What is the purpose of an overtravel screw on the trigger of some 1911's?I've noticed that most custom and some factory 1911's have overtravel screws and was just wondering.

It's not an over travel screw but rather a creep screw. It allows you to remove all of the pre-travel of the trigger before the sear lets go.

Ahhh that's what I thought but was unsure,thanks for the 411 bigbulls.

It is for overtravel adjustment. It stops the trigger after hammer drops.

I recommend taking the screw out, throwing it away, and forgetting that it ever existed.

Best case scenario with using it- you eliminate a little overtravel- not that big of a deal. If it were big enough of a deal, you're probably a bullseye shooter and the factory trigger isn't going to be good enough to use without a good workover by a competent smith anyway.

worse case scenario- screw is adjusted enough that the sear barely trips and drags on the half-cock shelf dmaging the sear and causing light primer strikes.

Worst case scenario- the gun happens to be your carry gun and the screw has worked its way backward enough to completely block the trigger and render the gun inoperable when your life depends on it.

Like I said before, take it out and forget about it, put it in a box for later if it makes you feel better. If you really feel the need to use this gegaw, locktite it into place.