1911-A1 flat backstrap. How to?

[James P. Callison]

Here's the simple, no tools method of changing the mainspring housing. It
ain't brain surgery, but it isn't for the weak of hand (that sucker is a
bit stronger than I remembered...)

1) Field strip your 1911-style pistol. Set the slide off to the side, but
keep the slide release handy.

2) remove the safety and place it, lever side down, pin side up, on the
desk/workbench. Also remove the safety spring (in the housing between
the safety and slide release).

3) place the concave side of the mainspring housing retaining pin on top of
the pin, then press down on the grip of the pistol. If you have a mallet
handy, you can put the safety on top, but it takes some considerable force
to get the pin out.

4) slide the mainspring housing out

5) place the slide release on the edge of the desk (so that part hangs
over the edge, so that it is flat beneath the pin). Lower the mainspring
housing housing onto the slide release pin, and press firmly. Take the
safety spring (removed in step 2), and use the end with the narrow pin
to push the mainspring retaining pin out far enough for you to grab the
flared end. Pull it out, and carefully release your pressure.

6) pull the mainspring out of its housing. Clean, lube, and insert into
new (or old) housing, using the method described above.

7) reinstall mainspring housing, safety spring, then safety.

8) field dress pistol (opposite of field strip :-)

9) shoot bad guy who was patiently waiting. (OK, well, maybe not. :-)

And there you have it. Except for how stiff that danged spring is, it's
a very simple operation. If you're really adventurous, you can totally
strip that pistol without tools (but I'd suggest using a real screwdriver
for the grip screws to avoid damage; the screw on the magazine release can
be turned using the leaf spring on the trigger).

And just think, I learned this without a Colt manual! :-) I'd give
credit where credit's due, but I can't remember who told me about
using the safety to remove the mainspring housing retaining pin; nearly
everything else stems from that trick.

James

James P. Callison Microcomputer Coordinator, U of Oklahoma Law Center
Call...@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu /\ Call...@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu
DISCLAIMER: I'm not an engineer, but I play one at work...
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