Need a little 1911 help please

[Joistman]

My GF showed me her Grandfathers pistol. She said he carried in WW I. Its a Colt 1911 (Aug 19, 1913). She wants to keep it for sentimental reasons. I convinced her to let me take it home and get some CLP on it as it is showing significant signs of rust. I have looked at several videos on "youtube" that show how to field strip this firearm. I racked it, engaged the safety, depressed the main spring (as far as I can) and I can't get the bushing to budge! I have sprayed the bushing and the barrrel tip with CLP to free it up. Still no good with with finger pressure. I want to make sure I am not overlooking something simple before I purchase a bushing tool. Any nuance I might be over looking? Advice, links or referrals will be appreciated. Thanks.

PS:
Even though I have never fired one, after cycling the slide and handling this pistol for a while, I understand why people love it. Feels "solid".

 

[Mags]

Get a barrel bushing wrench they are around 5 bucks and might do the trick.

 

[Canuck-IL]

Nope - as long as it doesn't have a full length guide rod installed, which you would have noticed, that's all you need to do. I'd run a little Kroil in there overnight as it's likely mildly fused with rust ... then a wrench if it's stubborn.

BTW, no need to cock it to remove the bushing.
/Bryan

 

[skipsan]

If the pistol is showing some external rust, the bushing and slide may be rusted together. All of my 1911s, although I have nothing that is approaching the age of yours, require a bushing wrench to rotate the bushing.
Make sure you're rotating it the right way (cw looking at the muzzle) and wear glasses, as that spring/plug can come out of there at rocket speed.

I'd try a little penetrating oil like Kroil in the interface between the bushing and slide and let it soak overnight. Then apply the bushing wrench and hope for the best. If you can't move it with a plastic wrench, I'd let a smith take a crack at it.

You might try removal of the slide/barrel/bushing/spring as an assembly. That's a technique preferred by some of the more experienced guys. A little search and maybe a youtube video will illustrate that technique. You're still faced with the bushing stuck in the slide, even with this technique.

 

[yeti]

Cheat!

Check again that it is cleared, line up the slide release/take down pin with the take down cut in the slide, push out pin, cup hand under dust cover to catch recoil spring, slip the slide (with the barrel) right off the front, then go from there.

 

[Joistman]

Canuck
I can't engage the safety (to hold the slide in place) unless I cock. Eh?

 

[yeti]

Stop trying to lock the slide back; slide forward, push in the plug (be sure to push in enough to fully clear the bushing), with the muzzle pointing away from you turn the bushing clockwise

 

[Kman]

you can still remove the slide without removing the bushing first,,make sure it's unloaded of course,,then cock the hammer and with your right hand palm up place your thumb around the grip safety and your four fingers on top of the slide,,as you squeeze the slide it will move rearward, when the first recess in the edge of the slide reaches the slide-stop, start pushing the opposite side tip of the slide-stop back into the frame, it should move just enough to allow you to grip the slide-stop with your fingertips and pull it straight out. The slide can now be moved forward and off the frame, CAUTION, the spring is under tension and will try to squirt out of the slide, so as you are moving it forward, cover the bottom of the slide by gripping it firmly and moving your hand over the exposed spring as it emerges. It's tough to do and chances are it will hit you firmly in the groin, but with the slide removed you can now go to work on the stuck bushing with penetrating lube. BTW, the bushing must turn counter-clockwise to be removed.

 

[Oyeboten]

Yup...as Kman says...

That would be they way to do it, and figure out the Bushing issue later once all else is apart.

 

[ghitch75]

to add to the other.....be careful not to run the stop down the frame....

 

[HuntAndFish]

Take the slide off just like Bob does at the start of this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqRoet23C6w

 

[1911Tuner]

Soak the area with Kroil and let it sit overnight. Use a small plastic mallet to tap on the bushing...straight back...to loosen the rust. A buching wrench would be useful. Turn a little...Kroil and tap...lather/rinse/repeat until the bushing will turn.

Questions:

Are you turning it in the right direction? Looking at the muzzle, the bushing must be turned clockwise in order to release the plug and spring...then counterclockwise to remove the bushing...but the plug must be depressed first in order to let the bushing turn.

Caveat:

Be careful of the plug once the bushing clears it. You can put your eye out with that thing.