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I've been putting this off because I knew it was going to be ugly. This is a Type II Red Eagle from FEB 1950 (5th month of production) that, aside from cleaning the bore, does not appear to ever have been apart. I just finished a detail strip and thought I'd share the first look inside.

Sit down and have a stiff drink at hand...





Getting it apart was significantly complicated by the level of grime—the trigger pin e-clip disintegrated and had to be dug out in pieces. I'm thinking a few ultrasonic runs are in order.

Wow! I think the ultrasonic cleaner is a good idea. Does it have the original bolt without the guide?

Good for you.
I am always amazed by how gummed up/dirty, some of the older collectible stuff is when it comes to me.
Nothing wrong with a non invasive cleaning, and a light coating of oil, to preserve it for the next caretaker.

Cheers,
JAYDAWG

Dang

Show us more of that lovely beast

Watertender wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 7:42 pm Does it have the original bolt without the guide?

Nope. This one is about 75 units past that change.
keyboard checker tool

So many people are afraid to take apart any of the MK series that it's pretty typical to find them filthy. My first pistol was a MK2 standard, and I learned to take it apart and put it back together almost with my eyes closed. When I worked in a gun shop people would bring them in that couldn't get them back together and they always would send them to me. Even the owners grown son brought a MK3 to me that he couldn't get back together, and he fooled with guns his entire life.

Beautiful! It’s amazing how bad some of these get and then how well they clean up. Yours looks like a lot of old grease more that fouling. Hope it cleans up well.

Those old eclips can be fun. Just took down one of the first Target pistols from Jan 1951 (a two-digit owned by Justin Sturm) and the eclip was just missing. I have another where someone had made a shim out of thin metal to replace the eclip.

What solution do you put in your ultrasonic cleaner?

TomD

06dilly wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2024 3:50 pm Those old eclips can be fun. Just took down one of the first Target pistols from Jan 1951 (a two-digit owned by Justin Sturm) and the eclip was just missing. I have another where someone had made a shim out of thin metal to replace the eclip.

What solution do you put in your ultrasonic cleaner?

TomD

I use Hornady One Shot in the sonic. Also found a 10-pack of 1/8th inch e-clips on amazon so I can break them to my heart's content...

Thanks. It’s probably time for me to get an ultrasonic cleaner. Some time back a few YouTube videos scared me off with guys talking about ruined parts. Seems like some metals or finishes don’t like them. I’ll do the research but really like the idea. Wearing out my fingers, nylon dental picks and qtips.

On the clips, I wasn’t positive the size at the time so I found an assortment from Harbor Freight and found some that worked.

TomD

Update ~ Everybody has been through the ultrasonic—Receiver and frame 3x— and has a light coat of Ballistol.
Now its time to reassemble...



Materials used:
Kroil for loosening stubborn parts that hadn't been apart in a long time
Harbor Fright (tee-hee) ultrasonic cleaner
Hornady One Shot Sonic Cleaner solution, Gun Parts Formula — 2 tablespoons to 40 oz of distilled water
Ballistol
RenWax once she's back together