Racer X

What fits these frames without welding.Mine came from SA with the b/t all gouged up and they want the whole gun to install at my cost to ship.
What are the options on b/t or can you reccommend somebody to weld up and install Ed Brown b/t on stainless frame

Steve in Allentown, PA

As I was trying to improve the safety-to-frame fit on mine I managed to grind a spot through the beavertail. I called Springfield to buy a new safety and got the same line of crap that you got - "Send it to us and we'll install a new one." No way.

I bought a Smith & Alexander beavertail that fit the Springfield frame. It has more "meat" to grind on so I was able to whittle on it without going all the way through the metal. Achieved a really nice fit.

I then took the pistol to Mark Hartshorne http://www.pinnacle-guns.com/index.php for some other work. He decided that he didn't like the safety-to-frame fit, welded the frame around the safety, and recut it to match more than perfectly. (Smart alec pistolsmith artisans think they can do a better job than us Dremel wielding civilians - hah!)

This was on a stainless frame which was then hard chromed. Mark is the real deal - American Pistolsmiths Guild, top ranked competitor, and extraordinary machinist.

Dave Berryhill

IIRC, the Springfield Armory beavertails are hollow on the inside so it doesn't give you much room for error when grinding. Despite the fact that there are lots of aftermarket grip safeties and thumb safeties on the market, SA considers grip and thumb safeties to be restricted items and won't sell them to consumers or gunsmiths. They require you to send them your pistol so they can replace either of those parts.

I just met Mark at the SHOT Show. He's a nice guy and his work is very impressive!

Steve in Allentown, PA

Dave wrote:
I don't know if you saw it but he took my 9x23 to the show. That was the one I had managed to grind through the hollow grip safety. Mark does good work and is very tuned into his customers. He doesn't just take in business and do what is requested. He suggests things and is himself open to suggestions. He doesn't just work from a "cookbook" of options. It is always a joy to pick up a finished product from him.

Some complain about the cost associated with having work done by a gunsmith. I myself had a bad experience with a well known, respected, and very busy pistolsmithing operation here in PA. It was a $300 lesson that I will never forget. But with Mark, I have never been anything but overwhelmingly satisfied and I am happy to part with my hard earned money for his work.

You should see what he did with a Colt Pony. Unbelieveable!

Silicon_wizzard

I believe Springfield uses S&A beavertails on their loaded models. If I remeber correctly, Brownells sells one that is cut for a little diferent radius for the springfield frames.