Do I "need" a plastic bushing wrench for a WWII 1911

[bushmaster1313]

Will pick up my new to me Ithaca M1911A1 soon.
This is my first 1911 so I checked out two Youtube videos on field stripping and reassembly.

One of the videos used a plastic bushing wrench and the other a thumb.

From the videos, I would rather use my thumb so I will be able to see what I am doing. Should I expect to "need" a bushing wrench?

 

[824tsv]

Unless there is a very stout recoil spring installed, your thumb will do just fine. The wrench is really only required for tight fitted bushings which if stock, your's wont need one.

 

[dmar]

Completely unnecessary for a GI 1911A1, in my opinion... I've had dozens of 1911s and never needed a bushing wrench. YMMV.

 

[m1gunner]

I had a NM bushing fitted to my slide, and I did need a bushing wrench. But that was fitted to be very tight.

I still have the gun 30 years later, and shoot it often, I do not need the wrench to remove the bushing now.

 

[bushmaster1313]

This is the no-wrench video
I found it short, sweet and to the point
If anyone cares to watch can you please tell me if this is all I need to know at first



[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dA-lEPqtZA"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dA-lEPqtZA[/ame]

 

[Texas Star]

I've never needed a wrench to remove the barrel bushing on a GI or std. Govt. Model .45.

 

[LEO918]

I use a popsicle stick to depress the spring plug. Saves wear and tear on your thumb and allows you to see whats going on.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I don't have to use a wrench on my .45 Colt Government, but if I did, it would be plastic or non marring. You're gonna love your 1911. I hope.
Peace,
Gordon

 

[jessebogan]

I have a bushing wrench in my tool box I picked up someplace, but my thumb works fine on my Ithaca.

 

[arjay]

I'd pick one up to try,you might prefer it,they are cheap enough [emoji16]

 

[DWalt]

About the only bushings that require a wrench are fitted Match bushings, which are supposed to fit tightly in the slide. Be careful with strong springs, as I have managed to launch a couple of spring caps (plugs) into outer space, never to be seen again. That's why I have spares.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

When I was building 1911's in the early 80's, I had one to speed the fitting process and repeated disassembly. It is one of the tools I carry in a mag pouch behind a spare mag (when camping/canoeing) along with a WWI style screw driver/pin punch.

While the 1911's were designed to be taken apart with no extra tools (and blindfolded) you'll most likely make it stay tight better with tools!

Ivan

 

[4barrel]

I would like to see photos of it apart. Those old original 1911s have taken off in the last few years.

 

[Jingles]

I've picked up a couple of those wrenches over the years and don't even know where I put them. I think I used them once or twice and found out they are harder to use than your thumb.

 

[Wyo]

I have two 1911's that require a bushing wrench - a Les Baer Thunder Ranch and a Dan Wesson Valor. Other than those two, I've owned dozens of other 1911's, including a number of GI issue guns, and I've never needed a bushing wrench at all. Thumbs work fine.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

First lay down a soft towel, then ensuring it's not loaded, with slide forward hold over towel with left side down, shake vigorously and presto it's disassembled! That was an old joke with the old guy's! Now there is one thing, when rotating the bushing to release the recoil spring and plug do not have it pointed towards your face or fluorescent over head lights. If it gets away from you it will zip right out of there!

 

[old tanker]

This is the no-wrench video
I found it short, sweet and to the point
If anyone cares to watch can you please tell me if this is all I need to know at first

I would take great exception to complete lack or proper nomenclature and sloppy clearing technique. "Divots" and "thingies" ??? Any sergeant would go apoplectic and have him pushing Fort Jackson to China. Otherwise he has it mostly right, but a copy of FM23-35 would be helpful.

http://www.90thidpg.us/Reference/Manuals/FM 23-35 1946.pdf

 

[deadin]

Any bushing that need a wrench, needs a wrench. Not something made out of plastic.

 

[rog8732]

old tanker has a point. The video covers the dis-assembly / re-assembly fairly well, but the MUTE button is needed for his parts nomenclature.

Another thing or two. The recoil guide rod, which he calls a ???, is, and should be, a tight fit on the closed end of the recoil spring, meaning, if you re-assemble (like he does), you will likely never "fish" the recoil spring onto the guide rod.

Also, if you assemble a 1911 other than what has become known as a "type 70", you will find it very difficult to put it together with the frame inverted. The firing pin block will flop up and stop the slide from going all the way on.

Granted, old tanker, and most all us G Is were taught to lay the slide, sights down, and slide the up-side down frame on. It helps to keep the barrel link aligned.

 

[bushmaster1313]

The Ithaca M1911A1 has been brought home from the LGS and it did not need a wrench to turn the bushing. Was rather easy to depress cover and turn the bushing.

Cleaning, pictures and a range report to follow in due course.