casey_cole Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 I have a WE 1911, and I think it’s a great little pistol. I haven’t seen a takedown guide for it yet, so I thought I’d make one. This guide does not detail the takedown of the gas hammer block (as my screw seems to have loctite on it) or the inner barrel assembly as I have stuffed up too many hop-up units in my time A note: I have sanded some parts of pistol down to a silver finish to fit with my swanky wooden grips. I replaced the grips with the stock plastic ones for this demo to give better grip and to prevent dirt and oil getting in the wood grain. No internal parts have changed colour. I accept no responsibility at all from damage to your weapon or to you from use of this guide! On with the show! The Frame! Assuming you haven’t broken your pistol - you should start with this. Field strip it by racking the slide till the slide stop lines up with the semi-circular grove and remove it towards you. Remove the magazine and rack the slide off the front of the frame. Take the frame, cock the hammer, and pull the safety upwards beyond its normal limits. Keep your finger to the rear of the safety to block the safety “clicker” from flying out and being lost (as I did the first time…). Remove the safety towards you, and remove the two pins and the spring from the safety “clicker” tube - as shown by the pointing screwdriver. Push up gently on the base of the mainspring housing at the base of the grip, then use a small screwdriver to poke out the locking pin. Remove it, and allow the housing to slide out of the grip. Your grip safety may come away from the grip. Remove the grip safety by gently pulling it backwards. Turn the gun on end, and look inside the back of the grip. There is a three pronged leaf spring that serves as part of the hammer mechanism, the trigger spring and the grip safety spring. Note how it fits into the grip. Remove the Phillips (cross) head screw from the gas hammer block at the rear of the frame. Undo the flat head screw from the block also - but do not undo it all the way! Undo it so that it sticks out by a few mm. Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted January 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 The gas hammer block will now lift off the frame by sliding it upwards - push the mechanism inside gently with a screwdriver to disengage the hammer to allow this. If it will not move, you may need to unscrew the flat head screw a bit more. Remove the hammer by pulling the whole assembly up towards you. Remove the hammer mechanism by pulling the two parts up towards you. The black part should come out first. The silver part will need to be gently levered out with a small screwdriver (if you keep your pistol properly lubricated, that is ). Turn the frame over, and push the magazine release button. With a small flat head screwdriver, turn the release locking screw (keeping gentle pressure on it - it is sprung). Remove the safety towards you. Slide the trigger out of the back of the frame (it goes in with the pin at the top) Remove the grip screws and grips (I do this last to enable me to grip the pistol easier during disassembly). To remove the hammer spring arm from the hammer, push out the pin indicated. The gas hammer block has a slightly tricky assembly. The gas hammer (small silver piece with a slit in it) sits in the grove, with the bent end of the spring upwards through the slit. The spring hole sits on the flat head screw (that’s why we don’t undo it) and the other end wedges behind the small block as indicated. Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted January 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 Both can be removed, and then there is a small Phillips head screw to undo, but mine was too tight to move (loctite maybe?). You have now successfully stripped the frame. Paint it, sand it, lube it and generally do what you want to do. During reassembly, reverse all the instructions above, but take care when reassembling the leaf spring. The central leaf should rest on the red area, the right hand leaf should rest on the angled green area, and the left hand leaf should sit nowhere. The right angle bend at the base of the spring should go into the slot near the base of the grip. (For those interested, the red and black thing is a diabolo - A Mr Babache 4" Harlequin). The Slide! Remove the recoil spring and guide by pulling to one side of the slide. Remove the recoil spring housing by pulling backwards, and angling. Remove the barrel bushing by rotating and pulling forwards like a light bulb bayonet fitting. Remove the barrel assembly by pulling forwards. If you have problems, ensure that the inner barrel is seated correctly in the outer barrel. Go to the back of the slide. Funny looking firing pin, isn’t it? Insert a suitable Allen key, undo, and remove the screw. Remove the blowback mechanism by levering gently with a flat headed screwdriver, Remove the indicated spring (it may fall out during blowback removal - it doesn’t matter). Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted January 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 Remove the nozzle forwards, angle it to remove it, but you may need to pinch the slide slightly to get it out of the rails. Undo the two Phillips head screws (one large, one small) and remove the seal head and the black plastic moulding aid (I presume). Take the barrel, and undo the small brassy screw from the lower end of the inner barrel and hop-up assembly. Note how the black plastic part fits. Remove both. The inner barrel can now be removed from the outer barrel. I went no further as I have a bad record with hop-ups. The slide is now completely stripped! Give yourself a pat on the back, and a stiff drink. To reassemble, reverse the steps listed above. Wheee! Anyway. I hope this guide helped you, and if you have any further questions - don’t hesitate to ask… CC Link to post Share on other sites
***Ice*** Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 Nice guide matey, good work. Ice Link to post Share on other sites
Chris North Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 Sorry for the semi-old thread revival (its not that old, and should probably get more attention anyway), but I was having some problems with my WE1911 yesterday, and I figure the problem was worth mentioning. For whatever reason, it took me 2 hours to discover. Anyway, I went to use the my 1911 and barely got off 10 shots before running out of gas. For two hours I took the thing apart, lubed every bit of it, took it apart again, lubed it again, polished the rails, discovered a small rough casting part on the slide that was rubbing on the frame and sanded an polished that, and in the end do you know what it was? The hop up assembly was coming apart. All it took was the tightening of two little black screws to fix everything. Go figure. Any how, I figure that it might have been caused by using a broken magazine, because the follower pushed up past where it should have, and I think the nozzle hit it. I dry fired it a few times before I noticed, then I removed it and the magazine spring before I dry fire. Speaking of which, does anyone know where to get a replacement follower? Great guide. Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted January 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 Damn right it should get more attention ! I'd just ring up the nearest shop to you that sells WE 1911s and ask if they have any spares off duff repair guns, Airsoft World in Scotland were more than happy to send me a new barrel bushing off an old duff gun (though it took a bit of time to convince them that they'd broken it in the first place...) One interesting point that I've found out - the 1911 must be regularly lubed under the nozzle, as it can stick for too long in the barrel, preventing the slide from blowing back correctly, loading the next round, or resetting the gas hammer - so it vents all the gas. CC Link to post Share on other sites
justsomeguy Posted January 12, 2007 Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 Any way to remove the sights? Link to post Share on other sites
Chris North Posted January 12, 2007 Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 Nope, the sights are molded onto the slide. I believe you can use a Hi-capa slide, and the sights are removable on that. Thanks CC, I'll send an email to the retailer I'm thinking of buying another mag from. Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted January 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 The sights are indeed one piece (though it would be childs play to mill them off - if you know what you're doing...) The TM tac-master slide fits, but I have heard no word on after-market slides (surely two "copies" are not likely to work...) CC Link to post Share on other sites
baddad59 Posted January 12, 2007 Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 Sorry for the semi-old thread revival (its not that old, and should probably get more attention anyway), but I was having some problems with my WE1911 yesterday, and I figure the problem was worth mentioning. For whatever reason, it took me 2 hours to discover. Anyway, I went to use the my 1911 and barely got off 10 shots before running out of gas. For two hours I took the thing apart, lubed every bit of it, took it apart again, lubed it again, polished the rails, discovered a small rough casting part on the slide that was rubbing on the frame and sanded an polished that, and in the end do you know what it was? The hop up assembly was coming apart. All it took was the tightening of two little black screws to fix everything. Go figure. Any how, I figure that it might have been caused by using a broken magazine, because the follower pushed up past where it should have, and I think the nozzle hit it. I dry fired it a few times before I noticed, then I removed it and the magazine spring before I dry fire. Speaking of which, does anyone know where to get a replacement follower? Great guide. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> And there's me thinking i was the only one unlucky enough to break the BB follower! The gas valve on one of the mags gives trouble too (exit, not inlet) 3-4 shots a & that's it!!, need a place to buy both followers and valves. If any one knows where we can source these bits........... The guide's fantastic. My colt's clean at last!! Thanks for taking the time to post it Casey. Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted January 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 Any time - again, for bits, I suggest phoning the shop you got it from, and asking for spares off broken repair guns. CC Link to post Share on other sites
Sledge Posted January 12, 2007 Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 I'm sorry, but: the Tac Master slide fits? Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted January 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 Uh huh. Well, I did it with an HFC slide, but I presume it fits - as the HFC is a clone of the TM. CC Link to post Share on other sites
Sledge Posted January 12, 2007 Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 Huh, I could not get that to work with an HFC or KJW slide. Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted January 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 Sorry, I did of course mean "Hi-Capa" - I forgot the "" on the pictured post... CC Link to post Share on other sites
Sledge Posted January 12, 2007 Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 I kinda thought you did, especially after the "brilliantly" 'shopped picture, but it cost me nothing to try. Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted January 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 My 'shopping skills are second to none. Doesn't look too bad actually. Where's the hammer? Edit: That looks mint. CC Link to post Share on other sites
s00pcan Posted February 3, 2007 Report Share Posted February 3, 2007 I also broke the bb follower.. on both of my magazines. I need help getting that fixed. Link to post Share on other sites
s00pcan Posted February 4, 2007 Report Share Posted February 4, 2007 I'll explain how it is broken. The cone shaped piece is supposed to be on the bottom of the larger one. The block goes into the flat side of the large piece. Now that I know how to open the magazines (take a small screwdriver and tap them out), I'm confident I could replace the follower.. but with what? I need a replacement. Link to post Share on other sites
Fuser Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 Great guide. Is the takedown of a WE 1911 exactly the same as that of the TM 1911? Link to post Share on other sites
The Saint Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 TM1911 has a few more parts, but otherwise it's basically the same. The additional parts shouldn't throw you off too much, provided you're not the type to set screwdrivers on fire or put square pegs in round holes. Link to post Share on other sites
Gun5tar Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Resurrecting an old thread but it seemed the best place for it, certainly as it may just be me. Just got my WE 1911 and for whatever reason I can't load it with 15+1. Loading with the slide back it's fine but 8 or 9 times out of ten if I slam a full magazine into the gun with the slide forwards (with or without a bb in the 'chamber') something seems to push all the bbs in the mag down so that the lowest skips forward and catches in the loading hole jamming the spring so the mag doesn't feed. Losing that one extra round isn't a huge issue and being useless and having a game tomorrow I don't want to go dissecting my new toy just yet. Just wondering am I being an idiot or has anyone seen similar? I'm guessing it's the gun since it's the same for both of my mags yet I have friends who's are fine. Link to post Share on other sites
casey_cole Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 *checks* Mine works fine with 14, 15 and 15 + 1 rounds. Sorry, CC Link to post Share on other sites
Counter Sniper Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Hi CC, Great guide, this is gonna come in very handy over the next few days... just out of interest, can the chamber be removed from the outer barrel to be replaced with an aftermarket chamber?? cheers, CS Link to post Share on other sites
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