Spring Assembly Tip

[MarkB1]

I know many of you know this.

I have a new P380 and I broke it down for cleaning (it really needed it). After chasing the striker spring and guide across the room, I held the slide and striker spring inside a large 1 gallon zip bag to cover everything. Once more the spring tried to leave the room but it was kept inside the bag and did not go elsewhere. It was easy to just pick up the spring from inside the bag. It's back together with all the parts included.:o

The gallon bag worked fine for the P380 but a larger bag (kitchen garbage?) might be useful for any larger gun.

[ripley16]

I use the Ripley retractor when I disassemble the slide. It holds the spring and guide rod off of the back plate when removing it, and in reverse - holds the spring and guide rod in when re-assembling. Easy to make from a coat hanger. It works.

Seen here with my jeweler screwdriver.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/ripley16/Kahrtool002.jpg (http://s72.photobucket.com/user/ripley16/media/Kahrtool002.jpg.html)
Seen here holding the spring off the back.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/ripley16/Kahrtool001.jpg (http://s72.photobucket.com/user/ripley16/media/Kahrtool001.jpg.html)

This frees your hand from holding the spring and allows easier removal (or replacing) of the back plate.

[MarkB1]

Yep, I use it too. It is one of the BEST ideas I have seen for working on guns and I thank you for it. The spring still slips off sometimes! lol

[ripley16]

I read that someone puts a rubber band around the retractor and slide while working on it to avoid it slipping off.

[muggsy]

When disassembling the slide of my Kahr pistols I use one of my ten thumbs to hold everything in place. I never couldn't figure out how to climb into one of those gallon zip lock bags. No matter how hard I tried something was always sticking out and I couldn't zip up the bag. :)

[addictedhealer]

I just lay a towel down and fold it over onto my hands and gun. Open towel and everything is right there.

[muggsy]

Half the fun of disassembling you Kahr slide is watching parts ricochet around the basement. I suggest forgetting about the ziploc bag and just let nature take it's course. The kids love learning new words and Kahr has to make a profit too. They don't just give those parts away, except for RSAs. :)

[RevRay]

Muggsy, you're too funny.

[muggsy]

Thanks RevRay, but you caught me in a serious moment. Hope everything is going well for you. You're one of my favorite straight men. You keep pitchin' and I'll try to catch 'em unless they're are low and inside. I leave those for Jocko. Just sayin.

[jocko]

mujggs, why do u always use ol jocko when u wantto compare sumpin trashy to utters???? Just sayin

[muggsy]

mujggs, why do u always use ol jocko when u wantto compare sumpin trashy to utters???? Just sayin

Because, I'm a dick. :)