Colt is the name of the gun-making family who has been producing firearms, and specifically revolvers, since 1836. Their revolvers all are made up of a number of individual components within the revolver housing. If you have a Colt revolver, like the 1911, you may at some point need to disassemble the gun and remove all of these components. The disassembly is a long process, and you need to devote a good deal of time to it, in order not to lose or damage any parts of your revolver.
Step 1
Take the magazine out of the gun and pull back the slide on top to make sure there are no bullets in the barrel chamber.
Step 2
Stand the revolver up so the end of the barrel where the bullet comes out is pointing upward and press your finger into the recoil spring. The spring is right below the barrel opening.
Step 3
Push the bushing holding the spring in place to the left and let the spring come out. Keep your finger on top of the spring and release it slowly so it doesn’t fly out.
Step 4
Point the gun to the left and push the slide along the top of the gun until the notch on the lower edge lines up with the slide release lever. You will know the slide is in the right place when you are able to pull out the release lever easily.
Step 5
Pull the slide off the gun, away from the trigger end of the revolver. Turn the slide over and let the small, metal cylinder inside fall out. This is the recoil spring guide.
Step 6
Slide the bushing on the front of the gun to the right and pull the barrel out. This is the same bushing you turned previously to remove the recoil spring.
Step 7
Turn the slide over so the back end faces up and depress the small pinhead with a punch. The pin with its head showing is the firing pin.
Step 8
Pull down the firing pin stop holding the pin and remove the punch. Keep your hand over the firing pin head so that when the stop comes out, you can catch the pin.
Step 9
Point the gun to the left and push the slide along the top of the gun until the notch on the lower edge lines up with the slide release lever. You will know the slide is in the right place when you are able to pull the release lever out easily.
Step 10
Turn the slide so you can see inside it and locate the extractor next to the magazine chamber. Press the punch into the extractor until it starts to come out the back of the gun and remove it the rest of the way with your fingers.
Step 11
Hold the handle of the gun in your hand so the trigger is on the right side and press down the pin on the far left side. This is the safety pin and is located parallel to the safety latch on the other side of the gun.
Step 12
Pull out the safety latch while pressing down the safety pin. The pin and the safety plunger will fall out when the safety is removed.
Step 13
Remove the small pin in the bottom corner of the handle, using the punch. Place the tip of the punch into the concave side of the pin and push until the pin comes out the other side.
Step 14
Slide off the loose piece on the back of the handle so it comes down and out. This is the mainspring housing.
Step 15
Pull the upper piece on the back of the handle out to remove the grip safety. You will now be able to slide out the Sear spring that is resting inside the handle, along the back.
Step 16
Remove the two pins that are just above the holes from where the safety was taken with your finger or with a punch if they are stiff. Hold the handle up so the loose pieces fall out.
Step 17
Insert the tip of the small screwdriver into the screw behind the trigger and turn it until is comes out of the gun. Shake the gun to release the trigger out the back of the handle.
Step 18
Remove the two screws holding the grips onto the handle. You can use a screwdriver to take these screws out.
Step 1
Take the magazine out of the gun and pull back the slide on top to make sure there are no bullets in the barrel chamber.
Step 2
Stand the revolver up so the end of the barrel where the bullet comes out is pointing upward and press your finger into the recoil spring. The spring is right below the barrel opening.
Step 3
Push the bushing holding the spring in place to the left and let the spring come out. Keep your finger on top of the spring and release it slowly so it doesn’t fly out.
Step 4
Point the gun to the left and push the slide along the top of the gun until the notch on the lower edge lines up with the slide release lever. You will know the slide is in the right place when you are able to pull out the release lever easily.
Step 5
Pull the slide off the gun, away from the trigger end of the revolver. Turn the slide over and let the small, metal cylinder inside fall out. This is the recoil spring guide.
Step 6
Slide the bushing on the front of the gun to the right and pull the barrel out. This is the same bushing you turned previously to remove the recoil spring.
Step 7
Turn the slide over so the back end faces up and depress the small pinhead with a punch. The pin with its head showing is the firing pin.
Step 8
Pull down the firing pin stop holding the pin and remove the punch. Keep your hand over the firing pin head so that when the stop comes out, you can catch the pin.
Step 9
Point the gun to the left and push the slide along the top of the gun until the notch on the lower edge lines up with the slide release lever. You will know the slide is in the right place when you are able to pull the release lever out easily.
Step 10
Turn the slide so you can see inside it and locate the extractor next to the magazine chamber. Press the punch into the extractor until it starts to come out the back of the gun and remove it the rest of the way with your fingers.
Step 11
Hold the handle of the gun in your hand so the trigger is on the right side and press down the pin on the far left side. This is the safety pin and is located parallel to the safety latch on the other side of the gun.
Step 12
Pull out the safety latch while pressing down the safety pin. The pin and the safety plunger will fall out when the safety is removed.
Step 13
Remove the small pin in the bottom corner of the handle, using the punch. Place the tip of the punch into the concave side of the pin and push until the pin comes out the other side.
Step 14
Slide off the loose piece on the back of the handle so it comes down and out. This is the mainspring housing.
Step 15
Pull the upper piece on the back of the handle out to remove the grip safety. You will now be able to slide out the Sear spring that is resting inside the handle, along the back.
Step 16
Remove the two pins that are just above the holes from where the safety was taken with your finger or with a punch if they are stiff. Hold the handle up so the loose pieces fall out.
Step 17
Insert the tip of the small screwdriver into the screw behind the trigger and turn it until is comes out of the gun. Shake the gun to release the trigger out the back of the handle.
Step 18
Remove the two screws holding the grips onto the handle. You can use a screwdriver to take these screws out.