Bob Marvel Custom

[SharpestJim]

Here goes with my first "real" post:

I just took delivery of a brand-new Nighthawk - a Bob Marvel Custom. The first thing I wanted to do is make sure that I was comfortable field stripping it. I own a Kimber Ultra Covert II which I purchased in late-2014. The Kimber was my first .45 ACP 1911 "style" pistol (with apologies to the 1911 purists). I experienced all kinds of frustration with the Kimber, specifically reinserting the slide stop. I was able to find someone locally to show me the trick and I've gotten pretty good at taking the Kimber apart and putting it back together. A 1911 Ultra Tool helped me a great deal.

So the day after I received my Nighthawk, I decided that I should give field stripping a whirl. With the full-length guide rod, the takedown procedure seemed very similar to the Kimber. I got the slide off just fine and put it back on. As I tried to reinsert the slide stop (here we go again), it looked like the barrel link had shifted out of position. So I removed the slide and moved the link slightly hoping to get a better alignment to get the slide stop back in. As I was doing this, the slide bound up. I tried tapping it ever so gently on the dining room table with a towel for padding. I did not want to break my brand-new Nighthawk. No dice.

I've been able to move the slide slightly aft. My problem may have something to do with the guide rod as the takedown tool slipped out of the hole and fell to the floor. So the guide spring is still captured.

I tried e-mailing Nighthawk Friday but I assume that they were closed for the holiday weekend. I plan to try calling them Monday morning to see if someone at the factory can help me.

What the heck did I do? Is it likely that I caused any damage? I certainly did not get heavy-handed with it at all. I'm hoping that I do not have to send the gun back to Nighthawk - especially since I haven't even fired it yet. But if that's what I need to do, I certainly will, of course.

I'm not looking for someone to help me resolve my problem (although that would be very cool). But I especially want to make sure that I do not repeat whatever it is that I did.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

[Riverpigusmc]

sounds like the slide is under recoil spring pressure, if the take down pin fell out. If it is no longer in the hole, then your recoil spring is no longer captive on the guide rod. There's a youtube vid out there doing a takedown without using the pin

not the same one, but maybe it will help

http://www.cotep.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9463

[Sheepdog]

Is the slide stop removed and the bushing out?

[Sheepdog]

A photo or two might help.

[Riverpigusmc]

He locked it up trying to put the slide stop back in, S cott

[pony up]

Jim, Search on line for Bob Marvel 1911 Take Down Video and you will find a choice of them on you tube and one of them or perhaps all can lead you to an answer to your dilemma and certainly they all will contain Bob Marvel tricks to avoid future frustration. I have always liked the looks of the Bob Marvel and would have purchased one if I could have found a bargain. My problem is I like expensive guns but I am too cheap to pay retail. that is fine but has a down side, when I find a great bargain I have to buy it and I have way to really nice many nice 1911s already but cannot seem to stop. Because I love them I can't seem to find the strength to sell any of them. You just think you have a gun problem. Good luck and welcome here. Dennis :)

[SharpestJim]

Thanks for the replies. And thanks for the link, Mike. I especially liked jmlutz's post: "new owners can have hell sometimes." AMEN to that! And it's a comfort to know that even "old hands" can get idiot scratches, too.

I've got a photo. Not sure if it can be of any help. But Mike is correct; I jammed the slide while trying to line things up to get the slide stop reinserted.

Mike has already asked me to verify that I was not holding the grip safety at the time. I was not.

I've heard that Nighthawk has superb technical support. I plan to be on the phone with them in the morning.

Again, thanks to all!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/SharpestJim/Nighthawk%20Takedown2-010316_zpss0kznbpe.jpg

[Riverpigusmc]

try putting the takedown tool (wire) back in the hole, then see if the slide will ease forward. I'm betting the barrel link is jammed up under recoil spring pressure.

[SharpestJim]

try putting the takedown tool (wire) back in the hole, then see if the slide will ease forward. I'm betting the barrel link is jammed up under recoil spring pressure.

I tried earlier today, Mike. It would not go forward so I thought that I would try pulling back. It went about another 1/8" back but now it seems to be stuck there. I think I'm just going to sit tight and, hopefully, talk to Nighthawk in the morning.

[Riverpigusmc]

your guide rod is protruding out the front too far in relation to the barrel and slide, which makes me think your barrel link is jammed up behind your guide rod, and stuck there due to the fact your recoil spring is pushing back against it

[Caleb]

Tap on it a few times with a rubber mallet, maybe you can break it loose. That guide rod looks too far forward like Mike mentioned.

[SharpestJim]

Tap on it a few times with a rubber mallet, maybe you can break it loose. That guide rod looks too far forward like Mike mentioned.

Makes sense. I'll give that a try. Many thanks, gents!

[SharpestJim]

Update 1/4 7am EST:

The mallet got us most of the way back - to within 3/8"-1/2" or so which makes the barrel link seem to be the culprit (well, it's actually the stupid owner that's the REAL culprit).

I've already gotten an early-am e-mail from the sales rep at Nighthawk and he said that this happens quite a bit with first-time customers due to their very tight tolerances. That makes me feel much better. Hopefully a conversation with one of their tech people will get me back on track. Now just have to pray for no idiot scratch.

Thanks again for all of the advice!

[Riverpigusmc]

Look in the link I posted and do the Wilson notch. You'll never get an idiot scratch

[SharpestJim]

I spoke with Bob from Nighthawk. Nice guy. Patient, too. We're back in business. I really thought that it was going to be a shipment back to Arkansas.

It seems like the key is...when all else fails, tap on the end of the barrel.

Life is good again. Hopefully, I can get out and shoot the darned thing now. and, hopefully, get it stripped, cleaned, and put back together again when I'm done.

I'll look into the Wilson notch, Mike. Thanks for the tip.

And thanks to everyone for their input.

[Caleb]

That's great news! Range report expected.

[Riverpigusmc]

Tap on it a few times with a rubber mallet, maybe you can break it loose. That guide rod looks too far forward like Mike mentioned.

what our Cuban cockroach is saying is, beat hell outta it until it's fixed or busted :p

[Caleb]

what our Cuban cockroach is saying is, beat hell outta it until it's fixed or busted :p

Ah, finally someone who speaks my language.

[SharpestJim]

That's great news! Range report expected.

Now all I need to do is find the time to actually GET to the range!

[Sheepdog]

Still waiting on a range report.:D With pictures for pig.