I am thinking i want to change the safe catch on my Springfield 1911. The one on there is too big to rest my thumb on when firing comfortably. A. does somebody sell a smaller catch. B. Is this a do it yourself job or is it one for a gunsmith

They sell all sizes. Installation requires the safety be fit to the gun. Can someone do it themselves, yes, I have. Can you screw it up and trash your new safety? Yeah.

 

It's a good starter project for really getting into the nitty gritty of DIY gunsmithing since all the fitting is done to the safety, not the gun. That means if you mess it up, you have the working safety you don't like. The cost of two new ones and a file or two is less than one plus gunsmith plus shipping.

 

However, you need to know how to function check, detail strip and assemble, and how to be patient and go a little at a time. Nothing on a 1911 is good for someone who belongs to team push it harder.

Thanks raz i am going to find someone local to do it but maybe i can pay them a little extra to show me how to detail strip.

A thumb safety was the first kitchen table smithing job I tackled myself. If you're comfortable taking things apart and putting them back together, it's likely something you can handle. Since doing my first thumb safety, I've done another one, along with a new grip safety, two new round butt mainspring housings, three new triggers, and two undercut trigger guards.

 

If you do try it yourself, look up the proper ways to perform the safety checks. The 1911 has a few that should be done every time you fit a new part.

I like the lowrider thumb safty

MrsWombat had an EdBrown Tactical Safety (single sided) put on her Springfield EMP. It seemed to do the job well and was a good size. There are some photos posted on the forum under TheWombat

 

Plenty of other options

 

TheWombat