How To Disassemble and Clean Your 1911

By Steve Horsman

Posted in
#Guns #Skills

In today’s article, Steve Horsman gives us a step-by-step process for how to disassemble and clean your 1911 pistols. As with any firearm related activity, The Armory Life encourages you to follow the common safety rules when cleaning your handguns.

The Springfield Armory 1911 pistols are extremely popular for self-defense, competition, target shooting and hunting. Both experienced shooters and first-time gun buyers find a great deal of quality and value throughout the line.

The Springfield Armory Workbench series of videos gives Springfield Armory firearm owners a handy guide to caring for their firearm.

The 1911 is unique in many ways. It was first adopted by the United States armed forces for its issued handgun in 1911. I won’t go into that, as you can find out the whole story here. What sets the 1911 apart from most all other current popular handguns is that it is a gun from the era of walnut and steel, features a single-action trigger system, external manual safety, and a grip safety on the backstrap. And in my opinion, it also has the most intuitive grip angle of handguns sold today.

In this close-up, the disassembly process of a 1911 pistol’s slide is in progress. The image details the careful removal of the slide from the frame, showcasing precision and attention to safety. Tools like the punch and screwdriver are visible and emphasize the importance of correct firearm handling. The scene underscores the significance of maintaining proper alignment during disassembly. This picture is an essential guide for proper 1911 pistol maintenance and cleaning. — The series covers firearms such as the 1911, Hellcat, SAINT and more.

First Steps to Cleaning Your 1911

When it comes to maintaining your 1911, it is one of the more simple handguns to fieldstrip, clean and lubricate. I personally think that Springfield Armory makes the best 1911 pistols on the market, and will be working on the Stainless Loaded model in this video you can see at the top of the page.

In that video, I discuss in detail basic firearms care/maintenance of the 1911 pistol. The first thing any gun owner should do after they purchase a new gun is to read the included owner’s manual. While the manual is included with your Springfield Armory 1911, you can also find a digital copy of it here.

This image captures the detailed removal of the barrel from the 1911 pistol during the disassembly process. The barrel is shown separated from the slide, highlighting its smooth finish and intricate rifling. Fine cleaning brushes and cloths are arranged nearby to signal the upcoming cleaning steps. The photo demonstrates careful handling to avoid damage, reinforcing best practices in firearm care. It serves as a comprehensive guide for dismantling a 1911 pistol for thorough cleaning. — Before you tear down your 1911, you must ensure that it is clear and empty.

The most important rules to follow when it comes to any type of firearm are the four safety rules:

Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
Never point the muzzle at anything you don’t want to destroy.
Keep your finger off the trigger until you have made the decision to shoot.
Be sure you have positively identified your target and what surrounds it.

The first thing I do is remove the magazine, and then I lock the slide back by pulling the slide to the rear with my support hand and pushing the slide stop up with my primary hand. This allows me to physically and visually inspect the chamber and magazine well to ensure there are no rounds in the gun. Always make sure the firearm is unloaded and clear.

The picture focuses on the extraction of the recoil spring assembly from a 1911 pistol. Every component, including the guide rod and spring, is carefully separated to illustrate the detailed disassembly process. The image emphasizes precision and safety, with each part organized for subsequent cleaning. This view provides an educational insight into the mechanics of the 1911 pistol. It is an ideal visual reference for firearm maintenance and comprehensive cleaning procedures. — Doing a standard fieldstrip of your pistol is must for proper maintenance and care.

How to Disassemble a 1911 Step-by-Step

There are two ways to field strip the 1911, and the owner’s manual shows probably the easier way for the new 1911 owner. The way I do it is to unscrew the front portion of the two-piece recoil spring guide rod, and pull it out via the front part of the slide. From here I pull the slide back to the point where the slide stop engages the disassembly notch. I then push the slide stop from the right side of the frame, out towards the left side of the frame.

Once out, I slowly allow the slide to move forward, and I will wrap my hand around the bottom of the slide to ensure the recoil spring and guide rod don’t go shooting across the room. Once I have the slide off, I will relax my grip on the recoil spring and guide rod, allowing it to be removed from the slide.

From here, all that is left is to remove the bushing, recoil spring plug and barrel. Turn the bushing until the bushing notch engages the notch in the frame, and you can then remove the bushing. With the bushing out, remove the recoil spring plug, then the barrel can be removed by pulling it forward toward the muzzle end of the slide. Your 1911 is now field-stripped.

This detailed image shows the removal of the trigger group from the 1911 pistol frame. The trigger, hammer, and associated pins are neatly laid out to demonstrate each step of the disassembly process. Tools such as punch sets and small screwdrivers are visible, highlighting proper technique and attention to safety. The shot reinforces the importance of detailed cleaning and lubrication of moving parts for optimal firearm performance. It serves as an informative guide for both disassembling and cleaning a classic 1911 pistol. — Cleaning grime and fouling from your pistol is an important step in the cleaning process.

Cleaning Tips

As I fieldstrip I separate the parts and, once I start cleaning, I like to clean the barrel first. I will run a few patches with bore solvent through the bore, from the chamber end toward the muzzle. From here, I will put a bronze/brass bore brush on my cleaning rod and run it through the barrel 10 to 20 times, depending on how dirty my gun is. After the brush, I will go back to a few solvent soaked patches, then move on to clean, dry patches until they come out clean.

Moving on to the frame, I like to use my M16 brush to brush and loosen any fouling. The M16 brush is a toothbrush-looking tool, but with a strip of small bristles on the opposite end. Once the fouling is loosened up, I will wipe it off with a red shop rag, patches and Q-tips. Once I am satisfied that the frame is clean, I move on to the slide, repeating the same process that I used for cleaning the frame. I then wipe the recoil spring, guide rod and bushing off with a red shop rag. Obviously, you can use any kind of rag, paper towels, patches of your choice.

Here, the disassembly of the grip panels and magazine well from a 1911 pistol is illustrated. The image highlights the careful extraction of internal components, including the magazine release and safety mechanisms. Detailed close-ups show how each part is handled and organized for cleaning and maintenance. The scene emphasizes best practices in firearm disassembly with a focus on preserving the integrity of the 1911 pistol. This view is essential for understanding the comprehensive maintenance process of classic pistol models. — Proper — but not excessive — lubrication is an integral part of ensuring the longevity of your 1911.

When I oil my 1911 pistols, I usually use a light oil, as the fit of my 1911 pistols is pretty tight. I like to use needle oilers, as it allows me to get the oil exactly where I want it. I run a bead on the frame rails and the slide rails. You don’t need much, so experiment with how much oil to use on your 1911. I will also put a few drops on the external part of the barrel and spread it out all over it. On the underside of the barrel is the link, and I will also put a little oil on that. I also put a few drops on the recoil guide rod and spring. I can now reassemble the 1911.

Back-Tracking

I first put the barrel back in the slide, put the bushing on the barrel and then install it back in the notch in the slide. Rotate the bushing in the slide, which will allow you to install the recoil spring plug. From here, I install the recoil spring — with the open end of the spring toward the muzzle — into the spring plug. Then install the short portion of the recoil guide rod into the closed end of the spring.

I compress the guide rod forward and down, allowing me to press the back part of the guide rod down to where it engages the front of the link on the bottom of the barrel. From here, I hold the spring and guide rod down against the underside of the barrel so I can fit the frame and slide together to where the link matches up with the hole on the frame through which the slide stop passes.

Install the slide stop into the frame from the left to the right and press it into the disassembly notch. Once it is in, pull the slide back and push the slide stop up, which locks the slide open. Your last step is to install the front portion of the full-length guide rod by installing it in through the hole in the recoil spring plug. Screw it together with the included hex wrench and tighten it down.

This image shows the meticulous cleaning process of the 1911 pistol’s slide after disassembly. The slide is being scrubbed with specialized cleaning brushes and solvent to remove carbon buildup and residue. Detailed textures on the metal surface and carefully arranged cleaning supplies emphasize thorough firearm maintenance. The picture demonstrates the combination of disassembly expertise and precise cleaning techniques. It is a step-by-step visual guide for ensuring the longevity and reliability of a 1911 pistol. — Reassembly of the 1911 is not difficult if you follow the correct steps.

Conclusion

Your 1911 is now assembled. Like I mentioned earlier in this article, please read the instruction manual that came with your gun if you are unfamiliar with any of the parts or process of how to fieldstrip and maintain your 1911.

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