How To Detail Strip The Bolt Group Of The M1 Garand

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  As noted on the previous page, we are firm believers in the GI Combo Tool. While there are other ways to
perform the task of removing the extractor we have found that the GI Combo Tool really does the best job in a
simple way.

To remove the Extractor get a firm grip of the brush end of the tool. Note the little metal tab on the side of the
brush's base. This will act like a lever.

Next insert the brush's base into the face of the bolt making sure that the 'lever' part of the tool protrudes from in
between the edge of the bolt and the extractor. At this stage a fairly large amount of pressure needs to be applied
to the brush base so that the ejector spring is compressed.

When you have applied enough pressure that the entire bottom of the brush base touches the face of the bolt turn
the combo tool clockwise so that the 'lever' pushes up and out on the extractor. Note how we put a finger or
thumb over the extractor when doing this operation. This keeps it from flying off in an uncontrolled fashion.

When the extractor comes free - slowly release pressure on the combo tool. I maintain full pressure on the tool
during this entire operation so the ejector does not fly out of the bolt and become lost.

After controlling the release of the ejector simply push the extractor the rest of the way out, remove it and set it
 aside.

With the extractor off, prepare to remove the ejector.

The ejector is easily lost if one is not careful how they disconnect the extractor. If you have done everything correctly
then the ejector and ejector spring will be sitting pretty in the bolt.

You can see the ejector in the photograph below at the 4 o'clock position in this picture or 6 o'clock on the bolt face.

Removing the Ejector is a simple matter of just pulling it straight out.

The ejector spring can be separated from the ejector by putting a thumbnail under the coil closest to the ejector and
slowly working it off. It is important not to bend or stretch the spring while doing this.

With the Ejector and the Ejector Spring removed we turn our attention to removing the Extractor Spring and Extractor
Spring Plunger Plunger.
When you have removed the ejector and ejector spring you then remove the Extractor Spring and the Extractor
Spring Plunger.

The Extractor Spring and the Extractor Spring Plunger are connected together and sit in a small hole at the bottom of
the area of the bolt that houses the extractor. You can see the Extractor Spring and the Extractor Spring Plunger in
the above photo at about 5 o'clock in the photograph or 9 o'clock on the bolt.

The extractor spring and extractor spring plunger can simply be lifted out using your fingers (if they are small enough)
or the point of a knife.

We do not generally separate the spring and the plunger from one another. These are the smallest parts on the M1
anyway and there's no use in losing them or separating the two unless we plan on replacing one of them.

Once the Ejector and Extractor assemblies are removed only one final step in detail stripping the bolt remains.

That is the removal of the firing pin. Removing the Firing Pin from the bolt is simple. Simply invert the bolt so that you
can see the back of it and locate the extended piece of metal which points down toward the lower right of the bolt.
That is the back of the firing pin.
At this point simply flip my finger underneath it and gently pull upwards.

The firing pin will slide free of the bolt quite easily.That's it! As with any M1 assemblies that I detail strip, after you
clean the parts, lay them out in some sort of neat and logical manner until it is time to reassemble them.