COTEP.org - Fitting of new Thumb Safety

Well thanks Dave encouragement and assistance I decided to do some improvements to my Colt XSE. First I wanted to change the Mag release as the one from factory was a little to rough. I got the 10-8 mag release and with a little fitting it works like a charm. Second after a lot of internet research and some pointers from Dave I moved to replace the ambi safety set up from factory for an Ed Brown Thumb Safety. First the Ed Brown part looks and feels of much better quality than the Factory Colt piece. I know it is casted and not from Bar stock, but the quality and finish is great. One of the post I read indicated that once the stem that secures the safety and the Grip safety is fitted ( This part fitted perfectly for me) then to remove the Grip safety retaining the main spring housing under tension. That really helped me look precisely where contact was being made. My camera is not that good so I did not take pictures of the process, but this weekend will try to take some for the benefit of anybody trying this. After a lot of filing the Brown thumb safety is really oversized, I was able to fit it as good as the one from factory. Enclosed is a picture before and after

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_1162.jpg

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_1335.jpg

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...n/IMG_1340.jpg

Next is to change the sights to a set of tritium sights from XS. I got the sights but I need to get my padded vise jaws so I do not scratch the slide (more than it is already).

Rick