Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Colt Commander A-1991-A1 problem/question

[SRath]

I have no experience with the legendary Colt . 45 pistols, but I have been wanting to try one out. Turns out a friend of mine has one and he brought it over to see if I could help him with it. I like the slim feel and I know these are basically good guns with a big punch when they work. This one does not, and it has had less than a box of shells through it since he bought it new.



I have found some disassembly/reassembly instructions on the 'net, so I can handle that part, but I wanted to ask you guys about this problem before I started:



The gun has that goofy (if you are a Glock guy like me) "grip safety" along with the traditional thumb safety. The hammer is currently fully cocked and the trigger will not depress no matter what he or I try (safety off, grip safety fully depressed, magazine inserted/removed, etc. etc. ). It is locked up. This is his "problem" and why he brought it to me hoping I knew something about 1911-style pistols.



I am going to disassemble then reassemble the gun to see what I find. Anything I should try first or watch for? Is this a common problem? Or is there some secret safety device that I cannot figure out?



It is definitely at the other end of the spectrum from a Glock as far as "point and shoot" simplicity, but I can see where it would be ideal for ccw given the slim, compact lines compared to the bulkier Glock. Not to mention the power of the . 45 ACP over even the . 40 S&W.

 

[GHarman]

Is it brand new? Or did someone have it before and tear it apart? GregH

 

[GHarman]

They can be incorrectly reassembled. Its been a spell since I tore my 1911 down. Let me know what you find. GregH

 

[SRath]

As near as I know and can tell, it is "brand new", but I think he has had it (unused) for quite a long time. He bought it, shot it a few times, and put it away. I see a few specs of surface rust around the grips, but nothing major at all, and otherwise not scratch or wear mark on it. About what you'd expect from a never-used underwear drawer gun. The end of the firing pin still has some finish left on it even.

I also need to say I screwed up the title. It is not an A1991A1, but an M1991A1.

 

[SRath]

Looks are deceiving

Oh boy...



I took the slide off, and it looks like a different gun inside. Not good. It is rusty in all areas where moving parts meet.



Looks like he kept it stashed in his toilet tank, not his underwear drawer.



I have the trigger and hammer functioning now with the slide off. Time to completely strip the gun and soak and clean every little part...



This friend really needs a Glock if he isn't going to care for his gun any better than this... (Or no gun at all!) They don't rust. Even the metal parts have a coating just one point short of a diamond in hardness.



I'll be back with my results after I get this thing cleaned up.

 

[GHarman]

Rust:{ is not yer friend! Sounds like a thorough stripping down and cleaning is required. I use a very light coat of synthetic moly grease on the slide rails, on a MK-IV series 70, Colt. My gun has a very tight match bushing that also requires high temperature lubrication. I use a light dab of moly grease in this location, also. Of Course, I'm not rolling it around in a sand box, either! GregH

 

[2Rowdy]

Did he lay on top of the swamp cooler. LOL

 

[SRath]

He might have, Rowdy. I actually think it is just from humidity wherever he kept it and lack of use and maintenence. Who knows? Maybe it was raining the one time he actually shot it and he just wiped down the outside. . ?

It will be OK, I'm pretty sure. The all-in-one gun cleaner/solvent/lube I am using seems to go right after the rust and dissolves it easily. That's a good sign. I got too tied up with my truck repairs this weekend to do anything more with the gun, but I'll get to it this week I hope.