Found my 1911 mainspring cap!

[MartyK2500]

Just taught i'd share a small story of mine.

2 years ago or such, my mainspring housing slipped off the bench while i was dissassembling it.
Mainspring cap flew to somewhere never to be found again.
I had a match in a few days and was screwed without it, folks at freedom ventures sent me one express shipping.

Just found it today, while changing lighting fixture in my gun room. It was on top of electrical box, on the ceiling of all places!
Unfinished ceiling and it managed to drop on a small 3.5 square inch box at bottom joist level.

Flying parts incidents can have a funny way to come around, i now have a spare

 

[Fargone4sure]

So there is a hope for some of the springs I've launched, lol.

 

[T&G]

A way to avoid these kind of problems is to assemble - disassemble inside a clear plastic bag. Learned by experience!

Dr Jim

 

[paul792]

Been there lol. Launched mine into the ceiling. Found it siting on top of the HVAC runner with an automotive magnet. It happens. Still better than owning a glock lol

 

[MartyK2500]

Yep i have been told the clear plastic bag trick countless times, but i am stubborn AF haha

If i can give my personnal trick, when dissassembling a tricky one for the first time, do it with your cat.
My cat has found many flying parts for me! He wasn't there for the cap incident, but could not of done much anyways

 

[OkayShooter]

I launched one into a wall before. Now I use a vise.

 

[Trinimon]

I cup the potentially spring loaded parts with my hand or towel when disassembling. Keeps the parts nearby if they do go flying.

 

[MartyK2500]

You cup the spring loaded part with your 3rd hand you mean

 

[Scotty454]

Yep i have been told the clear plastic bag trick countless times, but i am stubborn AF haha

If i can give my personnal trick, when dissassembling a tricky one for the first time, do it with your cat.
My cat has found many flying parts for me! He wasn't there for the cap incident, but could not of done much anyways

Haha I've also been lucky with a very observant and curious cat. They find it for you, you just have to get there before they swat it somewhere unreachable!

 

[Import]

Yep.....been on my knees several times...and with a magnet...just happens sometimes no matter how well prepared you are...bonus...now you have the start of a parts gun build.....

 

[G-Man_Quagmire]

I was looking around the floor of my range for brass and found someone's lost 1911 guide rod. I looked for someone with a 1911 disassembled on their bench and inquired if the individual had lost a guide rod. Sure enough. I almost lost a cz 75 magazine floor plate that flew into a pile of boxes at home. Fortunately I recovered it. Beware of flying miscellaneous parts.