Detail Strip Slide

Detail-stripping is the only part of 1911 disassembly that requires additional tools, although a 1911 made to the original specs can be taken all the way down using just the gun itself. It's a little easier with the right equipment, though. (Most things are.)

Using a punch or an old 1911 firing pin, depress the firing pin at the back of the slide.

Slide the firing pin stop down while keeping the firing pin depressed. Be aware that once the firing pin stop is out of its way, the firing pin is going to head aft with great enthusiasm.

Remove the firing pin and firing pin spring from the firing pin channel.

Use your punch or old firing pin to start the extractor out. Although it's not shown in the photo below for the sake of clarity, I usually take a thick piece of paper or a bit of shop towel to cushion the slide and prevent marking from the punch levering the extractor out.

Once the extractor has been started, finish pulling it out by hand.

Once the extractor has been removed, the slide has been stripped as far as possible without it starting to be classified as modification (e.g. removing sights). Be sure to clean the extractor and firing pin channels, as they can accumulate surprising amounts of gunk.

The slide is fairly simple and contains few parts; in fact, I usually take out the firing pin and extractor every few times I clean it to wipe out the channels. The frame, however, is another story...