Lots of people coming in the shop love the look of 1911s, but some are put off by the method of field strip...meaning the possibility of scratching a gun they just forked over a grand for.
In the interest of bringing more folks into the 1911 fold, and allaying their fears, I've taken to having a few tricks on hand to put them at ease.
Firstly, I have a hair barrette on my key chain that I use to hold the plunger back in the tube, making it easy to just drop the slide stop right in.
Chicks seem to LOVE this idea. It makes them feel like the gun was made for them...just because their hairbob can "fix" it.
I also carry a guitar pick (and have given them away) that can be used to lay on the frame in the area that the dreaded scratch can happen...it's a great "idiot scratch" deterrent. I've encouraged the use and shown people how to do it because even though their gun isn't mine, it pains me to see a beautiful gun marred by a slip (or a lack of knowledge).
If you can use a simple trick to side step a horrible scratch...why not??
I also have one of those brass take-down tools on the way, after seeing 88E30M50's classified ad, which put me in search of a demo. Kinda slick (bye bye, stupid paper clip thingy!!) It takes the tension off the spring and lines up the takedown notch with the slide stop...ALMOST no room for error!
Here's a Google offered pic:
Now, I know all the field strip and reassembly can be done without the tools...even the bushingless compacts... but it DOES put people at ease to have an "out" and give them an option that makes them feel more competent to own one of these awesome pieces of machinery when they'd otherwise feel relegated to plastic.
For the price of 30¢ guitar picks, high dollar beautiful guns aren't so intimidating.
Whatever works.
I really like introducing people to the awesomeness of the 1911 and those sweet single action triggers. They spoil you...they sure do
I'm doin' my part.
In the interest of bringing more folks into the 1911 fold, and allaying their fears, I've taken to having a few tricks on hand to put them at ease.
Firstly, I have a hair barrette on my key chain that I use to hold the plunger back in the tube, making it easy to just drop the slide stop right in.
Chicks seem to LOVE this idea. It makes them feel like the gun was made for them...just because their hairbob can "fix" it.
I also carry a guitar pick (and have given them away) that can be used to lay on the frame in the area that the dreaded scratch can happen...it's a great "idiot scratch" deterrent. I've encouraged the use and shown people how to do it because even though their gun isn't mine, it pains me to see a beautiful gun marred by a slip (or a lack of knowledge).
If you can use a simple trick to side step a horrible scratch...why not??
I also have one of those brass take-down tools on the way, after seeing 88E30M50's classified ad, which put me in search of a demo. Kinda slick (bye bye, stupid paper clip thingy!!) It takes the tension off the spring and lines up the takedown notch with the slide stop...ALMOST no room for error!
Here's a Google offered pic:
Now, I know all the field strip and reassembly can be done without the tools...even the bushingless compacts... but it DOES put people at ease to have an "out" and give them an option that makes them feel more competent to own one of these awesome pieces of machinery when they'd otherwise feel relegated to plastic.
For the price of 30¢ guitar picks, high dollar beautiful guns aren't so intimidating.
Whatever works.
I really like introducing people to the awesomeness of the 1911 and those sweet single action triggers. They spoil you...they sure do
I'm doin' my part.
