[Hilton Yam]

I still have the first one I bought in 1983 or so. It was red, and a later one was black. What is it? It's a dumb little nylon doodad, about 5" long. It has a 1/4" diameter round cylindrical end and the other is a 1/8" flat. It's meant for nonmarring functions when stripping and reassembling your 1911. I usually use the flat end for pushing in the thumb safety detent and the round end for pushing followers, extractor hooks, and whatnot. It's pretty handy for the buck and a half I must've paid in 83. They're $3.25 now on the Pachmayr website.

What are some other underrated workbench doodads for your 1911?

_________________
DBS

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Hilton Yam on 2001-03-31 16:15 ]</font>

 

[jwp]

toothpick to push the plunger pin back when installing slide lock

 

[Shane1911]

I like the mainspring housing pin removal tool that I got from Brownell's a few years ago. It is basically a punch with a handle on it (like a screwdriver). The other end is nicely rounded so that it fits perfectly into the recessed radius of the housing pin. One or two raps on the handle with a mallet, and the pin pops right out.

I used to use a basic punch, but ended up with an unslightly pin after removing it a half dozen times.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: shane45-1911 on 2001-04-01 11:48 ]</font>

 

[EricO]

Hilton, I know this isn't a 1911 doodad, but it's a handy one nonetheless. When I purchased my first AR I was at the range and needed to adjust the front sight. An army (MP and reservist) buddy of mine was saying, just use this or that (items that would've scratched the heck out of it.) I held back and spoke with the rangemaster, who showed me a handy little makeshift tool to turn the front sight on an AR. He took a new/plastic hollow Q-tip, cut it in half, and told me to simply push it down onto the front post, and then use the exposed head to turn it. Incredibly simple and efficient, without any markings on the post or other areas.
EricO

 

[Gunnar Christensen]

Hilton, I bought (from Brownells, of course) many years ago, a gizmo for popping out the firing pin retainer, with the other end for reinstalling it. I have no idea who made it, but it was well done. Probably the single tool I use the most, except for a little homely hammer I got in '67 with a CZ tool kit. No, the CZ motorcycle, a twin-pipe motocrosser. That Pachmayr widget is really neat, too - use it nearly as often as the F/P tool.

Gunnar Christensen
Armco Machine & Plating

 

[jwp]

forceps to hold anything, magnifing light, and dremel tool with lots of bits

 

[John Lawson]

I make a little tool like Gunnar described that will work for either Series 70 or 80. It will help to re-assemble the sear, disconnector and crank and it is drilled and a key chain is included so it can be kept in your range bag or pistol tools drawer.
Currently setting it up on the turret lathe, but I think I can sell them for $5 plus postage.
I started tomake them because I lost my original one (not very well designed or thought out) and I wanted an improved one for use at the range.

 

[Brian W]

Cylinder and Slide has the Widget listed for sale on their web sight.

Brian