Your current generation SS Pro Model 1911 pistol can be disassembled using the standard GI method, or you can use the technique described below to captivate the recoil spring system.

Disassembly instructions for SS Pro Model are as follows:

While following all safety rules, remove the magazine and unload the chamber. Double check to assure that pistol is completely unloaded. Remove all live ammunition from your work area.

Pull the slide back until the half-moon notch on the bottom edge of the slide (on the non-ejection port side of the slide) aligns with the rear of the slide stop. Hold the slide in this position with your strong hand. It works best to put the web of your strong hand under the beavertail and wrap the fingers of your strong hand over the top of the slide and rear sight. This lets you hold the half-moon notch in alignment over the rear of the slide stop. With this alignment achieved, use a non-marring object (like the tip of a plastic pen cap) to push the slide stop pin from the ejection port side of the pistol toward the non-ejection port side of the pistol. The slide stop will be removed from the pistol via the non-ejection port side of the pistol. Note: Sometimes the tip of the slide stop spring plunger will prevent the slide stop from coming all the way out of the pistol. If this occurs, simply use the dull back edge of a small lock blade pocket knife to compress the plunger back into the plunger spring housing, then fully pull out the slide stop from the non-ejection port side of the pistol. DO NOT attempt to pound the slide stop out of the pistol. Excessive force is not needed at any time during this process.

At this point you can wrap the fingers of your weak hand around the pistol frame’s forward dust cover to capture the recoil spring as you use the thumb of your other hand to gently push the slide off the front of the pistol frame. Your weak hand fingers should capture the recoil spring as the slide moves forward off the front of the pistol frame. At this point you can remove the recoil spring and short spring guide rod from the rear of the slide. The recoil spring plug can then be removed from the rear of the slide’s spring tunnel.

At this point you can stand the slide / barrel / barrel bushing assembly up on your workbench with the muzzle pointing up and the bottom of the slide towards you. Using your fingers or a bushing wrench, turn the barrel bushing ¼ turn counterclockwise. At this point you will be able to see the retainer lug on the barrel bushing appear inside the spring tunnel on the underside of the slide. Once the lug is free of its slide recess, you can pull the barrel forward in the slide (with the barrel link in its forward position) and remove the barrel and bushing at the same time. If the bushing is snug in the slide, simply pull forward on the barrel in a light tapping motion and the bushing will come right out. If the bushing does not appear to be moving forward, make sure the bushing’s lug is fully free from its slide recess. The barrel bushing on a SS Pro Model only turns ¼ turn. ¼ turn out of the lug recess, and ¼ turn back into the barrel bushing lug recess. The SS barrel bushing does not turn with a wide range of motion like a full slide Pro Model.

At this point the pistol is field stripped for general cleaning. After cleaning and lubricating all sliding surfaces mentioned in the DLS inc 1911 maintenance manual you can reassemble the SS Pro Model in reverse order of the above instructions. Please note that reassembly of the SS Pro Model is slightly different than a full size pistol. On the SS Pro Model the barrel bushing only turns ¼ turn to lock in place and to allow the spring plug to fully seat in its plug shoulder position. The recoil spring plug, spring, and spring guide rod all go back into the pistol from the rear of the slide. The recoil spring and guide rod are held in place by hand as the slide assembly is slid back on to the frame.

Use the slide stop frame hole as an observation port to see the barrel link. Insert the slide stop cross pin into the frame from the non-ejection port side, making sure the cross pin goes through the barrel link. In order to avoid scratching your pistol with the slide stop, make sure the rear of the slide stop is away from the pistol frame as you turn it up into its parallel position with the pistol frame. Slightly pull back on the slide to relieve spring pressure, and move the rear of the slide stop into contact with the slide stop spring plunger. Do not try to force the slide stop into its final position with excessive force. Simply use the back dull edge of your small lock blade pocket knife to compress the spring plunger, allow the slide stop to move into near final position. Then retract slide until the rear of the slide stop aligns with the half-moon notch on the side of the slide, then push the slide stop into its final position and let the slide return to its forward position.

This process is all very simple once you become familiar with your SS pistol. Always be sure to function and safety check your pistol before carry. Call DLS inc. anytime with questions before forcing anything. There is no need for substantial force to be used during any of these procedures.

Thank you and good shooting.