On another thread, someone trashed the Gentry 3-position safety. I have a Whitworth .458 on which I'd like a new safety (for several reasons.... mainly because that's what I grew up with).

What are the problems. They'll install one reasonably if I send them the rifle?

I've never used one.....I like the Dakota but they have some troubles at times as well.....from what I understand I'd ask Gentry to install it if that's what you really want.

Are you just wanting a 3-pos safety or just want a Gentry.....LaPour has one that is a fine safety as well!

I have one on my custom 35 whelen mauser. It looks great & functions just fine. I had Gentry install it. Apparently some smiths have a hard time installing them......but others do not.

I had Gary Stiles build my mauser. I had read of people having problems getting them to work on this site. So I had it instaled before I sent my bareled action to Gary. I asked GAry about his opinion of Gentry 3 position safeties. His comment was that he liked them, they worked great & he never had any issues installing them. Now that said, Gary is a master metal smith & gun builder with the Custom gun makers guild. So I am sure it may be a bit easier for him.

If you have any reservations, just send it to Gentry & let them do it. They were nice people to deal with & the turn around was quite fast.

Judge

I have read most of the many threads here on Gentry safeties. The underlying message from all of them put together seems to be that there may be problems with the ones that are sent out to be installed (I believe one person reported that the threads were 180 degrees off) but it seems that everyone who had one actually installed by Gentry himself really liked them.

I know of one person who has one (it was installed by Gentry) and he is very happy with it.

Every thread I've ever read that complained about the Gentry safety was about installing it. I have one that was installed at Gentry and it works great. I also have a few Dakota's and can't tell any difference in the way they operate. I'd say go for it.

Terry

dakotas, for your local guy to install, are the best bet, if you can find them.

gentry safeties either will work or NOT, and you can tell once you have (if you have to) lapped them into your bolt. I have had a couple that where 180deg (1/2 turn) out of time, and had to go back.. brownelss has had ALOT of them returned, and some customer gun makers use them, but have a gauge to check them on.

My humble opinion is that they are the best "second rate" safety on the market.

If you go with La Pour's you cannot go wrong! The problem with the Gentry is the timing and he knows it and I think he takes that into account when he installs them. You can tell when you put the safety in the middle position, unscrew it from the bolt, then put it back in until the little ball settles into the detent in the back of the bolt body. Then reinsert the bolt. It will usually hang up in the cocking piece groove on the receiver and cause it to jam just like Duane Weibe explained in the "scholarship" thread.

I've had maybe a dozen or more 3-position safeties installed on various actions. I've used Dakotas, Wisners, Gentrys, and recently Lapours. The ONLY one I've ever had a problem with was a Gentry. On that safety, the little roll pin that holds the safety lever in place failed, and the lever popped-up out of the shroud. As it was, this only ruined a deer hunt but it could have ruined an expensive safari. The rifle was sent to Gentry and he replaced the roll pin with a set screw. It seems solid now but it will always concern me.

Duane Wiebe and Tom Burgess both told me that the Lapour version is the way to go. Both also agree that its minimum dimensions make it more difficult to fit; but that's also part of what makes it work so well if installed properly.

I have installed SS Gentrys on M700's. They are the only game in town of that persuasion. Never really had any more problems with them than any other. And Gentry is instantly available via phone if you hit asnag. But if you mail it to them, then you don't have to worry at all.

I used to say I liked Dakotas. I have fooled with my very last Dakota safety I will ever touch again. It has been quite a while since I messed with one, and the quality has totally gone in the toilet. I pissed away 6hours and 40 minutes screwing with the Dakota, and still could not get it to work properly. Everything is out of line with each other and it is physically impossible for it to ever work correctly. I ordered a safet from Ed LaPour after I threw the safety down and used words that even I typically don't use.

Speaking of minimal dimension with Ed, he asked what it was going on and I told him a 1909. He said those had the smallest threads and asked me to send him the stipped bolt so he could lap the threads to fit his safety. Now that is service!

Had an AHR safety for the CZ 550 Magnum when it was the only game in town. Will never buy another one of those either.

I would feel comfortable with a Lapour, Gentry, or Reckenagle. Currently waiting on a safety from Satterlee, but this will be the first one of his I have ever handled.

If you want a new safety but are happy with a Model 70-style but two-position only (for simplicity on a DGR) you can ask Mr. Kobe about the ones he has been selling. Tip Burns has put them on my .458 and my .375.

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
If you want a new safety but are happy with a Model 70-style but two-position only (for simplicity on a DGR) you can ask Mr. Kobe about the ones he has been selling.

I second this recommendation. Having used the Gentry and Recknagel 3 POS safeties, I prefer the Kobe 2 position conversion. It's more economical too.

Thanks for the replies. Where do you find "the ones Mr. Kobe sells"?

I used Ed LaPour's the last time and they are the best I have used. I tried Gentry and Dakota. the Dakota I sent back cause it was out of spec, the Gentry just took a lot of work. Ed's slipped right on with no problems.

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Thanks for the replies. Where do you find "the ones Mr. Kobe sells"?

I would email him.

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Thanks for the replies. Where do you find "the ones Mr. Kobe sells"?

You should be able to PM him, but I believe that this is his website: James A. Kobe - Quality Custom Crafted Rifles and Shotguns

That link will get you there but it is quite outdated. Email me at Jkob60@msn.com.

I am down to one right now but will have more shortly; less than a month. How many do you need?

Jim