slide stuck on 25 auto

[Dale Taylor]

I have just come into a Colt 25 1908 Auto which my grandfather gave to my 90yo mother when she was 16 leaving for Univ of Nebraska. Seems in reasonable shape but I can't move the slide. I have tried Liquid Wrench but no success. My hand are slightly disabled from injury. I have no leather covered vice. ??take to smith, ? send to brother as non-functional antique or what?? Help please. It has sentimental value to me. I don't plan to carry it. [email protected]

 

[Jim K]

Forgive me for the obvious, but is the safety on? The safety blocks the slide.

If that is not the case, my concern is that the gun might be loaded, so the first thing I would do is to insert a rod into the end of the barrel and measure to see if it goes all the way to the rear. If it is an inch or so short, you probably have a round in the chamber, and if the gun is old, the round could be corroded into the chamber. If the rod is around 1/8 inch short of the rear of the barrel, you could have a fired case in the chamber

If there is no round in the chamber, then get a piece of aluminum (preferred) or brass rod that will go into the barrel, insert it, and tap on it with a hammer. (Note, "tap" not pound!) If the slide can move at all, that should move it.

If there is a round, or suspected round in the chamber, and the gun is cocked, find a safe place and try to fire the round. That is the safest way to dispose of it. If the gun is not cocked, then I think I would use the rod the same as above, but even more gently, tapping with something long enough to keep your hands well away from the muzzle.

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

This seems to be my night for .25 automatics ...

Jim is right, but another trick is to use a small screwdriver to push inward on the back of the extractor. This will allow the hook to be disengaged from the cartridge's rim (if there is one frozen in the chamber) and thereafter you can retract the slide. BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU DISCOVER THERE IS A CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER! IF THIS IS THE CASE THE PISTOL IS PROBABLY COCKED, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY LOWER THE FIRING PIN.

You can also remove the grips, and then submerge the pistol in a bath of penetrating oil for a day or two.

 

[Dale Taylor]

Thanks to all. I'll let you know the results. Dale

 

[Tag]

A resurgence of old .25 colts...

I'd just like to add that the little vest gun that Fuff and others helped me out with has eaten about 250 rounds in the last two days without a single malfunction. It has shown remarkable accuracy for that stubby little barrel also.

What a neat little pistol.

Cheers.

 

[Jim K]

The Colt vest pocket pistol is without any doubt the very best .25 auto ever put on the market. There are other good ones, mostly foreign (FN, DUO, Walther, etc.), but the Colt is simply the best.

Jim