How do I remove a stuck 1911 extractor?

[thatsteveguy]

I asked this question over at m1911.org and thought I would ask here too. I bought a basically new Para 1911 single stack stainless ssp last year that was made about 6-7 years ago in Canada. The original owner had kept it in his safe and had fired it once to check for correct function then put it away. I decided to do a complete strip of the pistol and in the process discovered that I have a factory extractor which refuses to come out of the slide. I've made sure that the firing pin block plunger is depressed while trying to remove the extractor and the extractor budges only about 1/32". I tried to carefully tap the extractor out making sure I don't hit the claw and I've also tried leveraging the extractor with a brass punch but nothing is working so I'm here to ask the experts how you would remove the extractor?

[CrippledPidgeon]

I asked this question over at m1911.org and thought I would ask here too. I bought a basically new Para 1911 single stack stainless ssp last year that was made about 6-7 years ago in Canada. The original owner had kept it in his safe and had fired it once to check for correct function then put it away. I decided to do a complete strip of the pistol and in the process discovered that I have a factory extractor which refuses to come out of the slide. I've made sure that the firing pin block plunger is depressed while trying to remove the extractor and the extractor budges only about 1/32". I tried to carefully tap the extractor out making sure I don't hit the claw and I've also tried leveraging the extractor with a brass punch but nothing is working so I'm here to ask the experts how you would remove the extractor?

Drench with penetrating oil and hope that the extractor or channel haven't rusted.

[zurppin]

Also play with the safety plunger a little bit more maybe you're depressing it to much or not enough

[thatsteveguy]

It turned out that I'd moved the extractor just a bit too far and when I moved it back a smidge the firing pin plunger popped up and I was able to remove it and its assembly. The extractor though is still being a bear at coming out of the slide. I'm guessing penetrating oil is my next shot unless someone else has a better idea...

[Army]

Tight fit is OK. This better insures the extractor cannot wobble in the hole, letting the spring tension do all the work as designed.

Normally, unless broken or worn, there really is no need to remove it.