What tools for a new 1911 user?

[el44vaquero]

A good friend has decided she wants to join the JMB fan club and get a Springfield GI. She's getting a used one that I looked over. Very nice gun that hadn't been shot a dozen times. She got a good price on it too. The question that I have for you all is what tools and things should she get that would make her life easier with being new to the 1911?

 

[1911 guy]

What I'd advise.

I'd advise her to get a set of properly fitting screwdrivers if she plans on removing the grip panels at any point. I'd also get a good punch set to use on the mainspring housing pin and such for a detail strip. In my opinion, bushing wrenches and such are useless, but others with different experience may not agree.

 

[BIGPHIL]

Screwdriver or torx driver (depending on grip screws), punch for MSH and a plastic hammer. I seriously doubt she would need anything more. If she needs more than that its probably best left to a gunsmith. That will get you stripped down enough to do a good cleaning and replace some factory parts if you like.

 

[farscott]

My list:

1) Some decent magazines. Known good magazines are important diagnostic tools when issues occur with the 1911.

2) Punch for mainspring housing pin for detail strip.

3) Grip bushing bit from Brownells. It appears half of my grip bushings have needed to be replaced when dealing with SA 1911's.

4) Thread locker (for above grip bushings)

5) New firing pin and firing pin spring if it came with the Ti firing pin.

6) Pipe cleaners for cleaning extractor channel.

7) Safety glasses for use when cleaning pistol.

 

[andrew17]

Ahem.....psst,,,,(forget the punches, think AR15 firing pin..) works perfect

 

[1911 guy]

And for a little more than a firing pin...

You can buy a set of interchangeable bit screwedrivers (firearm specific sizes) with punch bits included. Besides, I have spare firing pins for, well, firing pins.

 

[AirForceShooter]

Ammo!!!
Lots and lots of AMMO

AFS

 

[mattdus]

A true milspec can be taken down all the way without any tools. the parts of the weapon can be used to do everything.
No tools required

 

[Azrael256]

A true milspec can be taken down all the way without any tools.

This is true, however, I'd rather not tear up the parts on my gun taking it apart, so I have a toolkit made from worn-out 1911 parts to disassemble mine. An old .45 firing pin (that Springfield probably has a .38Super pin) is probably the handiest tool you can get. It'll run a buck for an el-cheapo one at a gunshow, and it can be used to drift out the mainspring housing pin without damaging it as a pin punch will sometimes do. It's also handy if you want to push out the sear and hammer pins but your fat stubby fingers make it difficult to get a grip on them. I also use it to depress the safety plunger when I reassemble. A pipe tool also works for that. An old sear spring makes a dandy mag catch remover.

I haven't encountered anything I couldn't drift out by thwacking it with the butt of a screwdriver (with the exception of the link pin), but a plastic or brass hammer (or both) would probably be pretty handy. If she can field strip the gun without problems, a bushing wrench isn't necessary, but it may be if she decides to upgrade to a fancy bushing.

 

[el44vaquero]

Thanks guys. I told her if she tried the 1911 she would love it. Shot about 200 rds through mine over the last two weeks. Decided she would get herself one. Just didn't want her to lose interest in the gun when she went to clean it the first time.

 

[gc70]

Boresnake, AR15 firing pin, and screwdriver.

 

[1911Tuner]

No Tools

A true milspec can be taken down all the way without any tools. the parts of the weapon can be used to do everything.
No tools required

Bingo.