Boy am I asking for it...

I've heard that 1911's are a pain in the neck to disassemble/reassemble for cleaning. Compared to a Ruger P95, for example.

Is this true? I've not had the guts to pull one out of the safe here at work to just take a whack at dismantling a gun that isn't mine.

well I have never even touched a P95, however, I have detail stripped my 1911. It isn't difficult at all. Sometimes when I am bored I will detail strip it :D


For a Kimber you might want to look at this

disassembly (http://www.theindoorrange.com/Kimber/KimberII_Disassembly.pdf)
&
assembly (http://www.theindoorrange.com/Kimber/KimberII_Assembly.pdf)
(courtesy of Brain Majors @ 1911forum)

Some may find the 1911's hard to take apart and re-assemble, but I can strip it, clean and have it back together in less than 5 minutes. I find them really simple to do.

Most guns are not designed for the individual to totally field strip. J.M. Browning designed the M1911 for the Government so the GI can totally disassemble it. Remember that it is nearly a 100yr old design and still being manufactored by more companies and customized than anyother pistol.

CD

You can take a 1911 apart without any tools. That is unless you have a 2 piece guide rod assembly. The Rugers are super simple to take apart and have way fewer moving parts. But its true that there are tons of aftermarket parts for the 1911 and after you strip one down two or three times it gets real easy to do.

The 1911 is a piece of cake to take apart, clean and put back together. Here is a great website with the data and pictures. All the best...
Gil


http://www.surplusrifle.com/pistol1911/disassemble/index.asp

Very simple. The site Gil gave you is very good, JP

Some may find the 1911's hard to take apart and re-assemble, but I can strip it, clean and have it back together in less than 5 minutes. I find them really simple to do.
1911's are designed to be easily disassembled for cleaning. You don't have to be a gunsmith to do it. The only "tricky" part about reassembling one is to be sure to connect the barrel link and slide stop correctly. Yes, you can do a service 1911 in 5 but my fully accurized one will take longer.

The 1911 is a piece of cake to take apart, clean and put back together. Here is a great website with the data and pictures. All the best...
Gil


http://www.surplusrifle.com/pistol1911/disassemble/index.asp

Dunno where I'd heard it, but I thought there were a lot more parts than that, and that there was a special tool that was almost required (as in you could get by without it, but you wouldn't want to).

That's definately a good website.

...and that there was a special tool that was almost required (as in you could get by without it, but you wouldn't want to).

That would be the barrel bushing wrench/tool. It makes turning tight bushings easier, also it helps save thumbs when you have a full length guide rod with a hollowed out recoil spring plug. Usually this tool is made of plastic or aluminum.

There was a time when we practiced stripping a 1911 down completely, leaving only the grip bushings and plunger tube on the frame, and reassembling without tools. I can't remember our best times, but 5 minutes is lots, and it's been done in far less.

There's complete stripping & reassembly instructions here:
http://www.m1911.org/full_striping.htm

They cheat and use a screwdriver to remove the grip screws. Use the tang of the sear spring.

Bye
Jack

They cheat and use a screwdriver to remove the grip screws. Use the tang of the sear spring. Bye
Jack
Only if the sear spring tang is a tight fit in the grip screw slot, otherwise, use a well fitting screwdriver unless you have no other choice. Hate to see the screw slots on any firearm buggered up.