Krebs Mark VII Ambi safety lever

[tchick 52]

Being a Lefty I'm always looking for ways to make my Right handed firearms more user friendly. I ordered A Krebs Mark VII ambi safety selector lever. It was advertised for use on Saiga shotguns and rifles. Unfortunately, the detent bump is not at the end of the lever like the factory Saiga bump is. I contacted the seller and asked if I was sent the correct model for a Saiga and they replied back that this is the correct lever for Saiga rifles. I am disappointed the detent bump is not in the correct place and I will not be using this on my Saiga rifle.

 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2014 by tchick

[Mullet Man 2,114]

Doesn't list a MkVII Saiga specific safety on Krebs site, only the MkVI model.

Edited October 1, 2014 by Mullet Man

[tchick 52]

I didn't purchase it from the Krebs site. After visiting their site I noticed they don't say it will work on Saiga shotguns and rifles like the site I purchased it says. Poor research on my part.

[Mullet Man 2,114]

It does work on Saigas. Its just not 'specifically' made for them. I hear ya tho. IMO, it's a tiny eye sore.

 

This might make you feel better.... Even Krebs Saiga specific safeties detents do not line up perfectly with the original scratch. Ask me how I know...

Form follows function and I moved on.

Edited October 1, 2014 by Mullet Man

[tchick 52]

I like the way the factory safety detent bump clicks into place, holding the safety lever in place. Using a safety with the detent bump in the wrong place doesn't provide the same thing. It may provide some tension with the bump against the receiver but it isn't the positive retention the original safety has.

[Mullet Man 2,114]

That's easily fixed with a Dremel, cutoff wheel and a steady hand. The Saiga doesn't have detent notches from the factory and relies on it over riding the receiver top and bottom for that click you mention.

Follow the scratch, Dremel a shallow cut, or even drilling a shallow dimple in the new scratch (doesn't take much), at your desired position, will give you the audible and physical clicks and retention you are after.  

 

Google AK receiver pictures for various types of detent notches.

[tchick 52]

That's easily fixed with a Dremel, cutoff wheel and a steady hand. The Saiga doesn't have detent notches from the factory and relies on it over riding the receiver top and bottom for that click you mention.

Follow the scratch, Dremel a shallow cut, or even drilling a shallow dimple in the new scratch (doesn't take much), at your desired position, will give you the audible and physical clicks and retention you are after.  

 

Google AK receiver pictures for various types of detent notches.

Instead of modifying the receiver I think I may try modifying the safety lever. Grind the detent bump off and try making a new bump with a punch or something.

[G O B 3,516]

Grind off the bump and use a 4/40 screw for the bump. To add the bump with a punch you would need to anneal the lever before punching, and then re-temper it.

[Mullet Man 2,114]

Grinding the detent off the lever will probably leave a hole in the lever, seeing as it's stamped. Another thing to address.

[tchick 52]

Grind off the bump and use a 4/40 screw for the bump. To add the bump with a punch you would need to anneal the lever before punching, and then re-temper it.

Thanks for the tip. It's on the back burner right now but when I get around to it I'll give it a shot.

[Inebriated 31]

I like the way the factory safety detent bump clicks into place, holding the safety lever in place. Using a safety with the detent bump in the wrong place doesn't provide the same thing. It may provide some tension with the bump against the receiver but it isn't the positive retention the original safety has.

It clicks into place because the detent is at the very tip of the selector, and will actually go far enough down that it catches the bottom of the receiver itself. That's also what keeps it in the on position... it just grabs the top of the receiver. The difference between it and a "regular" AK, is that the "regular" AK's have the detent further back on the selector, which means that they don't reach the top and bottom edges of the receiver like the Saiga selector. To overcome that, they have notches for the detent to fall into. I can get more detailed pics if you would like, it's fairly irrelevant to your issue though, just thought I would offer up the "why" of the situation.

[Mullet Man 2,114]

 

I like the way the factory safety detent bump clicks into place, holding the safety lever in place. Using a safety with the detent bump in the wrong place doesn't provide the same thing. It may provide some tension with the bump against the receiver but it isn't the positive retention the original safety has.

It clicks into place because the detent is at the very tip of the selector, and will actually go far enough down that it catches the bottom of the receiver itself. That's also what keeps it in the on position... it just grabs the top of the receiver. The difference between it and a "regular" AK, is that the "regular" AK's have the detent further back on the selector, which means that they don't reach the top and bottom edges of the receiver like the Saiga selector. To overcome that, they have notches for the detent to fall into. I can get more detailed pics if you would like, it's fairly irrelevant to your issue though, just thought I would offer up the "why" of the situation.

 

Echo.... echo.... echo. Lol.

Its relevant if he wants to keep the mKvii safety with positive detent, like mentioned. Permanently notching the receiver would be the proper way to do it, not to mention easiest and most aesthetically pleasing. 

Edited October 4, 2014 by Mullet Man

[tchick 52]

I know regular AK's have notches in the receiver and that's where the bump on this safety lever would click into. I really don't want to grind notches into my receiver just to use this safety lever. Some of the other Krebs safeties have the bump positioned for Saigas. This safety was advertised that it was for Saigas on the site I purchased it from so I assumed the bump was in the correct position for Saigas. I would rather screw up the safety lever trying to modify it than screw up my receiver.

[G O B 3,516]

Always try to do mods on the part that is easily replaceable FIRST!  

[imarangemaster 315]

Always try to do mods on the part that is easily replaceable FIRST!  

This!

[Mullet Man 2,114]

Meh, if you're capable of grinding off the détent, drilling a new hole in the lever and putting a screw in it, then the capability exists to dimple the receiver. The same drill you will use to drill a new hole will put a dimple in the receiver just the same.

The safety lever has already done half the work for you by leaving the convenient scratch line, to locate it.

 

So easy a caveman can do it.....

Before,

After,

Bulgarian Arsenal,

 

Literally took 30 seconds.

Edited October 5, 2014 by Mullet Man

[TxAgSaiga1979 16]

Tchic, I had the same exact problem.

 

Wrote an email to them that resulted in a phone call from the owner himself. I'm not sure that I adequately communicated the problem, so I told them I would modify one myself to hang on the safety lever catch and send pictures.

 

I'm gonna order one, heat it up, punch a longer detent, and then have it re-coated (I have a local Cerakote vendor that works wonders).

Also, I don't want to simple my receiver because I like a low-friction, one-handed operation.

 

And my arsenal with a dimpled receiver doesn't work that way...

[Mullet Man 2,114]

All of mine with dimples are a simple, easy, index finger flick, without changing grip, including my SLR. If yours isn't, that just means you haven't adjusted it right. An AK safety is adjustable, simply by bending the safety outwards until you get your desired tension. If you make it to loose, simply bend it back a little bit.

 

It never ceases to amaze me at how over complicated some people like to make things. Mountain out of a mole hill.