rpbcps Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 I have seen pictures of recoil spring tools in manuals, but never seen any for sale. Are they easy to find in the States, and if so what is the usual price tag on these? Stay safeRichard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rader Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 I got 1 for $25 off ebay. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1921A Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 (edited) I have seen pictures of recoil spring tools in manuals, but never seen any for sale. Are they easy to find in the States, and if so what is the usual price tag on these? Stay safeRichard Mine is cheaper. It's called a "nail." Works as good as the $25 ones. Once you learn how to "wind" it - it works great. The British tool is hard to find and usually expensive. Like others have mentioned, a punch of the proper diameter works well if you can't find an "original" nail. A good substitute is to make one from a G.I. 1911 cleaning rod if you have access to a lathe. I made several from cleaning rods over the years but they always seem to end up in someone else's tool box. The Colt Navy is definitely a pain in the butt - I always subtituted a 21 actuator, spring, pilot and buffer or used Savage components in the 28N. I have a Colt firing pin in the junk drawer with the business end snapped off by a genious who thought it would make a good recoil spring tool. It worked for awhile. The same guy liked to demonstrate pivot plate removal with the trailing edge of a 21 actuator - he learned that trick from a certain federal agency. Perhaps you've seen some of his work! Add these to your "don't do list." Edited October 30, 2012 by 1921A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rader Posted October 28, 2012 Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 I used nails to, but its so getto. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Original recoil spring tools are not easy to find anywhere. And they can be expensive. I have seen British marked tools sell for over $50. It is a great tool to have. I purchased a couple from Doug Richardson many years ago. I can't imagine removing the pilot and spring without one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james m Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) Original recoil spring tools are not easy to find anywhere. And they can be expensive. I have seen British marked tools sell for over $50. It is a great tool to have. I purchased a couple from Doug Richardson many years ago. I can't imagine removing the pilot and spring without one. Could you explain to us what advantage a recoil spring tool has over a plain nail? Bottom line to me is ya gotta compress the spring and sticking something in the hole in the buffer keeps it compressed until it's slipped into the back of the bolt and receiver.Jim Edited October 29, 2012 by james m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gijive Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 james m, The looped handle of the tool makes it much easier to wind the spring onto the pilot shaft than a common nail does. There was a previous post a month or so ago that explains how to perform this function. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrylta Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) A common mini screw driver or punch works great for me with 28 GI pilots with a hole. The Colt Navy pilots give me a fit. If I did those a lot I'm sure I could McGiver a tool ofsome sort,,maybe a modified mini needle nose vise grip?-Darryl Edited October 29, 2012 by darrylta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 A common mini screw driver or punch works great for me with 28 GI pilots with a hole. The Colt Navy pilots give me a fit. If I did those a lot I'm sure I could McGiver a tool ofsome sort,,maybe a modified mini needle nose vise grip?-DarrylDarryl,Did you miss my earlier post for making a Colt Navy spring tool out of common 1/2 inch copper pipe??http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14554Jim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james m Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) I guess I've been using a somewhat different approach. I stick the buffer pilot end upright in a partially opened vice and pulled (compressed) the spring down with one hand. When I have it compressed enough I've slipped a small nail with my other hand into the hole. Then of course I've inserted the buffer into the end of the bolt and the other end through the back of the receiver. Pull out the nail and your done.As an aside: The only firearm I've worked on that absolutely required winding the mainspring on for installation have been Lugers.Jim Edited October 29, 2012 by james m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne W Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I put the end of the spring pilot in one of the holes drilled in the workbench for bolting down a reloading press. In my range gear I have a small block of wood with a hole drilled through it for the same purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 The nail idea etc. Works fine, I am sure, but it is the memorabilia I am also interested in. I was offered one, see picture, for $110. But that seems very expensive even for memorabilia. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrylta Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Jim,I had forgotten about your copper pipe jig. I've got all that stuff in myplumbing drawer, I still think I'll still put some eye protection,,,,, or drilla hole in it and have one of those rare Colt Navy nickle steel pilot's I'veread about Thanks,Darryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 The nail idea etc. Works fine, I am sure, but it is the memorabilia I am also interested in. I was offered one, see picture, for $110. But that seems very expensive even for memorabilia. rpbcps, That is expensive, but like TD said, they haven't been available for a while. I got mine for $25 plus shipping from Sweden several years back. I believe mine has Norwegian Navy markings on it. So, it's definitely a collectible tool, but whether it's worth $110, that's up to you. Is the one you are looking at British marked? David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted October 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 I am told it is British marked, but I have not seen it in the 'flesh' yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopper28 Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 I had one made using a steel 1911 cleaning rod. Just had the end turned down on a lathe. Works great. FWIW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgeport28A1 Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Any body with an original recoil spring tool want to measure their recoil spring tool for me? What is the overall length?Length of the turned down section?Diameter of the turned down section. I have an extra GI cleaning rod for the project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Sergeant Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Just like Chopper28. I had one made from the 1911 rod too. Looks very much like the original but mine may be a bit longer. It works great !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopper28 Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Mine looks just like the one in the above post. . It is 5 and 1/2 inches long. The tip is 1/2 inch long. The tip diameter is just under the diameter of the hole on the buffer pilot. These would be an easy repo part to make if you have the brass or steel .45 pistol cleaning rods and a lathe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Original recoil spring tools are not easy to find anywhere. And they can be expensive. I have seen British marked tools sell for over $50. It is a great tool to have. I purchased a couple from Doug Richardson many years ago. I can't imagine removing the pilot and spring without one. Could you explain to us what advantage a recoil spring tool has over a plain nail? Bottom line to me is ya gotta compress the spring and sticking something in the hole in the buffer keeps it compressed until it's slipped into the back of the bolt and receiver.Jim Too easy, Jim! I've seen guys in all seriousness looking for "original USGI Thompson stick mag loading tools", just certain that they had to have been made. Never mind that it was just too easy to press single rounds in from the top! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgeport28A1 Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Mine looks just like the one in the above post. . It is 5 and 1/2 inches long. The tip is 1/2 inch long. The tip diameter is just under the diameter of the hole on the buffer pilot. These would be an easy repo part to make if you have the brass or steel .45 pistol cleaning rods and a lathe. Chopper28, thank you for the dimensions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1921A Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 If you really want one of these, I'm told that Doug Richardson has them. Not sure about his price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconbob Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 Yes I was just talking to Doug and I mentioned this thread. He does have the tools.They should be listed in his catalog... Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arch stanton Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 Does anybody have a catalog handy for a price on the tools? Dont know where mine ended up I even looked in the drum mag book from Doug. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gio Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 Does anybody have a catalog handy for a price on the tools? Dont know where mine ended up I even looked in the drum mag book from Doug. JoeDoug list the price of the 1928 recoil spring stripping tool as $25. He states that ist original Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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