Real Avid 1911 Smart Wrench

Husband loved this. He said it made things easier. (Not sure how it works)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Works OK on my Kimber 1911 for removing the spring. Once you kinda get the feel for it, that is. Reassembling the pistol is a bit trickier. One can assume that, when you take the gun apart, you're planning to actually put it back together. Maybe instead of calling it the "Smart Wrench", we could call it the "Half-Wit Wrench" instead?Anyway, it's worth 2-and-a-half stars rounded up to three.

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.

It is helpful to have for the precise handgun, being the 1911, yet it isn't a necessity, but it does help.