CD 1911 disassembly

[Bravo11]

I have a CD 5" 1911 and I was going to completely disassmble for a thorough cleaning. I have field stripped it
many times for cleaning but never a complete disassembly.
An older NRA manual I have says to cock the hammer then remove the safety by moving it up slightly and pulling it out. The problem is that this pistol has an ambi-safety and can't be removed using that method.
How do I get past this step?

 

[Walkalong]

If it is the kind that has an extended part that goes under the grip panel, then take the grip panel off and take off the right side first. It will sometimes come off with very little effort.

Some use an extended sear pin or hammer pin to help hold them together. The newer Kimbers have an extended hammer pin. I took mine off by taking the left side off as usual and then the right side comes off easily. I put it all in a baggie, marked it, put it away, and installed a single side safety.

Some are very tight where they go together in the middle and can be difficult to remove...

 

[BigO01]

The Daly's use an extended slotted sear pin to hold the right side safety in place if this is the first time you have detail stripped it the fit between the two halves will be very tight .

Take a small screwdriver and as you pull up very slightly pry up on the underside of the left portion of the safety . It will come loose and the next time it wont be quite as hard to do .

Just a tip make sure after you have completely taken it down and start to put it together spray the parts with Break free it will last a long time on internals .

When assembling make sure your sear spring doesn't move out of place or you hammer wont stay at full cock , when you begin to install the grip safety push the mainspring housing partially in place to keep the sear spring correct as the left leg MUST be up on the sear .

While you're in there you might want to lightly buff and polish the internal parts where they contact each other with fine grit Wet/Dry .

Here is a link or two you might find helpful .
Disassembly/assembly pictures click on the pic and it will expand

http://www.m1911.org/full_striping.htm

Technical issues on how to diagnose and repair many problems that are 1911 related .

http://www.m1911.org/full_technic.htm

Good Luck and feel free to PM me if I can be of any help .

There is a man called Tuner here on th forum and on 1911.org who has great knowledge of the 1911 if it gets hairy .