Field Strip Mark I Pistol

[Bob Kerstetter]

I have always had problems field stripping my Mark I. Before I came across this website, I search the internet and someone said it is safe to use a rubber mallet to take apart and put back together a Mark I.

I have not had any problems but am now worried about the long term affects on the Mark I.

I tried this evening to field strip and put back together without the mallet, and just can not do anything without the mallet.

Is it safe?

Bob

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!
I'm assuming you are referring to the seperation of the upper reciever & the gripframe?
If so,, then the answer is yes,, it's ok to use a rubber mallet.

 

[Fox Mike]

Go here and see what Ruger says to use. Page 9 has the dis-assembly procedures
http://www.ruger.com/products/_manuals/markI.pdf

 

[rugerguy]

over all these years of servicing 'untold' number of these models, we have always just used a piece of carpet 'remnant' setting on the work bench along side of us.......take the mainspring housing and bolt out, and hold the grip frame and a "tap" ( rap) the back end on the carpet piece and the receiver comes off, and do it the opposite way to re-install, you cannot find the hammer ( mallet) and use it, faster than it takes to knock it off with the carpet piece......thats a fact , jack......make a little plan, stan...set yourself free... :roll:

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Welcome to the forum!

As the OP kept saying "field strip", I'm assuming he meant simply removing the bolt stop pin -- the 2nd phase of taking it down. The manual does (or did) talk about using a mallet to tap out the pin if it resists. I know: I followed that advice once and broke a rear sight blade... (Probably missed the part about "gently tap ...").

I've found that if the bolt stop pin won't come out easily you can usually get it to budge by "fiddling" a bit. Something is stuck. Sometimes just drawing the bolt back 1/4" will allow the pin to drop free. Try cocking it and pulling the trigger. Make sure it's unloaded, of course.

Once it's out I deburr and polish the pin and all mating surfaces around the MSH to ensure there is little to "hang up" on subsequent dis/re-assembly.

If you are talking about removing the barrel from the receiver, yes, that's the way to do it. I too worry about doing this too much, as I've heard of the parts wearing and needing to be shimmed over time. The good news is you rarely have to take the gun apart to that level, and there are ways to tighten the fit back up again.

-- Sam

 

[rugerguy]

I guarantee with the piece of carpet remnant, you cannot possibly "miss" and ever hit the rear sight, like one can and will do when trying to "swing,push,tap, a hammer or mallet...' and aim it at the rear of the receivers top edge to remove it from the lower ( grip frame)..........'and the same goes for the reverse, trying to "rap,pound,smack" the front end ( muzzle) and put 'er back, onto the grip frame.............if they are THAT 'tight".........

 

[Yosemite Sam]

rugerguy, we're still talking about two different things. Maybe.

There's separating the frame from the barrel. That's where the "whacking it on a piece of carpet" is going to work for you. And it does sound like a better way than flailing away with a hammer.

IF and only if we're talking about field stripping the gun, as stated multiple times in the base post, then there is a procedure in the manual for lightly tapping the top of the bolt stop pin to free it if stuck. That is what I was attempting to address above, and what I believe the OP may be asking about. If not, I apologize for the side track.

-- Sam

 

[Fox Mike]

Rather than hitting the retaining pin directly with a hammer I placed a screwdriver handle on the pin and hit the end of the screwdriver. A little emory cloth polishes the pin and hole.

 

[rugerguy]

OK, you're idea of "field stripping is different than mine then, as to me, the field stripping is the removal of the upper from the lower,NOT the internal parts...you are simply removing the bolt,and the same there , we only pull from the bottom, seldom ever had to tap out the pin, but then again we may have a "better grip on things" and know how and where to "pull".....
once you start pounding and banging on stuff, yes, you wll "miss" and booger up something.........................
if you are only going to flush out the chamber area, and face of the bolt, no need to even take that apart, as so many folks I know that NEVER take their 'Marks' down, just flush (soak) and spray, swab the bore and voila, as clean as ONLY removing the bolt..........if you go that far, might as well take the upper off, its THAT SIMPLE................... :wink:

 

[greener]

A rubber mallet applied to the back of the receiver after the mainspring has been removed (and usually the bolt) will separate the receiver and grip frame.

This is a good sight for Ruger mechanicals

http://www.guntalk-online.com/fsprocedures.htm

Except for the magazine dance, the MKI is pretty much the same as the MKIII.

 

[ranger1]

Rather than hitting the retaining pin directly with a hammer I placed a screwdriver handle on the pin and hit the end of the screwdriver. A little emory cloth polishes the pin and hole.

Sorry to but in, just a comment:

Using a 1/4" x 4" piece of wood dowel and a light tap(s) on the bolt stop pin with a rubber hammer works well too. Also, it's been my experience that after these guns have been dis/reassembled a few times, things loosen up and no rubber hammers and tapping is needed.

I would rather field strip mine to clean, rather than using the "flushing" out method, but that's just me.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

OK, you're idea of "field stripping is different than mine then, as to me, the field stripping is the removal of the upper from the lower,NOT the internal parts...you are simply removing the bolt,and the same there , we only pull from the bottom, seldom ever had to tap out the pin, but then again we may have a "better grip on things" and know how and where to "pull".....
once you start pounding and banging on stuff, yes, you wll "miss" and booger up something.........................
if you are only going to flush out the chamber area, and face of the bolt, no need to even take that apart, as so many folks I know that NEVER take their 'Marks' down, just flush (soak) and spray, swab the bore and voila, as clean as ONLY removing the bolt..........if you go that far, might as well take the upper off, its THAT SIMPLE................... :wink:

I guess I was thinking of "field stripping" as simply removing the MSH and bolt for ease of cleaning, where a "detail strip" would include separating the frame and barrel. But you're right, "detail strip" is probably more appropriate for a total teardown.

-- Sam