If it has the Briley spherical bushing, the gold colored ring is not generally removed from the bushing itself. It is not necessary for ordinary cleaning. The gold ring CAN be removed. Briley's web site states that "instructions" for removal are provided with their bushing. So, there must be a way.
I do not know if it is correct, nor do I endorse the following, but I found this, which supposedly addresses removal of the ring from a Briley bushing, on a web site:
"I have found that the more rounds you have put through the gun the easier it is to remove the "ring," but here is how you do it.
With the slide off the gun and the barrel and recoil spring removed:
1. From the muzzle end of the slide, push on the ring at the 3 or 9 o'clock position so as to spin the ring 90 degrees from its normal location. The ring should now be parallel with the slide's centerline.
2. Pull the ring out of the slide towards the muzzle. It should pop right out.
I hope this helps."
The web site in question is here:
http://pistolsmith.com/smith-wesson-...y-bushing.html
A WORD OF CAUTION: The post quoted above relates to a question about a 3rd Gen S&W NOT a 1911 type of bushing. Whether that makes a difference or not, I do not know.
Personally, I would NOT follow the above instructions without FIRST simply asking Briley for a set of official removal instructions. The possibility of damage requiring a real repair is simply not worth the risk, especially when there is really no reason to remove the gold ring.
If your pistol has the ordinary 1911 bushing, it removes the ordinary way, and if tight, use of a NON-MARRING bushing wrench might be useful.
If it has the Briley bushing, then call Briley. It is apparent from Briley's site that there is a way to remove the gold colored ring. The body of the bushing itself, if that is what you call it, is semi-permanently fitted into the slide on the 3rd Gen autos (I think they are screwed in and then some super-duper form of permanent loctite or similar secures it), and is not to be removed.
In a 1911, however, the gold ring is fitted into the removable bushing itself, so the bushing is removed in the ordinary way.
My recollection of the S&W 1911 pistol you speak of is that it has the unfortunate full length guide rod (FLGR). If that is the case, your difficulty is more likely related to the special procedure necessary to disassemble a 1911 that has the FLGR, rather than the presence of the Briley bushing.
You should obtain a new GI style guide rod and plug of the appropriate size (Government 5 inch or Commander 4 1/4 inch) and then disassembly is like any other 1911. I like the Ed Brown parts, and you can get them from Brown, Midway or Brownells.
Disassembly of a 1911 with the one piece FLGR requires (unless you have REALLY strong fingers) a bushing wrench to depress the open-ended plug which supports the FLGR so that the bushing can be turned. After that, the FLGR comes out the back by lifting and then the barrel removes through the front (remember to fold the link down).
Reassemble with the GI parts and you will never have this trouble again. The FLGR does NOTHING for you, and it makes disassembly more difficult by requiring a tool.
The real reason so many factories put in the FLGR is for liability protection to prevent the "press check" where you pull the slide back by placing your finger under the barrel to pull the slide back just enough to check the condition of the chamber.
With the chamber view port, this is not necessary. If you are in the dark, the forward slide serrations allow you to check the chamber by grasping the slide and pulling back, while your other hand first (trigger) finger feels for the presence of the round.