Springfield Armory® Workbench: 1911

[@QuietMikeW]

For slide rails take an old credit card, ID card etc and put paper towel or patch over the edge and run it down the rails, gets all 3 sides of the rail at once super well.

[@dclincoln58]

AWESOME!!! I have TWO 2 brand new Springfield's 1911's a M.C. Operator and a 'Loaded' Thank you so much for a fantastic video... I've watch it over and over...Super informative!...Thank you Steve & Springfield Armory !

[@amanawolf9166]

Definitely want to say this was a big, BIG help when doing my first basic maintenance today. Definite props for how thorough the video was in explaining things. It was nerve-wracking when getting into the meat of things -- some parts beyond nerve-wracking -- however, I just went pack to some parts, several times, and worked through it. Now I'm cleaned up, oiled up, and ready to rock and roll. Only thing that has me concerned is the factory mag. It seems to catch on itself when loading the rounds. Got some Wilson combat mags, huge thanks to the community for telling me about them, and those are working like a charm.

[@PaulJersey]

I’ve owned Springfield 1911’s for years. This video was very helpful to me to make double check that I am properly cleaning it.

[@tat2atco]

Nice video....for reassembly put the Stop Slide in before depressing the spring....much easier. Also for disassembly remove the Stop Slide 1st then slide the upper right off.

[@oldmike7239]

Good video. I’ve had 1911’s mapped in my genes since my military days, when I carried one to stand a watch. That was back in 1959. Yeah, I’m old. As a purist I have a Springfield mil spec A1 and it’s the only one that I could live with. The only difference is it’s stainless, which I love. I’m starting to mellow in my old age and I’m considering getting a more upscale 1911. Maybe a Commander or an Officer model, which my grandchildren will eventually get. As far as your video, it’s excellent. It’s amazing how every time I watch one of these I always manage to pick up a new technique. However, with my fat fingers, I still, on occasion, send the recoil spring cap flying across the garage. The only thing I do different than you is I’ll put a small dab of grease on the rails instead of oil. It’s what we did in the military. Also, what’s up with the long guide rod? The old models work great. It’s one more part to deal with. I’ll close with my humble, very biased opinion - the 1911 is the finest handgun ever produced, and videos like yours keep the those thoughts and momentum going.

[@jamesglavich1426]

Is there a reason that you did not mention the hammer, firing pin, and safety area when cleaning and lube. This is a good time to check the safety to make sure they all function. I'm going on memory from U S Army days from the 60's. I had to give a 1 hour lecture on operation, cleaning etc of the 1911 for NCO Academy in 3rd Armored Div in Germany. Of coarse didn't have internet or computers to research. I personally witnessed an accidental shooting death. I was standing three foot from a Sgt that was playing quick draw with another Sgt, problem was a round in the chamber, even with the magazine having been checked in. Until then no one had instructed that 1911 will fire without a magazine. I was able to work that in with the lecture, which helped with "hour".

[@erichall7253]

Sequence is perfect. I like the patch combined with M16 brush. Way too much oil. Still best assembly sequence I have seen.

[@tommoore4nations]

Great video. Makes more sense than the owner’s manual. You might want to put in the URLs for this videos in the owner’s manuals or have QR codes for each video in the owner’s manuals.

[@leo-lz3ny]

Love the 1911. Thanks for the info my friend.

[@shabazzhead5608]

Great video for anyone wanting a quick reference 💯

[@traeucity6087]

I wish I had not used this take down method with my Springfield Armory Custom Shop Professional 1911. I learned, after doing it a few times, that I was damaging the match fit of the barrel and barrel bushing. It's impossible to remove the barrel bushing with a plastic bushing wrench on such guns. I had to resort to using an aluminum bushing tool from Brownell's; which removed the bluing from the knurled spring plug. I now break down my 1911's using the slide removal technique.

[@RickJZ1973]

Nice helpful video. Extended guide rod is really unnecessary. I have two Springfield Armory 1911's. Absolutely great guns. Definitely my favorites.

[@philwilliams8328]

I absolutely hate extended guide rails!

[@bryman31]

great video. you should do one for the 911 series. a lot of people have problems with reassembly on those.

[@Ogrematic]

I love my OPERATOR. Thanks, guys, it rides my hip all day.

[@T_210]

At 10:30, guns almost together and I'm there with the slide stop in it's hole, the slide back to line up the slide stopper end and the aft hole (as shown). I pivot the slide stop end up to snap in at the "pin holder" and it simply won't allow the stopper to seat- at the swivel end or the point to point contact of the holder pin and the slide stop aft end. Make sense? Ideas? Argh.... Thanks!

[@T_210]

Got it. Had to use a tool to push back the plunger pin out of the way. Can't say this design couldn't be improved, I suspect its 50 years old? Of note- the video shows how it all goes smoothly. I suggest they slow down and get more specific on areas that a newbie (like me) would want to see exactly what is done and troublesome areas like I had. In the editing, stuff is moved around and suddenly in the vid its not where it was just prior. Need to tidy that up please.

[@waynecastleman1363]

@@T_210 Lol, yeah it's been a long time since I had a 1911 and I didn't have it long, so now I have a new Springfield Emissary, I two was having problems getting that thing popped into place, it took about three hours to get right and get a idiot scratch to boot. It showed them use one finger to depress slide spring and had a lot of trouble compressing that thing, it's stiff. But I finally get through the process but mostly due to such heavy spring. It's getting you slide lined up properly to snap in place. You'll get the hang of of it.

[@destroyingdadxx2274]

Yes, my mil spec has same problem. The only way I can get the slide lock pin back in is to use a guitar pick to hold the little spring pin in while I push the slide lock pin into position. I don’t know how you can do it without the use of a tool to hold that little pin back. Guitar picks work great as they’re thin and nylon and won’t scratch anything. Otherwise, no complaints whatsoever with regard to my gun. It’s simply awesome, and I have the bottom line Mil Spec, not the fancy upper tier models.

[@jfal104]

This is the most difficult part of field stripping a 1911. The spring loosens a little with time, but putting the right angled pressure on the slide pin is key...both upward and inward. After getting used to the process, you won't put more idiot scratches on the frame....but on your first 1911 it is almost unavoidable unless you have an experienced 1911 user show you how to do it in person. All videos on youtube gloss over this surprisingly difficult thing to master for a new user. Been there, got a scratch on my SS frame Ronin (my first 1911) that's ugly, but it still shoots just as well ;).

[@waynecastleman1363]

@@jfal104 That's a heck of a spring to. Lol

[@TCRC51]

I've definitely been waaaay over lubricating my 1911's based on this video. Question tho: If you have a *parkerized* 1911 vs. a stainless or Armorykote, would you recommend actually applying a thin film over *all* internal surfaces of the slide and frame, or no?

[@logmaster27]

The only issue with “over lubricating” is that dirt sticks to lube in general so you may have to clean your gun more often but 1911s need lube more than they need over cleaning. Research how to clean out your firing pin and extractor. Carbon can build up in the extractor channel over time.

[@hccif]

Awesome overview! Anyone know if the process is the same for a Springfield Armory Operator? (New model)

[@markshuford450]

This is the first video on field stripping and cleaning a 1911 that I have watched that has not used a cleaning solvent or CLP to clean the assorted parts. After shooting 100 to 150 rounds with my SA 1911 A-1 Loaded, I have a lot of cleaning to do, which would not be accomplished without using CLP. The firearm in this video must not have shot very much ammo to allow it to be cleaned this way.

[@waynecastleman1363]

Very helpful video, and great presentation. Thank you !

[@johnsimms818]

Great content.lve my Springfield 1911

[@michaelclisham8790]

What is the pink lubricant that you are using? I like the nozzle size.

[@DARTHDANSAN]

Thanks

[@peteshour768]

Thankyou for this video.

[@michaelfox2989]

Awesome video,,,

[@adonikam1]

No lube I. The trigger or hammer?

[@lanceschul]

What gun oil is he using in this video?

[@frankg8863]

Great Vid however I have a SA RO Champion 9mm that is different from this gun, mine has a bull barrel. Where can I find instruction on this disassembly?

[@travis06]

Thanks G

[@eric44ism]

Why can't I move the bushing side to side? It's just stuck in place

[@whatthewhat11]

If you are referring to the barrel bushing, you have to depress the guide rod plug (GI model) or unscrew it if it's a 2-piece like the one in this video and then depress. Once you get that out, the bushing should rotate freely.

[@rortega3521]

Is there a break in Procedure for the 1911’s. New gun mc operator?.. or what do you recommend?..

[@toiletpaper5770]

Some people say a few hundred rounds

[@StryderK]

ANY hand guns have a 300-500 round break in. You can help it out by racking the slide, press the trigger, work the slide release, cocking the hammer ( if hammer fired) etc to help out a bit.

[@DARTHDANSAN]

I got my first 1911 finally after owning guns for more than decade. Lol 😂

[@eric44ism]

Having trouble putting the slide stop back in place. That stupid little pin is in the way. It's really pissing me off.

[@eric44ism]

I got it but I still think it's way too hard, I'm not taking this apart again, this is bullshit.

[@toiletpaper5770]

Depress the pin with a screwdriver. They're a pain in the ass, at best

[@eric44ism]

Eventually did it but I still don't want to take it apart again

[@toiletpaper5770]

@@eric44ism gotta clean and oil them but I understand

[@highbrass3749]

That’s the worst part for me. These videos make it look easy to just push that in place but I don’t want to break that little pin. I push the pin down with something but I always scratch my gun in the process. After 3 or 4 times I just stopped caring about the little scratches.

[@eduardoguzmanmagyaroff6343]

What oil trademark do you recommend?

[@StryderK]

I use Breakfree CLP for all in one go. However, some areas definitely do not require oil, such the breech face with the firing pin. You do not want oil in there. In that case, I’ll use Birchwood gun cleaner since it does not contain oil. For just oiling parts, Lucas gun oil.

[@chrisgabbert658]

👍🙂

[@scottlitton1987]

You forgot to lubricate the link pin

[@johnsmith-lx9lw]

Another DISLIKE = you are the Armory, what did you leave out about the bushing? so far every 1911 video I watched at least 10 did not explain why you rotate the bushing to 4 o'clock.