# Gunsmithing advice needed. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 26, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774 "2007-02-26T21:28:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/1 "2007-02-26T21:28:08Z")
Hi there SDMB Gunsmiths! (I know you’re out there) I have mentioned before on gun threads that I own a Colt 1911a1. I decided to buy a new barrel, so as to protect the historicity of the original one from any undue wear. (Yeah, maybe, maybe not, I know opinions differ, thing is I got the barrel already so let me get on with this.) So, I get the barrel and other pieces in the mail. I got: Barrel Bushing Itty bitty little pin. Figure 8 link to connect the barrel to the slide catch pin. (Yeah, not the right names, but if you can help me, you know what I am talking about.) I am convinced that I need some special tools to connect the link to the barrel with the itty bitty little pin. I tried it. It certainly doesn’t go in easily. (But then, I don’t think it should, on account of needing to stay in there once it is in there.) Does anyone have experience doing this, and do I need a vice, and some sort of special thingy to hold the pin. Can I just whack the thing on the end, once I get it lined up, or do I need a special pin whacking tool? How many hands does the average gunsmith have? Okay, thanks in advance. Tris ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/2 "2007-02-27T00:51:27Z")
Threads looking for advice tend to do better in IMHO. Moved. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/3 "2007-02-27T01:28:36Z")
IANAGS, but a punch (brass) and hammer are usually needed. With one hand you hold the pin, the hammer with the other, and the pin with the thir… um, anyway, the pin should go in from one side (the left?) so maybe try it from the other side. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/4 "2007-02-27T03:25:53Z")
Thanks **samclem** , I really don’t mind at this point if I get facts, or opinions. Uh, thanks **boobtheoptimist** , I guess. 🙂 Tris ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/5 "2007-02-27T04:01:35Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] Uh, thanks **boobtheoptimist** , I guess. [/QUOTE] Hey! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/6 "2007-02-27T05:06:31Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] I got: Barrel Bushing Itty bitty little pin. Figure 8 link to connect the barrel to the slide catch pin. (Yeah, not the right names, but if you can help me, you know what I am talking about.) I am convinced that I need some special tools to connect the link to the barrel with the itty bitty little pin. I tried it. It certainly doesn’t go in easily. (But then, I don’t think it should, on account of needing to stay in there once it is in there.) Does anyone have experience doing this, and do I need a vice, and some sort of special thingy to hold the pin. Can I just whack the thing on the end, once I get it lined up, or do I need a special pin whacking tool? [/QUOTE] First of all, you have the terminology mostly right. The “itty bitty little pin” is the barrel link pin, and the “figure 8 link” is called the swinging link or barrel link, but other than that you sound like a pro. Second, while it really helps to have a vice–one with wood inserts, or inserts sculpted to hold barrels and other irregularly shaped parts–the 1911 is designed to be field serviceable with minimal tools. In fact, if you believe [this guy](http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/tech/toolbox.htm), you can pretty much disassemble the entire thing starting with nothing more than a .45 ACP cartridge and some kind of improvised hammer (say, the butt of a KaBar knife). [Here](http://www.coolgunsite.com/disassembly/disassembly.htm)’s another site that shows complete disassembly of the 1911. I find that using a could of rags and a few pieces of scrap wood can usually get you where you need to be; just be prepared to do a lot of cursing as well. The link pin is usually either a close running fit or a peened free fit. It shouldn’t be so tight as to bind on either the barrel or the link lest it interfere with the recoil operation, but it shouldn’t be perceivably loose, either. I believe on the stock 1911 it is lightly peened on both sides and removable only with a punch; with aftermarket barrels it’s probably slightly dual crowned (kind of dumbell shaped) or undersized and intended to be peened. There’s really no reason to remove it once it is installed, as you can just remove the barrel from the frame by pulling out the extractor. Are there no instructions with the barrel? I’d contact the manufacturer (assuming it’s a “name” company) and ask them about their recommendation for installation. Yet another reason while JMB’s last design–the venerable and widely imitated Browning Hi-Power–was his best. No swinging link, no barrel bushing, just a thick locking lug and a guide rod. The 1911 design has some nice features, but I’ll take a Sig, HK, or even an old FN Hi-Power any day. Anyway, good luck to you. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/7 "2007-02-27T16:02:37Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Anyway, good luck to you. [/QUOTE] Thanks. It sounds like I mostly lack the savoir faire to just do it. That and having one less hand than is common among gunsmiths. Tris ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/8 "2007-02-27T16:29:52Z")
> [@](#): > > _Triskadecamus_ > I am convinced that I need some special tools to connect the link to the barrel with the itty bitty little pin. I tried it. It certainly doesn’t go in easily. I’m not a shootist, or a gambler or a banker. But I’d advise patience. Maybe the itty bitty little pin will fit in a while. Maybe it won’t. If you’ve got a couple of years before you really need to know - keep your eye on it, but give it a while. That it doesn’t fit now could be nothing. Could be satan. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/9 "2007-02-27T19:40:18Z")
The nicest part of membership in the SDMB is the immediate availability of sober reasoned advice from experts. Tris ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/10 "2007-02-27T23:38:24Z")
Not that your gun questions aren’t welcome here (I’m a not-very-successful competitive handgun shooter myself), but I think you’ll have much better response over at [www.thehighroad.org](http://www.thehighroad.org). There’s more information and more detailed forums there than you can imagine. The “Gunsmithing and Repairs” forum there has over 36,000 posts, and is only one of 18 different forums about all things that go bang. 🙂 J. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gunsmithing-advice-needed/393774/11 "2007-02-28T03:27:47Z")
[QUOTE=jharvey963] Not that your gun questions aren’t welcome here (I’m a not-very-successful competitive handgun shooter myself), but I think you’ll have much better response over at [www.thehighroad.org](http://www.thehighroad.org). There’s more information and more detailed forums there than you can imagine. The “Gunsmithing and Repairs” forum there has over 36,000 posts, and is only one of 18 different forums about all things that go bang. 🙂 J. [/QUOTE] Thanks. A lot of information there. Tris