Colt 1903 strange grip safety problem need advice

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Whitels13

Inactive
Hello, I came across a pair of colt 1903 pistols for a very good price, the owner said they both had a problem, one has a stuck mag release and the other has a finicky grip safety. I figured both are repairable so I picked them up. My question is about the grip safety problem, if you fully depress the grip safety the gun will not fire, but if you allow the grip safety to release about 1/8 of an inch the gun will fire. does anyone have an idea about what would cause this problem?
 
I'm not all that familiar with the 1903, so this is just a general guess until someone else replies:
Maybe someone had been fiddling with it trying to get it to work before you got it.
If so and they messed up the grip safety in some way, it might need some knowledgeable help or even replacement.
The mag release probably just needs some lube or maybe whatever spring they have replaced.
From the parts view there might be interaction between the mag release and the grip safety.
 
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Can you be more specific? F'instance- "I was pulling the trigger and noticed that if I released the grip safety as I was pulling the trigger the gun would fire".

I'd say my 1903 has about a max 1/8" throw- so that's about right.
 
Based on my experiences, I might guess that someone tried to disassemble both guns, and gave up only after forcing or breaking something.
I think (IIRC) the first step in detail stripping involves driving out the pin at the bottom-rear of the frame, which is supposed to allow removal of the grip safety and sear spring, but I never had the sense that my pistols "wanted to" come apart, so just buttoned them back up rather than prying, twisting, etc.
 
I'm sure it has been messed with by someone, to be specific I have two guns, one with a mag release issue and one with a safety issue. The gun with the mag issue has what I would assume a functional grip safety, it has to be fully depressed to release the trigger, on the other gun you have to fully depress the grip safety and then allow it to go back to release the trigger, I don't understand why the grip safety would need to be released a small amount to let the gun fire.
 
I have been reading and watching videos about detail stripping the guns, I have done this on other pistols but it will be my first time with this design, I hear they are fairly difficult to reassemble, but it can be done.
 
I think we could go on guessing for a long time, but I know those pistols pretty well and all the blind guess work in the world won't solve the problem until a someone who knows what he is doing takes a look at it.

You might be able to get an idea by field stripping the gun (remove the slide - DO NOT drive out pins) and checking the interface between the grip safety and the sear.

Jim
 
Rather than a page or to of " what if" or " you could" just take the pistol to a reputable gunsmith and have the problem diagnosed and repaired properly. My friend is a gunsmith and master rebluer, i have watched him reassemble a pistol very quickly and without You Tube or guidance other than his own mental abilities. A good smith will have your 1903 perking along in no time.
 
Should be a fairly easy job. More of a "Fear of the unknown" type of thing.


The guys at the Colt forum or the 1911 forum will have all you need to know.
 
Also, since you have a pair of these pistol, comparing the parts of one to those of the other will likely reveal the source of the problem. With the slide removed, as Jim suggested, you may be able to see what's happening, especially with two that let you see any difference.

Cougar gt-e, your first pdf came up on my machine as requiring a password I don't have in order to view it.
 
03 colt

get the agi dvd. you will learn alot. whatever is bent or broken or wore out give jack first a call. i really enjoy their service. they are a bear to reassemble. the fella on the video makes it look super easy
 
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