Ruger MK I/II/III Takedown Tool - Review

[TMan]

Brownell's carry's this tool as part number 100-001-507, and it is made by Joe Beary www.gunsmithertools.com it has three functions, and I'm linking to Joe's sight for the pictures:

1) Opening the mainspring latch (easily):



2) Tapping out the bolt stop, which in a new gun can be really tight:



3) Removing the extractor (I haven't done this yet):



For me, it is worth the money just for the first function. Having not been able to find a paper clip, I figured I could pull it out with a finger nail. When you tear a finger nail, it takes a long time to grow out and not keep cracking at the tear.

Oh, at the time of writing this, the price from Brownell's is $13.95. Brownell's says it is a "must have". I wouldn't go that far, but if I lost mine (yeah, like I would ever lose anything), I'd definitely buy another one.

[MLB]

Clever little gadget. I like the paperclip idea. I've been using the little slotted-end from my cleaning rod to open the mainspring latch. Being the cheap bastage that I am, I'll probably make up something similar in the basement.

[TMan]

There are different size paper-clips. I think the smaller clips would work better than the large ones. Unfortunately, I never seemed to have small ones when I was doing a disassembly. The nice thing about the tool is that it is a flexible stranded wire. It really works well.

[MLB]

I'm thinking that one of my smaller plastic coated stainless steel fishing leaders would just about do the trick.