part and I don't try to sell it, I think I'm safe. Not that I actually plan to, it is more of an intelectual execise. Vlad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry White Posted May 29, 2004 Share Posted May 29, 2004 Must be about a zillion of these on limited guns. A buddy uses them and has been to the nats a bunch of times with out a problem. Back a while Swenson parts were as good or better than any, shame to see them slide to the junk side. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdhsc Posted May 30, 2004 Share Posted May 30, 2004 The brazos ambi shields are awesome. We have now fitted all of our guns with them. We will be holding graveside services on thursday for all of the swensons. Long live Bob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazos Custom Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 We have the left handed version ready to go. Info is here: http://www.1911store.com/index.asp?PageAct...ProdID=167&HS=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted June 1, 2004 Share Posted June 1, 2004 Hi Bob, Could you post a few details about mounting the shields? How big is the slot the needs to be cut, location, etc? My swensons are about ready to kick the bucket and I'd like to see if my local gunsmith can handle the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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