[sturgeon]

1st, hello to eveyone. I am new to this site, and also have just recently recieved my ccw permit. I have a few guns, but am still some what new to shooting, besides air guns and .22s when I was smaller.
Anyways I just bought a used kimber pro carry today, being used, it did not come with any manuals. My question is, is there a trick to the take down pin for field stripping? I just can't seem to get it out. This may seem like a dumb question, but thank you in advance.

[1911Tuner]

If that's the one with the full length guide rod, lock the slide back to see if
there's a small hole in it. If so, insert a bent paper clip into the hole,
push the slide forward until the takedown notch is lined up with the
slide stop, and push the slide stop out from the right side of the gun.

It can be tricky to reassemble with the bent clip in. best way is to
get the recoil system back in place with the spring free...pull the slide back
and get the slide stop back in against spring pressure. Takes a little
practice, but it can be done.

I've only seen one of those Kimbers, and my memory may be dim on it,
but that seems like the way I remember doing it when my neighbor
got his apart and had a hard time getting it back together....Phone rang
at 11:00 at night...:rolleyes:

Hope this helps,
Tuner

[TheFrontRange]

Howdy. My Kimber is a five-inch Custom model, but I think the only real difference between this and your ProCarry is that yours probably has a four-inch barrel and is in stainless...

...anyway, I literally just withdrew my Kimber from its holster, unloaded it, and took a look at it to try to help you.

By "take-down pin" I think you are referring to the slide-stop. It's a horizontal piece (as viewed on the left side of your pistol) where you can see the "pin" end of it protruding from the right side of the pistol.

It sounds like you've already removed your barrel bushing...if not, check to make sure your weapon is unloaded and remove the bushing. (If you need help with that step, let us know and I or someone else out here can help you with that).

Hold the pistol by the grip in your right hand and place your left hand along the top of the slide. As you view the left side of the slide from left to right, you'll see three notches cut into its bottom edge. The first is the slide-stop notch, the notch your slide-stop engages to hold the slide open. The second is a smaller notch...this is the one you want to pay attention to right now.

Move the slide the rear until the checkered area of your slide-stop is in line with this smaller notch, the "take-down notch" if you will. Line these pieces up and with a finger of your left hand, push on the pin end of the slide-stop...this should push the slide-stop assembly out where you can grasp it and fully remove it.

I hope my directions make some sense...trying to type them quickly! Let us know if you need more help...someone out here might have a link to a better resource for total disassemby/reassembly directions.

(edited to add...) 1911Tuner typed his reply faster than I did! I'd defer to his directions as this guy really knows his 1911s! :)

[sturgeon]

thank you both for answering so soon, I did not remove the barrel bushing, and can use some help on that. I did not know about the bushing, but after that I can see how you push the slide stop out.

[TheFrontRange]

Did a small plastic wrench-like piece come with your Kimber? If there was no manual I'm guessing there was no wrench, either...

You may very well be able to disassemble the gun minus the barrel bushing wrench.

I should mention here, too, that what I'll type here applies to my five-inch Custom...I'm going to go out on something of a limb and assume your ProCarry has a full-length guide-rod like my Kimber does...when you draw your slide back, if you see a metal rod under your barrel that is about the same length as the barrel, then you have a full-length guide rod. If you see NO rod, only the barrel, then you have a standard-length guide rod.

As always, confirm that your weapon is unloaded...no magazine, empty chamber.

Then, keep your palm over that muzzle end of your pistol to be ready to "trap" the recoil spring plug, the metal piece just under the muzzle. Keep the weapon pointed away from your face.

If you have access to a wrench, place the open end over the bushing...you'll see how the wrench is cut out to fit over this piece. Press the wrench in towards the muzzle and it will depress the protruding lip of the plug back into the pistol, enabling you to turn the wrench slowly clockwise, rotating the barrel bushing and freeing the plug. This is why you want your palm over that plug to keep it from flying free...it's under spring pressure...also why you don't want to be looking down the muzzle during this step. :)

If you have no wrench, it may take some doing but you may be able to depress the plug with either your thumb or the lip of a magazine base. The idea is to depress that plug so you can rotate the bushing clockwise about a quarter-turn, freeing the plug for removal.

If your Kimber does indeed have a full-length guide rod, you can even go ahead and remove the recoil spring at that point.

Whew...that, I think, covers that step hahaha...unless, again, 1911Tuner or some other 1911 fan has typed faster than me again. :)

[TheFrontRange]

I should have also added that the bushing itself will not yet be freed for removal at the point I left off, only the recoil spring plug and the recoil spring.

If you need more help, just let us know! :)

[sturgeon]

frontrange
I can get the slide off but can't get the barrel, spring and guide rod out. I think that is part of what you explain to me to do, but not working for me. It didn't come with a wrench, so I guess I'll ask around at the range tomarrow
Thankyou

[SanduneCC]

I don't believe the Pro Carry has a bushing, it's a bull barrel. You need to use the paper clip method as described by 1911Tuner. You're better off asking someone who knows about 1911s for help this first time around. I can smell a scratch on the frame from the slide release coming soon.

[Kruzr]

So much misinformation.....:uhoh:

A Pro or Compact size Kimber does not have a bushing and needs the "takedown" tool to field strip. Not like a full size.

Here is the diagram from the manual you don't have. You need to bend a heavyduty paper clip to make the tool (don't make it too long or it will hit when you take the assembly out.) It goes in the hole in the guide rod to capture the plug and spring so you can get it out the back.

http://home.earthlink.net/~mbpo/_uimages/K_takedown.jpg

After inserting the tool, push the slide forward from the back until the slide stop is lined up with its half moon to take it out. Don't forget to keep your hand off the grip safety when taking off the slide if its a Series 2 Kimber.

[cool45auto]

Welcome to THR!:D

[Lone_Gunman]

Sturgeon,

As pointed out above, you are getting misinformation here from TheFrontRange. He is giving info regarding a full size 5" barrel 1911, and while his info is correct for that gun, it unfortunately does not apply to the Pro Carry, which has no barrel bushing.

Read what 1911 Tuner says, he has it right. The paper clip thing is the key to takedown.

[sturgeon]

Thank you all, I first used the paper clip method but did not see how to bend it at first. Thank you for the diagram.
Thanks again, I feel much better now.

[Kruzr]

When you put it back together, leave the spring compressed. Put the assembly back in and then put the frame on. After you get the slide stop in, lock the slide back and then remove the takedown tool.

[sturgeon]

so easy when you have the right tool, or make the right tool. 1911tuner was right from the start, I just did not bend it the right way. A picture is worth a thousand words!
Thanks

[TheFrontRange]

Hey, Sturgeon, sorry for any bad advice I passed along...didn't realize the ProCarry's were set up differently from the Customs...check your Private Messages for one from me and I hope all has gone well with your new gun.

TheFrontRange

[1911Tuner]

Hey FrontRange.

Nadda problemo...You passed on some good info, just the wrong gun.
My neighbor had the first Pro-carry that either of us had seen. He was
familiar with the takedown procedure on a 1911, but this one had him
stumped. He got it apart okay...as per the directions, but had his
hands full on the reassembly due to having to the takedown tool
getting cockeyed on him. I figured a way around it by getting the
system back in, removing the tool to free the spring, and getting the
slidestop aligned with the takedown notch against the spring pressure.
The book method may work better for some.

Thanks for takin' the time to help the guy out. That's the spirit of these
forums. Thanks also to Kruzr for the diagram. A picture is worth a
thousand words.

Cheers!
Tner

[sturgeon]

TheFrontRange,
Not a problem at all, you had stated that the instructions were from your 5inch custom and that you did not now if my procarry was the same. I thank you for taking the time to try and help me out. I sent you a private message.
Thanks again to all!!

[TheFrontRange]

Thanks, guys! I love the pics I've seen of the ProCarry but have obviously never handled one. Been intrigued by them since the Tacoma, WA P.D. selected them as an optional duty weapon for its officers. I am still pretty new to the ranks of 1911 fans...I've had my Custom for a tad over a year and briefly owned Charles Daly and Springfield Armory examples before that. I've heard of the bull barrel setups on some models but have never seen the details on them, so all this info has helped me, too! :)

Have a good rest of this weekend and see you all out here!

[Monkeyleg]

This thread got me to thinking about something I haven't before: why do the full-size Kimbers need a barrel bushing when the 4" models (Pro Carry and the Ultra's) do not?

Having asked that, I have to go lie down now. I'm not used to thinking.

[CWL]

Call Kimber, explain to them that you purchased a used gun & am missing the owner's manual.

They will send you one for free.

[mnealtx]

The 4" Kimbers have a cone barrel, so no bushing for them...