Do I need an Ambi Safety Cut?

First, let's discuss the Ambidextrous Safety Cut and it's purpose on a 1911. The Ambi Safety Cut is a small recess cut into the back of the right side grip panel near the top at the back of the grip (right and middle pictures below.) It's purpose is to allow the grip panel to cover and retain a thin retaining lever on the right side safety lever (left picture below.) This thin lever sits down against the frame and the recess cut provides a slot for the lever. Without the grip retaining this lever, the right side safety can actually be pulled and removed from the gun. So the right grip panel is being used to hold the safety lever on the gun.

Do I need an Ambi Cut? If your gun has ambidextrous safety levers and the right side safety lever has a retaining lever that sits against the frame you need the Ambi Cut.

Do all 1911s with Ambidextrous Safety Levers need an Ambi Cut? NO - Several manufacturers (Kimber and Rock Island Armory as examples) use alternate methods of retaining the right side safety lever and do not require the Ambi Safety Cut. These guns do not have the retaining lever on the right side safety.

Are there other modifications that may be needed for my 1911 There are a lot of manufactures of parts for the 1911 and many of these parts don't allow for standard government model 1911 grips to be installed without modification. Extended slide release levers often require the top front of the left side grip panel to be lowered. Extended and low safety levers can also require the top of the grip panels to need to be lowered for the grips to fit. Our standard grips are designed to fit most production 1911s without modification. We design to fit Kimber, Colt, Springfield Armory, Smith & Wesson and similar production models.

If you have any questions on fit for your gun, contact us by email or by phone and we'll help you determine what you need.