Les Baer Question

[Roadrunner]

Calling bart-1, calling bart-1! :devil: Or any of you who know. Do Les Baer's have a passive firing pin safety, like Kimber Series II's or Colt Series 80s? I'm just curious. Also, is it pronounced Less Baer or Lay Baer? Thanks guys!

[Roadrunner]

Ah, that answers part of it. Thanks! BTW, what the FUCK is up with your avatar b? It's seriously creeping me out.

[bart-1]

How and the heck would I know? What amd how do you tell? :help:

[bart-1]

It is Less!

[WT351]

Bart-1,

Lock slide back on pistol. Look at underside of slide. Toward the back is there any plunger looking thingy (technical term) sticking down out of the slide? You may have to field strip pistol to get good view. I'll try and post some pics later of what we're looking for.

Passive firing pin safety is a "plunger" that is pressed upward during the squeeze of the trigger. It is termed passive because it is not a separate act that must be performed to release the safety(as opposed to a thumb safety or grip safety). When at rest, the plunger prevents the firing pin from moving forward. The idea being that if you drop the pistol or it is otherwise suddenly jarred, the firing pin will not travel forward of it's own inertia and hit a primer. When the trigger is squeezed, the plunger moves upward, allowing the firing pin to move freely.

If you think about it, it is very similar to the function of a plunge lock on an auto. When it is pressed the blade is able to move freely, but at rest, it locks the blade in position.

Series 80 Colts had a firing pin safety linked to the trigger pull. This is why some people complain about the triggers. Kimber Series II have it linked to the grip safety. Supposedly this allows for a traditionally good trigger pull, but some problems have arisen in early models due to the safety not working properly unless the grip safety was white-knuckled.

Once again, no expert, just sharing some things that I have gleaned from other places.

[bart-1]

Holly shitster!? I am pretty positive you can throw it down with the hammer back and a live round and it will not fire?! The Baer's are so tight you can barely rack the slide and take it apart b4 1000 rounds, forgetaboutit! Is the plunger thingy under the rear sight? I have seen that on my Kimber when I changed the rear sight? :punish:

[WT351]

If I'm not mistaken, Colt's, Kimber's and Smith & Wesson's firing pin plungers and springs are all accessible by removing the rear sight.

Picture of Glock firing pin block below. Sorry, I don't have any 1911s with firing pin blocks.

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10037/011005_G27_01a.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10037/011005_G27_02a.jpg

[m1marty]

I had a Les Baer TRS, and no it does not have a passive safety. None of the LB, or Wilson, or Ed Brown guns do. The Kimber safety works off of the grip safety (ala Schwartz system from the early '30's if I remember right) where as the colt and Para's go off the trigger. Any more 1911 questions, feel free to ask as they are my favorite pistol and I have owned about 33 in the last 4 years. I'm not an expert but I consider myself pretty good with them.

[Roadrunner]

Thanks man, that's what I wanted to know! I'll be sure to hit you up with more questions sometime, after shooting a Kimber at the local range I want a 1911 of my own in the worst way. :punish:

[bart-1]

I had a Les Baer TRS, and no it does not have a passive safety. None of the LB, or Wilson, or Ed Brown guns do. The Kimber safety works off of the grip safety (ala Schwartz system from the early '30's if I remember right) where as the colt and Para's go off the trigger. Any more 1911 questions, feel free to ask as they are my favorite pistol and I have owned about 33 in the last 4 years. I'm not an expert but I consider myself pretty good with them.

Ok so what does all of this mean? What are the benifits of the different safeties? Curious minds want to know? :punish:

[m1marty]

I had a Les Baer TRS, and no it does not have a passive safety. None of the LB, or Wilson, or Ed Brown guns do. The Kimber safety works off of the grip safety (ala Schwartz system from the early '30's if I remember right) where as the colt and Para's go off the trigger. Any more 1911 questions, feel free to ask as they are my favorite pistol and I have owned about 33 in the last 4 years. I'm not an expert but I consider myself pretty good with them.

Ok so what does all of this mean? What are the benifits of the different safeties? Curious minds want to know? :punish:
Ok, first the Colt and Para's use a passive firing pin safety that is released by the trigger. As the trigger is pulled to the rear, a lever rises up from the frame and pushes on a plunger in the slide. This plunger keeps the firing pin from going forward until it is pushed out of the way. Sorry for the crappy explanation, it's easier to show than talk about it.
There is timing and some voodoo put into those kits. I don't like them, but thats my opinion.
Now on to the Kimber. When the Series II guns came out, the had a new safety. But it wasn't really new at all. The Schwartz Safety preceeded this Kimber wonder safety by about 60 some odd years. This safety is de-activated by pressing the grip safety in. If you have the chance yank the top end off a Kimber and you will see two holes in the frame in front of the hammer when looking down on the gun. The rearmost hole is the safety, the forward is the disconnector. It utilizes the same sort of plunger as the Colts to stop the firing pin. One draw back to the Kimber/Schwartz safety is that you can't remove the slide without some headache if you have the grip safety depressed. Pain in the butt.
Well, theres my rambling explanation of the safeties. Anymore questions, feel free to fire away.
P.S. If it were up to me (and on my guns it is) I would not own a 1911 with the added firing pin safeties. Sure, I have seen them go for many a thousand rounds trouble free, but for me it's piece of mind.
*WARNING* 1911's are addictive. I can not be held responsible for purchases and subsequent addictions!! :-D

[Roadrunner]

I hold Shooter's gun range responsible. And my parents for raising me right and giving me a .22 when I was 7. Didn't they realize kids are impressionable at that age? :devil:

[bart-1]

OK so the Kimber has one more thing to could might go wrong and the others are simpler? I have a few .45 1911 pistols, Kimber ultra carry, Wilson Combat compact, a Les Baer stinger and a Las Baer thunder Ranch. So the internals on the 3 are similar and the Kimber is passive.


http://www.ronlad.net/pics/albums/userpics/10014/normal_172_7229-1.jpg

[Mr.LaBella]

nice guns! I cannot wait to hold mine! :gogdog:

[Stabber]

:D "This is my rifle this is my gun this is for fightin this is for fun" :D

[Mr.LaBella]

nice guns! I cannot wait to hold mine! :gogdog:
i don't think your girlfriend is gonna let you hold yours anytime soon :help:

pure ownage