Top lever, trip spring, triggers
 

Pushing the top lever to open the gun engages the safety as expected, but when the top lever is released it travels far enough back to the left so that the safety can be disengaged with the gun still open. I don’t think this is as it should be. When the gun is closed, the top lever is back to center, the gun is right up and down, side to side.

Other than buying a gun that doesn’t need work for a change, what would I look at as the likely problem?

There is also the catch of some sort when working the top lever, like something is passing a burr, or a trigger creep feel prior to a break in a 1911.

Looks like the trip you have in the gun is damaged and grabbing way too late. Could also be the actual cut in the bottom of the bolt, but unlikely.