Post by TMan on Oct 11, 2012 18:13:11 GMT -5
Ever learn from other peoples mistakes? Please - learn from mine.
In the past, I've always disassembled a 1911 the way they tell you in the manual: remove the bushing, which takes the tension off the recoil spring and then remove the take-down lever, followed by the slide.
However, I've seen other people remove the take-down lever first, remove the slide and everything was fine. I've done it a few times myself without any ill effects until today.
Becky had a busy day and I spent quite a bit of time waiting on her while she was taking care of customers. Snooping around, I found a box that said "SR1911". Hmmmm, stainless and looked nice through the plastic bag. I asked her who it belonged to, and she said: "me". I told her I'd pay her what any customer would pay, but she said no, that I could have it.
Sitting down in my Lazy-Boy, I turned on the TV, and took the pistol out of the box. The chair is right next to a window, but fortunately I'd been out all day and the wooden blinds were closed.
I pulled back the slide, removed the take-down pin, and slid off the slide. MUTHA ...ker. The guide rod and spring went flying and hit the blinds with considerable force. Had it hit the window, there is no doubt in my mind that it would have broken the window.
What happened? I'd done this before without a problem. The answer is that the previous guns had full length guide rods. The Ruger does not.
The moral of the story is: 1) follow the manufacturers recommended procedure for disassembly 2) know what it is that you are disassembling 3) wear safety glasses when working with springs (had the angle been different when I pulled off the slide, I could have gotten hit right in the face.
In the past, I've always disassembled a 1911 the way they tell you in the manual: remove the bushing, which takes the tension off the recoil spring and then remove the take-down lever, followed by the slide.
However, I've seen other people remove the take-down lever first, remove the slide and everything was fine. I've done it a few times myself without any ill effects until today.
Becky had a busy day and I spent quite a bit of time waiting on her while she was taking care of customers. Snooping around, I found a box that said "SR1911". Hmmmm, stainless and looked nice through the plastic bag. I asked her who it belonged to, and she said: "me". I told her I'd pay her what any customer would pay, but she said no, that I could have it.
Sitting down in my Lazy-Boy, I turned on the TV, and took the pistol out of the box. The chair is right next to a window, but fortunately I'd been out all day and the wooden blinds were closed.
I pulled back the slide, removed the take-down pin, and slid off the slide. MUTHA ...ker. The guide rod and spring went flying and hit the blinds with considerable force. Had it hit the window, there is no doubt in my mind that it would have broken the window.
What happened? I'd done this before without a problem. The answer is that the previous guns had full length guide rods. The Ruger does not.
The moral of the story is: 1) follow the manufacturers recommended procedure for disassembly 2) know what it is that you are disassembling 3) wear safety glasses when working with springs (had the angle been different when I pulled off the slide, I could have gotten hit right in the face.
