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Military Firearm Restoration Corner

Side Swing Safety


donmarkey

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While going through some old posts I got the impression that a lot of people aren't a fan of these. Most of the complaints are for cosmetic reasons. There are things you can easily do to improve the looks.

-Don

Left is done per pme's directions and the right is a improved way recomended by Glen Chapman, Both ones I used pme wings.

pmesafety014.jpg

pmesafety015.jpg

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:rolleyes: mornin' don, i like the side type but could never find who sold them. ithink they're better that the flip up style when you have big thumbs. did ya get my email. do the swinger type come with instructions? dave :unsure:
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While going through some old posts I got the impression that a lot of people aren't a fan of these. Most of the complaints are for cosmetic reasons. There are things you can easily do to improve the looks.

-Don

Left is done per pme's directions and the right is a improved way recomended by Glen Chapman, Both ones I used pme wings.

pmesafety014.jpg

pmesafety015.jpg

I really like then, but they look like they require a mill to install. Not sure if my hand is steady enough to do with a dremel. Do you have any pics with them disassembled, showing the machine cuts? Thanks....scott

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Don,

 

That's a significant improvement in my mind. I have pondered the same thing, but you're the first person I've seen actually do something like this. The military conversions just look "cut up" in my mind, and yours looks more like the custom made 3 position safeties on the market.

 

Scott,

 

Steve Wagner has a short turtorial and some good photos on his website installing one on a '96 Swede. Check it out: Side swing '96

 

I just purchased one for a Swede I'm working on and it comes with pretty decent instructions, but a picture is worth a thousand words. I have also contemplated going at it without a mill, but I think I would screw it up with a dremmel. My thought was to chuck a cut-off disc in the drill press and made the cuts undersized to be cleaned up with needle files. I also have some stones of various sized that could be chucked in a drill press and used. If you have the work mounted in a steady rest and go slow there's not reason why it couldn't work. Kinda Bubba, I know, but forking out the bucks for a mill for the light work it would see is not efficient, and I'm an incurable do-it-yourselfer.

 

I'll post lots of photos of my mistake...

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Monte, I agree it could be done with just files. It would just be tedious work and I don't have the patience. The only critical thing is to get the pivot hole in the proper place. If the other cuts aren't quite right it will wobble or look funny, but safety isn't an issue. And FYI the Chapman and pme use different pivot hole locations, so read the instruction carefully. Most of the time if you use the Chapman directions but a pme wing the cocking piece won't be held back far enough and can fire when the safety is removed.

-Don

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i have done a couple of these myself. i couldnt imagine doing it without a miller. possible, sure. but far too tedios for me. i purchased the chapman safeties, and on both had to make my own locking piece(the .250 part that locks the bolt closed when engaged) because my shrouds were oversize, and the piece would torque ever so slightly, and be very difficult to engage. i find, when done correctly, these can look very nice. i reallly like this kind of challenge, and find them very rewarding.

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i have done a couple of these myself. i couldnt imagine doing it without a miller. possible, sure. but far too tedios for me. i purchased the chapman safeties, and on both had to make my own locking piece(the .250 part that locks the bolt closed when engaged) because my shrouds were oversize, and the piece would torque ever so slightly, and be very difficult to engage. i find, when done correctly, these can look very nice. i reallly like this kind of challenge, and find them very rewarding.

 

Are the the Chapman wings hardened? I think that I've only ever installed one Chapman and had to harden the wing. Not hard to do, but an extra step.

My first Swing safety was done on a Swede, back in '91. It was purchased from a gentleman in Thibadou, Louisianna, and I'll be darned if I can remember his name. I think he sold out, and then I purchased several from Precise Metalsmithing. They were easy to install and worked well.

I put the Chapman on a Twede, and am currently ready to put two Wisner safeties on the 7mm-08 guns that I'm building.

donmarkey, do you anneal by heating to a dull red and burying the shroud in sand, or a different method?

Manitou

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Are the the Chapman wings hardened? I think that I've only ever installed one Chapman and had to harden the wing. Not hard to do, but an extra step.

My first Swing safety was done on a Swede, back in '91. It was purchased from a gentleman in Thibadou, Louisianna, and I'll be darned if I can remember his name. I think he sold out, and then I purchased several from Precise Metalsmithing. They were easy to install and worked well.

I put the Chapman on a Twede, and am currently ready to put two Wisner safeties on the 7mm-08 guns that I'm building.

donmarkey, do you anneal by heating to a dull red and burying the shroud in sand, or a different method?

Manitou

my wing was hardened. i did nothing more than install it. i annealed my shroud the very way you spoke of. though i cant speak for donmarkey

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The chapman wings are soft and need to be hardened after they are fitted. The wings from Jim Wisner are hardened already and the edge is serraded. I like them better, a few less steps to do. The big plus is not having to fit the wing, it is pretty much a drop in once the shroud is modifed.

-Don

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