A safety IV catheter assembly comprising: a needle guard having a non-metallic base portion comprising a wall having a bore, a bore length, a bore diameter, a proximally facing surface, and a distally facing surface; and a first arm including a first free end and a second arm including a second free end extending generally axially in a distal direction from the base portion, the first free end extending beyond the second free end and including an angled end section that extends toward the second arm, the angled end section comprising a first side edge, a second side edge, a length, and a width; an open area or open space or needle tip holding space (50, 304) defined at least in part by the base portion, the first arm, the second arm, and the angled end section; a needle having a tip and a diameter, and a change in profile near the needle tip, wherein the first arm and the second arm are biased so as to move between a ready position in which the angled end section abuts the needle and a protected position in which the needle tip is confined within an open area or open space or tip holding space; characterized in that an insert made from a metal is incorporated to the bore, wherein the change in profile abuts the insert when the needle is in the protected position and in that the length and width of the angled end section are larger than the needle diameter and dimensioned so as to confine the needle tip within the open area or open space or needle tip holding space (50, 304) as the needle pivots and/or rotates within the bore and in that the width is at least 125% greater than the diameter of the needle and the length is at least 200% greater than the diameter of the needle. a needle guard having a non-metallic base portion comprising a wall having a bore, a bore length, a bore diameter, a proximally facing surface, and a distally facing surface; and a first arm including a first free end and a second arm including a second free end extending generally axially in a distal direction from the base portion, the first free end extending beyond the second free end and including an angled end section that extends toward the second arm, the angled end section comprising a first side edge, a second side edge, a length, and a width; an open area or open space or needle tip holding space (50, 304) defined at least in part by the base portion, the first arm, the second arm, and the angled end section; a needle having a tip and a diameter, and a change in profile near the needle tip, wherein the first arm and the second arm are biased so as to move between a ready position in which the angled end section abuts the needle and a protected position in which the needle tip is confined within an open area or open space or tip holding space; characterized in that an insert made from a metal is incorporated to the bore, wherein the change in profile abuts the insert when the needle is in the protected position and in that the length and width of the angled end section are larger than the needle diameter and dimensioned so as to confine the needle tip within the open area or open space or needle tip holding space (50, 304) as the needle pivots and/or rotates within the bore and in that the width is at least 125% greater than the diameter of the needle and the length is at least 200% greater than the diameter of the needle.