Mainspring housing question?

[Grim Peeper]

I just recently bought a used springfield A1 It was an older model as it came in a cardboardbox. But my question is about the mainspring housing. The hole where the tool is inserted on my other A1 look as if it is already filled and when dissassembled just comes right out. Is this normal or did somwone break somthing off in there on purpose to make the housing easier to pull out.

 

[skipsan]

To the best of my knowledge, the "tool" is only required on the more recent SA 1911s that are equipped with the ILS lock. They (the newer models) don't have the tiny little pin on the backside of the MSH that retains the mainspring cap within the MSH, when the MSH is removed from the frame, hence the need for the tool.

An earlier model SA 1911 presumably have the cap retention pin, and the hole in MSH would look like it has something in it--which it does.

What is it, that "comes right out"?

If the retaining pin is there, it has to be carefully removed to release the mainspring cap and mainspring. Not difficult, but a misstep can result in UFOs.

 

[Quack]

this is what it looks like if you have an ILS MSH.
the tool goes into where the MS cap pin would be.
if there's something in there, then it's the cap pin

 

[Grim Peeper]

also the hammer only cocks back in two positions rather than three like on my newer springfield.

 

[skipsan]

I believe the two-position hammer cock is correct for the older SAs--if I recall. My SAs, all less than five years old, have the three position hammer.

 

[Grim Peeper]

Yeah I happen the like the three position trigger better myself. It has a much darker park job as well.