I have a Colt 1991 which I bought back in the late 1990s. I had intended to have it customized but you know how that goes. I changed out the plastic MSH and the plastic trigger. I installed a blued Delta Elite trigger (long, steel trigger). This pistol has a grand total of 150 rounds of Remington 230 grain ball through it. I pulled it out the other day to take a look at it and discovered an issue.

If I cock the hammer, apply the safety, and then squeeze the trigger while the safety is applied, the hammer will drop to the intercept notch when the safety is flicked off. If I cock the hammer, apply the safety and flick it off without touching the trigger, the hammer stays put.

I haven't played amateur gunsmith with the pistol, no modifications to sear, hammer or any springs.

What's going on with this thing?

I’d look at the sear spring and make sure during reassembly it’s positioned so the leaf leg creates enough pressure against the sear itself. Sounds like the sear doesn’t have enough spring pressure against it and by pulling the trigger you set it forward slightly and disengaging the thumb safety allows the hammer to fall but since the trigger isn’t depressing the sear completely the sear catches in the safety stop?

Like this, para: Hammer falls with the safety on? (1911 Addicts)

An ill fit safety, sounds like.
But just for fun, put the plastic trigger back in and see what it does.

quote:

Originally posted by GCE61:
I’d look at the sear spring and make sure during reassembly it’s positioned so the leaf leg creates enough pressure against the sear itself. Sounds like the sear doesn’t have enough spring pressure against it and by pulling the trigger you set it forward slightly and disengaging the thumb safety allows the hammer to fall but since the trigger isn’t depressing the sear completely the sear catches in the safety stop?

The sear spring plays a bigger part in the 1911's function than most people think. I think this is the problem.

Agreed, and since the gun functioned correctly before hand I don’t think the thumb safety is bad. Plus, I know from experience the spring leaf placement gets knocked out of whack sometimes when you’re sliding the mainspring housing back up into the frame

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Like this, para: Hammer falls with the safety on? (1911 Addicts)

No, when the safety is on and the trigger is pulled, the hammer doesn't move at all. Only when the safety is flicked off.

The trigger doesn't have an over travel set screw does it? Might be screwed it too deep.

No overtravel screw

If the overtravel screw was threaded in too deep it would not allow the end of the trigger bow to contact the sear, so that's not it.

I agree it sounds like the sear spring does not have enough tension to return the trigger to it's proper "unpulled" position...which could either be an improperly installed sear spring, a defective sear spring, or possibly a burr or grit on the trigger, or improperly fit trigger shoe that is dragging, keeping it from returning to position.

Try this:

With the safety on, pull the trigger. There should be some take-up. When you release the trigger, does it return to it's original, unpulled position, or does it stay rearward in the position where you released it...or spring back to a point short of where it started? It should be returning to the fully-forward position where it was before you pulled it.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
With the safety on, pull the trigger. There should be some take-up. When you release the trigger, does it return to it's original, unpulled position, or does it stay rearward in the position where you released it

Yes, there's takeup- you could even call it "mush". As to your second question, I'll have to retrieve it and see. The pistol is in a different location.

You guys are probably right- it's an issue which happened during reassembly. I'll pull the MSH and see.

Myazy had to talk me through reassembling my new one this morning.
It has the Series 80 safety assembly in it, making it somewhat difficult to put back together correctly.

I'll shot at him and see if he can help.

On a series 80, you should be able to pull the trigger on first cock and the hammer fall.

But it sounds like the finger springs are not in proper place or the trigger bar is too long putting pressure on the sear.

My bet is on the trigger bar needing fitting.

There's a REALLY good chance the safety was fractured and has a chunk broke off of it from disassembly. Seen that before with MIM/cast parts.