S&w 1911 Fp Safety

[rtr]

It appears my new S&W 1911PD has a firing pin safety. I'm not exactly sure how it works. At the top rear of the frame on the right hand side is a long thing piece of metal that rotates vertically, I think this is the piece that hits the piece on the bottom of the slide and deactivates the firing pin safety. I'm just not sure what activates this piece, is it the grip safety, or the trigger or what?

Other than adding more things that can fail does this safety have any effect on the performance of the firearm?

[eerw]

Hey Chris..

quick search at 1911forum turned up a few threads about the Smith FPS..

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread...ring+Pin+safety

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread...ring+Pin+safety

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread...ring+Pin+safety

might also check the Smith and Wesson Forum..

from what a few people said..looks like the grip safety activates the firing pin safety..and looks like it can be disabled if you want..access is via under the rear sight.

[EricW]

The grip safety activates the FP safety. Mine worked fine and I saw no need to disable it. YMMV.

[mike cyrwus]

The grip safety activates it, unlike the 80 series colt, which actuates on the trigger. Its actually well designed, and Ive noticed no bad effects from shooting with mine. Reliability should bee good to go. I am able to bypass the fring pin block by using a smaller diameter egw pin, .068, I think, but Im not necessarily recommending that.

It has not descirnable effect on a trigger job, or the guns performance.

[JakeMartens]

What they said about it.

I have a very early model fullsize, #502, that has seen several thousands of rounds and have had zero malfunction of any kind with it.

Good thing about grip safety firing pin blocks is that trigger jobs are easier than with a series 80 style.