Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket Hammerless .25 ACP - Disassembly
Instructions
To Disassemble
The arm must not be cocked when about to be taken
apart. Remove magazine. (Be sure to look and see that
no cartridge remains in the chamber.) Grasp the
pistol in left hand as illustrated, and draw back slide
until within 1/16 of an inch from end of receiver. With
right hand give barrel one-quarter turn to right. The
slide may then be drawn forward and barrel can be
removed from slide by giving it one-quarter turn to the
left and permitting it to drop out rearward. (When slide
is removed, care should be taken that the Slide Lock
Safety is not pushed upward as this will release the
Slide Lock Plunger and Spring causing them to fly out
and become lost. [NOTE: this is only true on models made
after 1916. Before 1916, a small leaf-type spring along
the cam of the Slide Lock Safety was used to provide
tension.]) The firing pin, main spring and guide are
readily removed from slide, as are also the retractor
spring and guide from receiver.
To Disassemble Frame
Remove the magazine.
Remove the slide assembly.
Remove the stocks.
Drift out the grip safety pin and remove the grip safety
from the receiver.
Remove the sear spring. (Note that the short leaf of the
sear spring faces the rear of the pistol.)
Remove the magazine catch.
Turn the slide lock safety to the up position and
withdraw it from the receiver. (If it's a later model,
watch for the slide lock safety plunger and spring as
they
may shoot across the room)
Remove the slidelock safety plunger and spring from
their hole beneath the thumb safety.
Drift out the sear and grip safety pin and remove the
sear through the bottom of the receiver behind the
magazine well.
(Normally, there is no need to withdraw the sear stop
pin)
The trigger may be withdrawn by drifting out its
retaining pin.
Withdraw the connector from its grooves in the receiver.
Reassemble in reverse order taking care that the sear,
connector, sear spring, and sear stop pin are in the
proper relationship.
To Assemble
Put together firing pin, main spring and guides and
replace them in slide, letting the square shoulder on
firing pin engage in the elongated groove of slide.
Replace retractor spring and guide, placing guide in
socket of receiver. Insert barrel in slide, giving it
one-quarter turn to the right, thus engaging threads on
barrel with those in slide. Place slide on receiver,
moving rearward from the front, making sure that
retractor spring fits into the socket provided for it in
the front of the slide. When the face of the slide is
about 1/16 of an inch from forward end of receiver, give
barrel one-quarter turn to the left and the slide will
come into its proper position. With the insertion of the
magazine the assembly is complete.
