Model 1911 semiautomatic pistol thumb safety

An ambidextrous thumb safety adapted to be coupled to a model 1911 receiver, the safety comprising:

• a right selector capable of being pivotally coupled to a first side of the model 1911 receiver so that when coupled, the right selector can pivot relative to the receiver about an axis of rotation, the right selector having a right surface portion arranged for contacting the first side, and having a right raised surface portion offset from the right surface portion and disposed to face the first side when the right selector is coupled to the first side, the offset of the right raised surface portion relative to the right surface portion being away from the first side when the right selector is coupled to the receiver;
• a left selector capable of being pivotally coupled to a second side of the model 1911 receiver, opposite the first side so that when coupled, the left selector can pivot relative to the receiver about the axis of rotation, the left selector being interconnectable to the right selector and having a left surface portion arranged for contacting the second side, and a left raised surface portion offset from the left surface portion and disposed to face the second side when the left selector is coupled to the second side, the offset of the left raised surface portion relative to the left surface portion being away from the second side when the left selector is coupled to the receiver;
• wherein when coupled to the receiver, the safety is rotatable relative to the receiver from a first position to a second position, and wherein the right surface portion sweeps a right swept area on the receiver, when the safety is rotated from the first position to the second position, and the right swept area is covered substantially in its entirety by the right raised surface portion when the safety is in both the first position and the second position, and wherein the left surface portion sweeps a left swept area on the receiver, when the safety is rotated from the first position to the second position, and the left swept area is covered substantially in its entirety by the left raised surface portion when the safety is in both the first position and the second position.

A semiautomatic pistol comprising:

• a receiver;
• a barrel coupled to the receiver;
• a breach slide coupled to the receiver;
• a firing mechanism coupled to the receiver;
• and
• a selector movably coupled to the receiver, the selector having a substantially flat portion disposed to extend adjacent to and alongside an exterior side of the receiver, the flat portion having an operator actuating tab projecting from an outer surface of the flat portion and having an interior surface arranged to face the exterior side of the receiver, the interior surface having different offset surface sections differently offset outwards from the exterior side of the receiver when the selector is coupled to the receiver;
• wherein one of the offset surface sections is a contact surface disposed to contact the exterior side of the receiver and wherein, the safety is movable relative to the receiver from a first position to a second position, and wherein the contact surface sweeps an area of the receiver when the safety is moved from the first position to the second position, and the swept area is hidden substantially in its entirety, with the safety in both the first position and the second position by another of the offset surface sections that is raised relative to the contact surface.