Real Avid 1911 Smart Wrench

Works great for field stripping. Also works for reassembly, but you can't use the little indent. I just press the spring cup down with my thumb and rotate the lock collar to the first lip of the spring cup. Then use the tool to press the cup flush and rotate the collar into the locked position. A LOT easier than using the standard flat wrench. Oh, and this tool feels like it will hold up way better than the flimsy plastic standard tool.

This tool is very handy if you have a 1911 (Government or Commander).I'm a 66 year old Marine and this tool makes taking apart a 1911 so much faster and easier.I recommend this product because it's simple, it works, and it's easy to store in a cleaning kit or ammo can.

Simple and just works for my Kimber 1911 Stainless II. You just put it on a table and turn it for both disassembly and reassembly and no risk of your main spring flying off into oblivion. The resin is relatively soft so no scratches on your 1911, but I think it could be prone to wearing out periodically and needing replacement.

I have a Rock Island 1911 45 ACP with a full length guide rod. The real avid smart wrench works very nice for removing the recoil spring plug. But only somewhat helpful when reassembling the plug.Nowhere in the information on the Amazon website does real avid use the words reassembly. It uses the words remove, disassembly, and takedown. I install the spring and plug by hand until I can turn the barrel bushing so as it captures the ledge so to speak of the plug. I then finish by using the real avid smart wrench.This tool may work very well on other 1911 guns. It may have something to do with it being a full-length guide rod and the plug is different in that it's almost more of a bushing than a cap.Anyhow I hope this helps somebody who is frustrated with trying to use this tool to install the spring plug on their gun. I still find it very useful and I will keep it.

Works as it is intended to do. Easy for my Operator 1911.

Full-size Government models: it works great, as advertised to enable the owner of a full-size 1911 Government pistol to safely remove the recoil spring and plug to field strip the pistol without damaging the muzzle or related parts in the process. Also, if used as directed on a flat surface, it virtually eliminates the risk of injury from a flying recoil spring and plug.Colf Officer's Models: The "flip side" of this tool says it works on 1911 Officer's Models, too. It does not work on my Colt Officer's ACP Model which I purchased in 1984. I know that Wikipedia says the Colt Officer's pistol was introduced in 1985 but I also know that I purchased mine in 1984. Perhaps there have been changes to the muzzle, bushing, recoil spring plug etc. since 1984 which would enable owners of later Officer's Models to use this tool but I can't speak to that.

Makes the job of disassembling a 1911 to clean it so much easier.

Have RIA 1911 A1 that has about a 1000 lb spring. Tool works great at removing the bushing. As stated in another review, it helps reassemble the bushing but only after you squeeze the spring down by hand and catch the edge of the plug on the bushing. you can then use the tool to lock it down.