colt vest pocket .25 help

[voicomp]

I took the slide off in a basic field strip. When I put it back on, I was careless had the guide rod backwards. Now I can't get the slide back off to reassemble correctly. The rear of the slide is about even with the front of the pin on the safety and can be pulled back to slightly past the rear of that pin but I can't get it to do anything else. This is a 1916 production date model N aka model 1908 vest pocket and has the grip safety. All ideas welcome! Thanks!

 

[Jim K]

Did you take the magazine out?

Jim

 

[voicomp]

Yep. When I put the mag back in to try disassembling with it in place (after trying repeatedly with it out), it was hard to seat and basically fully locked the slide until the magazine was again out. .

 

[Jim K]

I have tried to set up the condition you describe and can't do it in a way that prevents the slide from being removed. I can get the slide so it won't move back because the recoil spring guide blocks it. And if the magazine is in place, the slide won't go forward either. But with the magazine out, the slide will come forward (it takes a little effort just as in normal takedown).

Jim

 

[voicomp]

I hate to admit it but maybe I have to take it to a gunsmith before I screw it up (worse).... The only other option I can think of right now is to pull the grips, pad the frame, pop it into a vise and have at the slide with a rubber mallet. Mine is no premium condition specimen but it ran like a top and was amazingly accuate for such a tiny thing. Sigh.

 

[rcmodel]

Are you positive you have the barrel turned all the way so you can see all the locking lugs through the ejection port?

The slide will not come off if the barrel is partially rotated and part of the barrel lugs are still hooked to the receiver.

IMO: That is all it can be as, there is nothing else in there that it can be.

rc

 

[Jim K]

You don't say if the barrel is in the slide or not. If it is, when you tried to assemble the gun, did you install the barrel in the slide with its lugs turned into the cut in the slide interior made for that purpose. If not, you might have got the barrel wedged in along with the recoil spring guide.

If that is the condition, try this. Pad a pair of pliers or vise jaws. Clamp down on the part of the barrel that is sticking out of the slide (if there is enough). Try to pull the barrel forward turning it to wiggle it out. Don't use too much force, you don't want to damage the slide.

Jim

 

[voicomp]

The barrel is in the slide and rotates fairly freely. perhaps a few images will help

 

[voicomp]

more data.

If I rotate the barrel down, moving the barrel teeth through the slide grooves, it will easily do this:

 

[Jim K]

All I can say is that I have set my barrel into both those positions, and the slide comes right off the frame either way. I know the backward recoil spring guide will keep the slide from coming back, but I'll be darned if I can see how it would keep the slide from moving forward.

Jim

 

[voicomp]

well, doggone

I guess it is mallet time. I will have to ponder whether I whack the firearm or the wallet but I am stuck. I hate to hit the former and cant really afford to hit the latter but it it what it is. Thanks for trying to help.

 

[mavracer]

Have you tried pulling the trigger?

 

[Jim K]

Before getting out the mallet, try disassembling the rest of the gun. Remove the stocks, grip safety, action parts, etc., and see if you can find what is blocking the slide. If you fix the problem and have re-assembly problems, we will help.

Jim

 

[voicomp]

I have already tried pulling the trigger and taking off the grips for a better look but I can try taking it apart further. I do know the spring on the striker is loose/moveable (one could easily slip a coin into the gap but not enough gap to remove hte spring without damage). I will see how far I can disassemble it tonight. I know I would feel happier fixing it myself (of course with advice and help from the folks here) than paying someone else to do it or breaking one of my favorite antiques!

 

[Old Fuff]

If you decide to disassemble the pistol further (and think long and hard before you do) this link may help you.

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufac...ls-35748/1908Pocket25AutoHammerless-34899.htm

Keep in mind that if the heads of various pins are round you should use punches with cup points. They are available from www.brownells.com

 

[voicomp]

progress

So, I when I was working on getting the trigger pin out of the little devil, two things happened. One is something in the trigger mechanism loosened or slipped and I got the barrel and slide off. The other is the pin at the bottom rear of the mag well fell out and the spring, mag release and backstrap/grip safety all fell off. I don't know how this is possible but the backstrap/grip safety seems to actually be just a tiny bit wider at one point than the slot from whence it came so I am now hung up on reassembly. Oh well, at least I feel like I am getting somewhere....

 

[Jim K]

OK, at least you got the barrel and slilde unstuck, which was what I was hoping for. Now to put the gun together, do a Google search for "Colt vest pocket reassembly"; there are a couple of You Tubes there and other advice. If you get stuck, holler and I will walk you through it.

Jim

 

[voicomp]

thnx

If I get a no-show client tomorrow I can get to youtube during the day. Otherwise it may be Sat (but there really is no urgency). I risked very minor visits with a file to the clear hangup points (old wear marks and current (barely) visible deformation to the backstrap) but didnt get a fit (yet (but i am feeling hopeful)).

I also Q-tipped and toothpicked all over the frame with some Hoppes bore solvent and gentle dental pick scrape down. Subtle fouling in the grooves for the barrel in the frame (strange only because that is something that has moved freely over time) were noted as was significant fouling in the region of backstrap meets mag release were noted.

I will probably have to oxophos bits of the backstrap and there seem to be a couple of bindpoints that I may have to file a little more.

 

[Jim K]

If the grip safety (backstrap) fit right and worked before, don't go filing on it.

Check the You Tube first and if that doesn't help, I will get one of mine out and see if I can help you.

Jim

 

[voicomp]

light touch

i didnt apply the electronic calipers but it is oversize. using gravity as the guide, I will prolly make a reassembly before may but the grip Safety almoSt eases in now. socific point binds are a problem and require being more anal than my usual style but i will get around to it.