O.K. guys, Xmas is coming and yes socks need replacing and could use some new underwear, but where is the fun in that? I'm going to buy a 3 position safty for myselfe from santa...
#1-Dakota
#2-Gentry
#3-Satterlee
Of the ones i have listed, where would the majority rule, i'm leaning to the Satterlee because i like that it has more contours to it than the others and can get safe on left side, not that i have any problems with one being on the right side also! The most important part of a safe to me is how quite it is when it gets thrown from safe to fire, would rather not hear it click. This will be for a Mauser action, what is your take on the quitness of any of these safes and the quality. Thanks for your replies!

I would choose either Satterlee's or Ed Lapour's safeties.

quote:

Ed Lapour's

Gets my vote

If you opt for the Satterlee at least you have the option of a left side 3 position safety on a Mauser action. I don't have one but it bears scrutiny.

I have two of the Satterlee safeties (right side. I haven't installed them yet, but I can tell you that they are extremely well made and they fit perfectly when screwed on to the bolts.
So I would vote for the Satterlee.

Plus, I have met Stu and he is a nice guy to deal with!!!!!!!!!!

Does Mr. Satterlee do CZ safeties (550 Magnum)?

If not, would he please consider making one?

TG

Thanks for the quick replies, looked up the Lapour safe and like the fact that it needs fitting, but found no price, does not matter because i would like the best i can find for this project, e-mail time? $$$
22WRF: Did i understand you in that the safe is already ready by just screwing it on or you havent got that far in the fitting and function of the safe to the bolt to see if it works properly from a finished product standpoint? That would be nice also, as stated earlier i like the fact it has more contours to it and not so slab sided like some of the others.

I would vote for Ed LaPour It is the easist to work with IMHO

LaPour's will require the most work and is most expensive. In the end, it will give a safety that has a very good fit to your action.

People bash Gentrys, but I have used them with no more problem than any of the other brands.

Dakota products these days are very hit and miss. Not just their safeties, but also stock accessories. The QC is nonexistant, so it is a total crap shoot what you will get.

If you go with a Satterlee, be sure to find out if any are in stock before sending money.

How you fit them withh mostly determine how quiet they are.

Just because one safety screws on a bolt easily and one does not tells you nothing about quality. There is a HUGE variation in Mauser bolts and some safety jobs will be easy, and some will be very, very trying. I definitely do not suggest doing this unless you are an experienced gunsmith

SRTRAX

with any of the three position safeties, you can screw them on to see how they fit. After that, you have to grind the cocking piece and drill a half hole for the 3rd position pin. You have to do that on all three position safeties.

I think that Saterlee will do it for you for an extra $50 if you buy his safety. Again, best to call him and ask him.

As for quality, I am not a machinist, but I have owned safeties by Dakota, Wisner, Saterlee, and Zufall. In my opinion, the QUALITY comes from the fitting job, i.e. how much do you want to polish your cocking piece so that the camming action is very smooth and easy, and the third position pin goes in easily but isn't sloppy (drilling to big of a half hole).

Here is a photo of the Saterlees.

No, the quality comes from the machining of the safety itself. Fitting is important but the best fitting job in the world ain't gonna make a crap safety work any better.

Lapour's are great because they are (generally) slightly oversized. This allows you to get the best possible fit and operation of the safety. In fairness, I have not tried Satterlee's safety but the quality looks good. Safeties that are billed as drop in, with the exception of MILLING the cocking piece and MILLING the half circle on the tail end of the bolt, result in a sloppy fit.

NO. the best machined safety in the world is no f-cking good if it doesn't fit!!!! I once owned a Dakota that I ordered from Brownells that was beautifully machined. But there was no way in the world I could get it to screw on a 1908 Brazilian. Had to send it back.

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
NO. the best machined safety in the world is no f-cking good if it doesn't fit!!!! I once owned a Dakota that I ordered from Brownells that was beautifully machined. But there was no way in the world I could get it to screw on a 1908 Brazilian. Had to send it back.

Then it wasn't so well machined, was it?

quote:

Originally posted by TMG:
Does Mr. Satterlee do CZ safeties (550 Magnum)?

If not, would he please consider making one?

TG

No idea is Satterlee does, but I know Lapour does.
http://www.edlapourgunsmithing.com/index.html
-Don

I am a machinist by trade and gunbuilder 2nd because i have never went threw the 10 step program... I'm addicted to it! I will be doing my own work, and understand that the safe itself has to have good quality and the fitting has to be up to par to have a good safe! I do like the fact that the Lapour is over size and all has to be fitted to each gun. Kind of like a fiberglass stock, drop in fit my a$$. Thanks to all,got anything else go for it!

quote:

Originally posted by rem721:

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
NO. the best machined safety in the world is no f-cking good if it doesn't fit!!!! I once owned a Dakota that I ordered from Brownells that was beautifully machined. But there was no way in the world I could get it to screw on a 1908 Brazilian. Had to send it back.

Then it wasn't so well machined, was it?

Using that logic, we can then say that Mr. Lapour's safeties are no damned good because they take the most fitting!!!!

I've used them all...recently tried a NECG (Recknagel) safety...I like it...very close on about a half dozen bolts...snug, but so far has not needed the exensive fitting of the La Pour. Genry safeties work well..especially the ones with set screw from the rear. I have three customers waiting two years for Saterlee actions. delivery any bett er on safeties?

I ordered my Saterlee safeties in late February of 2007 and took delivery of them in late September of 2007. Not so bad considering that he moved his entire shop during that time. As I said, Stu is a good guy to deal with. Just give him a call, tell him what you need and when you need it, and he will tell you whether he can provide it for you or not.

I am very curious, rem721...

as to your assertion that safeties that require milling of the cocking piece and milling of the half circle detent in the end the bolt are of necessity sloppy.

How so?

flaco

E-mail from ED said he has just ran out and plans to make another run in Jan.- Feb. I'm not in any hurry so if you got more keep it coming! I think i have it narrowed down to two so far...Thanks!

I'm just finishing a run of 30, RH, LH lever safetys. I have 45 RH, RH Lever that are 75% machined. I have 20 true LH,LH safeties to fit the LH zastava action and the C.D.s' they are 75% machined styled like the RH that WRF has posted, but for a lefty. Then there's the mini mark x in LH at the urge of GunMaker and Stu C.
I've got 3 of those in the works. So I'm just keeping real busy 6 days a week 7:00 AM to when I drop which is generally about 8:00 PM or a little later. Skipped another morning of deer hunting so I can work, gotta love that.
Timan

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
NO. the best machined safety in the world is no f-cking good if it doesn't fit!!!! I once owned a Dakota that I ordered from Brownells that was beautifully machined. But there was no way in the world I could get it to screw on a 1908 Brazilian. Had to send it back.

I recently got a two position safety and shroud from Jim Kobe for $115 here on AR classified.
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=885109147#885109147

The bolt handle would lift, but the bolt was stuck in the forward position.
I trouble shot it down to the shroud was not screwing all the way onto the bolt body becuase of interference between the shroud threads and the bolt body threads.
Jim's shroud did not fit on my bolt body.
I put grinding compound on the threads*, put the shroud in a mill vise with wooden jaws, and worked the tight spot with elbow grease for 10 minutes. I cleaned the grit out and now it fits fine.




*I can bend a 98 Mauser bolt handle @ 15 minutes per handle when we do dozens per day, but when I tried to get it down to 5 minutes, the shroud no longer would fit in the bolt body, as I had hit the bolt handle so hard with the hammer that the bolt body was bent out of round. Valve grinding compound got it to fit again. That buttressing thread in there can be a problem, so what are you going to do? Grit!

Guys, i havent been around here all that long, and dont always know who is who...such as Timan? I have my guess, but you know what they say about horseshoes and handgranads...
P.S. Work does come first, but you know what they say about all work and no play...got to get some fresh air now and then, from the deer woods!

SRTRAX

Timan is non other than Mr. Satterlee.

TNEKKC

Have you ever thought about possibly cutting that bolt handle 3/4 off and then bending it and then welding in the resulting gap. I saw one done by Mr. Anderson that was absolutely gorgeous.

Flaco,

re-read my post. I said drop in safeties result in a sloppy fit. I specifically excepted the machining of the two cuts you mentioned.

I've installed about 20 Dakota safeties and when I get them installed they are great safeties.....I love them! I'd say my success ratio is about 2 of 3 and several of them I've returned to Brownells!

However sometimes I cannot get them to fit the action I want them to fit but the same safety will fit another action I have. The timing of the threads seems to be the major issue with them.

I've not tried any of the others as I just like the Dakota's looks and they way they work when I can successfully install one. Seems every '98 Mauser is not created the same.

22WRF: I thought so, but didnt want to go out on a limb and have it break off on me! Again, i do thank you all for your responces. I guess its up to me now to choose, hummm 50/50...

I agree with Vapo on the looks of the Dakota. I really love their lines. But after my last Dakota safety, as well as a friend showing me other Dakota products he just got, I won't use them again. Never had a problem before the bankruptcy, but even a casual glance catches the lack of quality these days.