How to Disassemble a 1911 Trigger

Remove the recoil spring plug just below the barrel, and pull out the recoil spring to begin field stripping your 1911 pistol.

Pull the slide stop lever from the left side of the pistol, allowing the slide and barrel to come off the rails of the lower receiver. This will leave you with the lower receiver field stripped and ready for a more detailed disassembly.

Cock the hammer, and rotate the safety lock just short of the "on" position to pull the safety lock out and away from the lower receiver. Wiggling the safety lock can help remove it from the receiver.

Remove the hammer pin by using the small drift punch and the gunsmith hammer to tap out the pin from right to left, and then remove the hammer assembly through the top of the receiver.

Tap out the mainspring housing pin using the small drift punch and the gunsmith hammer, and then remove the mainspring housing through the bottom of the pistol's magazine well.

Pull the grip safety and sear spring out of the pistol frame through the back of the pistol grip.

Tap out the sear pin using the small drift punch and the gunsmith hammer, and then carefully remove the sear and disconnector while making note of the connection between the two to aid in reassembly later.

Push in the magazine release button halfway, and use a flathead screwdriver or the hex key wrench to turn the magazine release button a 1/4-turn counterclockwise, and then pull the magazine release button out of the pistol frame.

Remove the trigger through the back of the pistol frame's grip.