Red Crosse,
The hold in the guide rod points in two directions. One side or the other should be unshrouded by the frame. Make sure you use the short axis of the takedown tool.
You are not alone with difficulties for this. Unless you have done this before, the instructions don't make sense. I had to take the gun back to where I bought it in order to learn how to field strip it.
When you pull the slide back, a hole should be revealed in the guide rod. If the gun is pointing away from you and you are looking down to the top of it, the visible hole should be about 1/2 inch from the tip of the guide rod and be pointing left. The other side of the hole should be pointing down, to the right, and shrouded. Insert the short axis of the take-down tool in the hole on the left. Do this AFTER you have removed the slide release. You don't have to, but it will be easier if you do.
The takedown tool should be inserted so that it is centered on the guide rod. Now remove the slide from the frame. Invert the slide. Now you would be able to pull out the guide rod and spring assembly by first drawing it backwards toward the barrel link and then pulling it up and back.
Do note that after you field strip things that if you have decided to remove the takedown tool from the guide rod that it will be easier to re-assemble everything if you put it back first. If you put the tool in the wrong side of the hole, you won't be able to get it out of the guide rod once the gun is re-assembled. You will then have to take everything apart again and reverse the takedown tool.
This all sounds much more complicated than it really is.
Let me know if this helps.
