Shop Talk
A magnificent ’70s vintage Colt Python with some dried oil and
grease under the hood. It’s probably there since it was assembled
50 years ago in Hartford.
The Art Of Grease
Seems like oiling and greasing a gun had turned into a forgotten art. I get it; some gun owners are intimidated by the thought of taking things apart. That doesn’t change the need for fresh oil and grease.
I broke open a 1970s vintage Colt Python the other day for a service and was surprised to see the side plate had never been removed. The oil and grease that was applied at the Colt’s Hartford plant was still there, dried up — almost a solid. No wonder the revolver’s action was sluggish.
As a gunsmith I don’t judge, but I try and educate my clients. If a gun owner is willing, they can maintain most guns without really getting too deep into the mechanism. In my shop, we clean with mineral spirits. It’s easily bought at a big box hardware store and does a great job loosening all sorts of dirt and sludge. There are plenty of cleaners on the market, but we use gallons of this stuff.
I use grease sparingly, primarily on revolver internals — just enough to reduce friction. For semi-autos, I use the lightest oil possible. If you ever changed the oil on a car or truck you will know that heavy oil retains grime exposed to road dirt and sand. The same thing happens in guns; too heavy an oil holds unburnt powder and anything else like glue. A light oil will shed particles away. In some special cases, grease can be used as a barrier or shield to protect mechanisms from dirt. I spend time with gun owners, teaching the type of oil and location for application when I can. If they are non-mechanical, we take care of it for them.
The Evolution Gun Works 1911 firing pin plate gauge
used to measure the slide slot for an oversized plate.
The gauge is simple to use and takes the guesswork
out of measuring an awkward spot on the slide.
Seeing Things Clearly
Go into any mechanic, machinist or gunsmith shop, and you will find one common thing. A stash of dust-covered manuals and technical journals. The “Library of Knowledge.” It’s hard to throw away any technical information.
When I was young, each month, the NRA Rifleman featured the disassembly and assembly of a firearm. They showed exploded views and tips on assembly. I used to clip them out and save them. As I attended gun shows, I would buy up exploded view volumes as thick as a city yellow page. I still have them.
These old books are great, but they always lacked the ability to “see” the relationship of one part to another. Being a two-dimensional drawing, it was sometimes hard to figure out parts placement. Some articles used actual photos, which was a bit better.
Now I have the internet. I know my way around most guns I work on, like the 1911, SW and Colt revolvers, the Browning Hi Power and a few others — no problem. But once in a while, a client will bring in that “new thing,” a pistol I have never worked on. He might have a complete set of aftermarket parts that need installation. For this, I need help; yes, I use “YouTube.” I use the channel to familiarize myself with something I have never seen. For most guns, the principles are the same, but it’s the details and sequence of parts that are important. The old books I have don’t feature new models; owners’ manuals for the most part are not detailed enough. Yes, the internet can be full of BS, but there are good resources too. Some manufacturers of parts and tools produce some very helpful videos. GrayGuns, Apex Tactical, Wilson and EGW to name a few. These videos provide a three-dimensional look at how things should fit together. This makes my job a lot easier.
The same Colt Python freshly cleaned and lubricated
with light oil and grease on the bearings. This should
last about a year, until the next service.
Small But Crucial
The Model 1911 firing pin plate may seem insignificant — it just holds in the firing pin, right? Not so fast. The “FP” plate controls the function of the extractor and recoil as well.
A properly fit “FP” plate secures the position of the all-important extractor. If the plate is loose, this allows “clocking” of the extractor, which in turn can cause erratic ejection and or feeding of ammo. The FP plate also can retard unlocking of the barrel in recoil and cocking of the hammer and felt recoil.
Shooters may choose to use a square bottom plate or make a custom bevel. I have used a very long wedged-shape bevel on some 9mm and 22s to help low-velocity ammo function better. For the best fit, I use an EGW firing pin plate gauge which allows easy measuring of the small slot for the FP plate. Fitting can be done with a file or mill. EGW, Wilson and Harrison Design all offer oversized firing pin plates that need to be fit to the slide.
For more info: Colt.com, GrayGuns.com, WilsonCombat.com, HarrisonCustom.com, EGWGuns.com.
