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So I bought a 1911 on Jan 1 and the first thing I did was break it down. It is my first 1911 so I wanted to know the ins and outs just as I do with every weapon I purchase. So I'm following along a few videos putting it back together and I get it back and voila the day is done. So I just got back from the range with the wife so she could practice before her LTC class on Saturday and she says hey let me try "that one". I handed it to her and she pulls the trigger and it didn't go bang. Cycled the round and it still didn't go bang. So i tore it down when I got home and when I dry fired it I didn't see the firing pin so I said "huh" to myself. After hitting the google machine I found that I didn't put the "series 80 firing pin block/safety" back in correctly. The stupid duck looking piece wasn't allowing the to piece to allow the firing pin to move forward. So noob mistake on my part a) buying a series 80 and b) not fully understanding how it worked as I put it back together. Live to shoot another day (tomorrow).

Atleast you found this out now, rather than cleaning it and having to defend yourself with it. And at least it's something that's not really major.

After reassembly follow these steps:

1. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

2. Get a plain old #2 pencil.

3. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

4. An unsharpened pencil is probably best.

5. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

6. Point the weapon straight up. Insert the eraser end of the pencil in the barrel and let it fall. Cock the weapon, if it's not already.

7. Pull the trigger and watch the pencil fly.

If the pencil doesn't jump, the firing pin is not working.

Pawpaw wrote:After reassembly follow these steps:

1. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

2. Get a plain old #2 pencil.

3. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

4. An unsharpened pencil is probably best.

5. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

6. Point the weapon straight up. Insert the eraser end of the pencil in the barrel and let it fall. Cock the weapon, if it's not already.

7. Pull the trigger and watch the pencil fly.

If the pencil doesn't jump, the firing pin is not working.

Dang!!!! That has to be one of the most genious things I have read on the interwebs...something so simple but yet so effective.

I wish I could take credit for it, but someone smarter than I figured it out.

It's the best way I know to verify the firing pin is functioning, short of firing real ammunition.

Did I mention to make sure the weapon is unloaded?

Yes you did and I heard it from my wife as I tried it last night. Worked like a charm.

Pawpaw wrote:After reassembly follow these steps:

1. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

2. Get a plain old #2 pencil.

3. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

4. An unsharpened pencil is probably best.

5. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

5.5. No, really. Make sure the weapon is unloaded.

6. Point the weapon straight up. Insert the eraser end of the pencil in the barrel and let it fall. Cock the weapon, if it's not already.

7. Pull the trigger and watch the pencil fly.

If the pencil doesn't jump, the firing pin is not working.

I added an extra step, because I'm OCD about that aspect...
Fantastic little piece of know how!!

It's always a good idea to function check any weapon after you reassemble. I learned that on the range with my AR-15 one day.

KC5AV wrote:It's always a good idea to function check any weapon after you reassemble. I learned that on the range with my AR-15 one day.

I always function check after reassembly but I wasn't fully aware of how the series 80 functioned. Live and learn.

justa2e2 wrote:

Pawpaw wrote:After reassembly follow these steps:

Dang!!!! That has to be one of the most genious things I have read on the interwebs...something so simple but yet so effective.

It's also a variation of the old "pencil drill" for dry fire practice. It's one way to see if a new shooter understands sight alignment and basic trigger control.

Oh, yeah, make sure the pistol is not loaded.

Awesome Idea

Yep,the pencil really goes if you don't make sure the weapon is unloaded.

T.Chaney wrote:Yep,the pencil really goes if you don't make sure the weapon is unloaded.

Ha. Couple doses of lead poisoning...

Alternatively, you could trade it in for a 1911A1, and just resist the temptation to drop it onto pavement, muzzle down.

The pencil goes pretty high too.