Cleaning 1911a1

[whyzee429]

Hey guys. My neighbor just came over and asked if I would clean a gun for her that she inherited from her grandpa. I said sure, I'll look at it. I had no idea what I was going to be brought. She brought over the 1911 her grandpa used in the Air Force during WWII.
I'm kind of in awe as this is not what I was expecting. Is there anything I should look for when cleaning this thing?


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[Rickrock1]

Nice ask her if she will sell it me. I'm a very nice guy and will take good care of it.

[whyzee429]

She's single and early 40's lol. She'll never sell it because it was re grandpa's. I tried.


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[Brandon04GT]

Will it blend?

[Capybara]

Just don't put an idiot scratch on it. ;-)

[Rickrock1]

She's single and early 40's lol. She'll never sell it because it was re grandpa's. I tried.


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Ok introduce her to your good friend. Me hahaha

[whyzee429]

That's probably the only way you'd get it from her Rick lol


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[TurboChrisB]

Just don't put an idiot scratch on it. ;-)

This!! If you have to ask about what to look for....I'll assume you don't own nor have much experience with 1911's. I'd suggest you shouldn't be field stripping it as you just "May" give her a idiot scratch....or if you're confident....be VERY careful....

Or....assuming it hasn't been fired in a lot of years, maybe it's not even dirty....just clean the barrel with it in the gun....see if there's residue.....if not...just give it a good oiling and call it a day.

[whyzee429]

Turbo, you're absolutely right. My experience with 1911's is nil to say the least. While I am confident with other firearms this is new territory. She knows nothing about it (which makes me want it that much more haha) so I don't know when it was last fired. I think I'll start with your suggestion of cleaning out the barrel in place, oiling it, and cleaning up the outside. If I do eventually decide to tear into it I'll look into YouTube videos to make sure I'm doing it correctly.


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[xxINKxx]

Just don't F up the finish or frog lube it or any of that nonsense.

[golfish]

Hummm, mid 40's? How about a picture of her holding the gun? I mean the pistol...

[stormvet]

No matter when the last time it was shot, it has been a very long time since it was field stripped and given a proper cleaning and lube. I can tell just buy the pic it is dry as a bone and the grips need to be removed and cleaned.
That gun will be much loser then a modern 1911 and very easy to disasemble. Watch some Utube vids or take it to someone that is familiar with 1911s, one way or another get it the proper attention it deserves.

Also, not bagging on you OP. Just for the sake of historical accuracy, there was no Air Force in WWII. It was the Army Air Corps then. Shortly after WWII the Air Force became its own branch of the U.S. military.
So the service branch on the gun actually matches the service branch, her grandfather was in.

[mikenewgun87]

She hot?

[Bluesman]

Awesome find!

Op, her letting you hold her stuff, she may be trying to tell you something.

[cannon]

If you want to be safe about it. (Idiot scratch wise) just swab the barrel, wipe down the outside and lock the slide back and a drop of oil on the frame rails. Then work the slide a few times to spread the oil.

The reality is that pistol will go back in a drawer unused for another 30 years. You just need tho protect it from rust not get it in run and gun condition.