How much should a detail strip cost?

T

Tropical Z

New member
For a 1911.
I bought a complete spring replacement set for my Sistema and want to know how much replacing them should cost at the friendly local gunsmith.
Thanx:)
 
I'm no expert, but I think it would not be difficult to do this yourself. The only problem may be the leaf spring, which may just need a little tuning.

I don't know prices, so I will let other let you know.

If you have aBrownelle's catalog there is a guide to pistol work prices near the middle colored pages.

Good Luck!
 
Spring replacement

You can do it yourself. As mentioned earlier the only problem will be with the leaf spring. Sometimes getting the mainspring housing back into place can be a little tricky. Best of luck!
 
I've done it myself on a Taurus 92. Made it into a very sweet shooting gun. Recoil is just about non-existent. I need to get a bench rest to see how good it shoots, I know it will shoot better than I can. The rear blade of the sight is a bit loose side to side.

On the other hand, I'm a tinkerer, give me an exploded diagram and I can get just about anything back together. Wish I had more tools, but a punch set has been it on special tools so far. Need my hex wrenches from the garage.

Don't know how appropriate this advise would be for a 1911. You could always get one of those video instruction tapes and see if you would be comfortable with what skills and tools are needed.
 
I agree with the zero cost approach. If you are going to have a number of guns, it's really much better if you learn to do basic maintenance on them yourself. Replacing the springs isn't a big deal, and I agree with the advice to leave the leaf spring alone if it's not causing a problem. I've never found the mainspring a problem to get back into the gun, sometimes it takes a little elbow greese, that's about it...
 
me again,

If you have any doubts about this trot over to www.1911forum.com

There is a wealth of info and links to web sites that can give you step by step instructions.

Welcome to the very wonderful world of the 1911!

Enjoy,

Ehenz
 
I guess i posted because the manual i have explains the normal field strip and then cautions that your everyday Joe or Susie should have any further breakdown done by a gunsmith.Obviously the guy must be a total woosie!
I'll get a paper manual and give it a shot.Thanx
P.S can i assume the "leaf spring" everyone is mentioning is the "sear spring"thats in my kit? Thats the only spring that doesn't look like a typical spring.
 
Good heavens, that is like asking what it will cost to have someone brush your teeth!

Complete disassembly and reassembly of a M1911/A1 takes about 20 minutes, tops. (This is normal detail stripping and does not count removal of sights, grip screw bushings, safety spring tunnel, or ejector, none of which would normally be removed.)

The trick to installing the flat spring is to set the spring in place and run the mainspring housing up part way to hold it while the hammer is put in place, and then up a bit more while installing the grip safety and thumb safety.

Jim
 
Bought a Sistema myself recently as my first 1911. Per the suggestions on 1911forum (and sounds like the same as you) I purchased a Wolff Spring replacement kit and changed out all springs before shooting. I found some very good disassembly instructions off of www.1911forum.com but it looks like the link is down right now. It showed how to field strip the whole thing without any tools other than using the parts of the gun itself (the hammer strut can be used as the punch to remove pins, flat spring point to twist the screw in the mag release). Here's a link that's not too bad

http://www.m1911.org/stripin1.htm

The trigger originally was not very impressive originally but after cleaning out the main spring housing pocket and changing the main spring (along with all the others) it's actually very nice now. Overall process was pretty simple, just take your time, be observant during disassembly, and follow the directions. If you're slightly mechanically inclined it's not worth taking it to the gunsmith and you'll have a much better understanding of the workings. Check out www.1911forum.com for more info. The guys over there are very helpful.

Mine actually functions, looks, and shoots very well for a $300 1911A1. I bought it to see if I'd like them and didn't want to spend the big bucks to find out. Now I'm trying to decide whether to customize it or start from scratch and build a Caspian. Another addiction....

Good Luck!
 
Around here a really cute girl charges from $50 to $100, but you can normally get a fat chic for $5-$20:D

Like the others have said learn to do this yourself. If you can, find someone to do it for you the first time. Watch and learn.
 
If you are mechanically inclined half the fun of owning a 1911 is the fact that you can do it yourself and the pistol will suffer no damage whatsoever and you can take it apart as many times as you want with no damage to it.

Very few other pistols made can lay claim to this. Most are so cheaply made with sheet metal roll pins that you need new pins to reassemble the gun with. Other guns have internal stamped sheet metal parts that are easily damaged on reassembly.

You made a good choice with the 1911 it is one of the last real pistols being made today. W.R.
 
Gee W.R., I've had my Glocks & BHP apart many times, and they don't seem to have suffered at all. Of course, I don't shoot bad ammo in them, perhaps that's why you have trouble with other pistol types.
 
My first detail strip cost me:

1) M1911 disassembly video.
2) Kunhausen's (sp?) M1911 book.
3) Set of punches and hammer.

All of the detail strips after that were free. YMMV.

M1911
 
TZ, I used some online instructions to

get the gun apart, but the same guide was not helpful in putting the gun back toghether (the instructions amounted to "do same in reverse.")

I got some excellent instructions from J. Guest on this forum. The original thread is here:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=78500&highlight=kimber


and the acual instructions he wrote are thus:

Reassembly of the 1911-type pistol receiver.


Jorah:

The following is furnished for your convenience. I'd be interested to know at which point you had a lot of difficulty with hammer installation. Begins with a completely disassembled receiver.

1. Slide in trigger

2. Put in mag catch. Hold in partly-depressed position and turn the little latch to release spring.

3. Put sear and disconnector together in proper relationship. (The sear with the two legs downward, belly of the curve forward.) Round end of disconnector uppermost, with bottom flat side forward. Place this sub-assembly in place. A pair of needle nose pliers or hemostats really helps but not necessary.

4. Place the narrower sear pin in from left side to hold above in place.

5. Put in hammer/strut assembly and insert larger, hammer, pin from the left.

6. Make sure the hammer is all the way forward. Flip the hammer strut upward, out of the way, and install the three-leaf flat sear spring. Make sure it seats with the hooked end on bottom in the transverse cut in the receiver.

7. Holding above flat spring in place, insert mainspring housing partway, to hold the flat spring in place.

8. Put grip safety into place. Again, make sure the hammer is forward.

9. Slide housing into place. It should go all the way up. If not, press against workbench to make it flush with bottom of receiver.

10. Insert mainspring housing retaining pin the press into place. You may meet some resistance, and possibly need a pin punch.

11. Insert safety axis pin, holding the grio safety in proper relationship. Work safety lug into receiver cut while moving safety up and down. You may need a thin tool to press the safety plunger forward into its tube to allow this.

This should take care of the receiver. If you have a stock Kimber, it probably has the full length guide rod. The spirit of John M. Browning will punish you by making this part of the reassembly very difficult.

Best,
Johnny
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