How to field-strip Colt Officer's Model?

[Bart Noir]

Just got one and it has an aftermarket big barrel bushing, one with flat sides like it is made for a solid fit to a wrench. I know how to strip the Gov Model but this is a little different and I don't want to force anything until I know more. It looks like the original recoil spring plug although I am not sure of that. The plug has a screwdriver slot in it, but why? I can only get the bushing to turn about 15 degrees using my fingers. Do you suppose I simply need to use a wrench to get it to move the rest of the way and release the plug? Is it critical to have the slide retracted a quarter inch or so, to be able to turn the bushing? Thanks in advance.

Bart Noir

 

[Tim L]

OK, you need a screw driver to turn the spring plug, I think it's 90 degrees clockwise. once that's done remove the bushing and then rotate the spring plug 80 degress clockwise again and it should slide out. the rest of the dissassembly is the same as normal. there is a tab on the bottom of the spring plug that fits into a slot in the bottom of the slide and is the weakest link in the whole design. How do I know? had one of those little tabs break while I was shooting, stopped before it totally ripped out, discovered it when I went to clean it. You don't need a wrench for disassembly.

Tim

 

[Bart Noir]

Thanks Tim, I knew it was something unusual like that. I heard about the "little tab' problem from, oh, about 73 different articles and books. My newest gun is one with a herking strong barrel bushing to keep the plug in place, so that tab is not doing anything now and shouldn't break. Or so I think.

Bart Noir

 

[SunBear]

Officers ACP. Officers Model is a revolver. Happy trails.

 

[steveno]

while you have the pistol apart make sure you check the barrel bushing closely for cracks. it is a part prone to failure. I went through several before I decided to find another home for it. fronts sights tend to fly off of them also

 

[Bart Noir]

SunBear, I knew that every time I typed, but had forgotten the exact title Colt gave the auto-feeder. Now it is the Defender, and mine actually says Compact on the slide. Oh well, we all knew what I meant.

Steveno, the bushing is aftermarket and seems sturdy as all get-out. But I find that I have the original spring plug after all. So, if I get one of the aftermarket ones, will the take-apart procedures change?

Bart Noir

 

[steveno]

I can't help you on what the takedown procedure would be with an after market plug but I doubt that it would change much