Daly 1911-A1 Pistol Cal. 45 ACP Manual

							
 
1911-Al 
PISTOL CAL. 
45 ACP 
 
USERS MANUAL 
WARNING:  READ THE INSTRUCTIONS and SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN THIS 
MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM. 
 
 
  
						

							
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Introduction..................................................................................... 2 
General Information.........................................................................  2 
Basic Model Description....................................................:...............  3 
Specification.................................................................................... 3 
Safety Features.........................................................................\
.......  4 
Special Features...............................................................................  5 
Ammunition to Use..........................................................................  5 
Operating Instructions 
»  Loading............................. . ............................................ 6 
»  Firing............................................................................. 6 
»   Unloading...................................................................... 7 
Basic Disassembly Maintenance 
»  Disassembly................. .................................................... 7 
» Reassembly...................................................................... 9 
Care and Maintenance........... .......................................................... 10 
Parts List..........................................................................................  10 
The Basic Rules of Safe  Firearms Handing...........................................  12 
Warranty Information........................................................................  13 
Exploded Drawing..........................................................................  14 
 
 
  
						

							
 
Introduction 
As a responsible firearms owner, you  must read this USERS MANUAL thor-
oughly and become familiar with if before you handle your new  CHARLES 
DALY PISTOL. 
This USERS MANUAL  is designed to assist you in learning the proper use and 
care of your handgun. After reading this manual, examine your handgun 
carefully and make sure you understand all of the basic features associated 
with it. This includes knowing its basic parts, how the safety features operate, 
how to open and close the action and how to safety load and unload ammu-
nition. Remember that improper use and handling of this handgun is dangerous, 
may void the warranty and could cause severe injury or death to you 
personally or those around you. 
The CHARLES DALY PISTOL  is as well made as modern technology allows 
and will give you a lifetime of reliable service, security and pride of ownership. 
You, the owner, must use it properly and take good care of it, as per the 
instruction given in this USERS MANUA L and must not hesitate to ask perti-
nent questions from the manufacturer or from competent gunsmiths. 
This USERS MANUAL should always be k ept available for reference and should 
accompany the firearm if transferees to another party. 
GENERAL INFORMATION 
The Colt Government Model 1911-AI semi-automatic pistol, designed by John M. 
Browning, has been one of the worlds most popular side arms. It is a tried  and 
proven design which outlasted its contemporaries and is still the top 
firearm choice for military, police and competition shooters throughout the 
world. Because of its practical design, safety features and rugged construction, 
it has been considered by many milita ry experts as the best close range 
defense weapon ever designed. 
 
 
  
						

							
 
BASIC MODEL DESCRIPTION 
The CHARLES DALY PISTOL in Cal. 45 ACP, is designed for both combat and 
competition, combines the best accepted principles of strength, safety, accuracy, 
mechanical reliability and ease of handing-all to meet the most exacting 
standards of law enforcement, military, self defense and competition shooting. 
All parts are made of high grade ordnance steel and heat treated for strength 
and durability. The lug contact areas being the locking elements of the frame, 
slide and barrel, are precisely machined and heat treated, providing accuracy, 
toughness and rigidity in the locked firing position. 
The frame, slide and other action parts are made by precision investment 
casting and CNC-machined to equally consistent dimensions to ensure me-
chanical efficiency; long life and complete parts interchangeability. 
SPECIFICATIONS 
Model 
Caliber 
Action 
Magazine Cap 
Effective Range 
Overall Width 
Overall Length 
Overall Height 
Weight, Empty 
Weight, Loaded 
Trigger Pull 
Barrel Length 
Sights,   Front 
Rear 
1911-A1 .45 ACP 
Semi-Auto, Recoil 
Operated 
 
 8 Rounds 
 50 Meters 
 33 Mm.  
213 Mm.  
138 Mm.  
1.11 Kg. 
 1.29 Kg. 
 1.81 to 2.95 Kg. 
125 Mm. Fixed 
Driven in 
 Dovetail Cut 
  
 
 
  
						

							
 
Rifling 
Twist Right hand. One 
Turn / 400 Mm. 
No. of Grooves  6 
Finish                                                                               Blued 
NOTE: Specifications subject to change without prior notice. 
SAFETY FEATURES 
WARNING:        THE USER SHOULD NEVER DEPEND ON SAFETY MECHANISM OR ANY 
OTHER MECHANICAL DEVICE TO JUSTIFY CARELESS AND IMPROPER 
HANDLING. 
1. Safety Lock: The pistol is fitted with a safety lock which when applied at the cocked 
position, blocks the sear and hammer to prevent the gun from being fired. 
2.    Grip Safety: The pistol cannot be fired until the grip safety is pressed in, when 
the gun is gripped for firing. 
3.    Disconnector Safety: The pistol is designed with an automatic disconnector which 
enable it to fire only when it is fully locked and the trigger is released after each 
shot. 
4.   Half-cocked Position:  The hammer is provided with a half cock notch which 
allows it to be locked in the half-cocked position in cases of unintentional hammer 
release or follow through caused by sear bounce. 
5.    Inertia Firing Pin: The firing pin is designed to operate on the principle of inertia, 
with its length shorter than the overall length of the breech block. It requires a blow 
from the fully cocked hammer to strike and percuss the cartridge primer. 
 
 
 
  
						

							
SPECIAL FEATURES 
•    Double slide serrations cut for optimal grip and cocking ease.  
•    Lowered side ejection  port for a more efficient and reliable ejection of Spent                                                                
shells. 
•   Skeletonized combat hammer with serrated non-slip thumb surface and matching 
large oval opening for light weight and reduced lock time. 
•   Beavertail grip safety which protects the hand from non-slip thumb surface and 
matching large oval opening for light weight and reduced lock time. 
•    Extended slide stop that gives better leverage for lighter and faster slide release. 
•   Extended ejector the flips fired cases clear of the slide to help prevent smoke 
stacking and jams. 
•   Wide extended ambidextrous safety designed for the natural sweeping motion of 
the thumb for fast, reliable and comfortable operation. It is ideal for the thumb 
high hold for both right-handed and left-handed shooters. 
•     Non-slip serrated and skeletonized trigger. 
•   Specially designed checkered high-impact phenolic grip. 
•   Plastic carrying guncase with eggcrate-type poly-foam for ultimate gun 
protection. 
 •     Two (2) magazines per gun. 
Note:   Specifications and features subject to change without prior notice. 
AMMUNITION TO USE 
The  CHARLES DALY PISTOL  is chambered for cat. 45 ACP cartridge in the round 
nose configuration (Note: Use of wadcutter may require extra adjustment of the barrel 
feed ramp by a competent gunsmith), manufactured in the accordance with industry 
standard. Non-standard or improperly loaded cartridges affect accuracy and cause 
mechanical feeding problem. Always check for the following possible defects before 
loading the ammunition into your pistol. 
a. poorly seated primers.  
b. incorrect seating length 
c. lead deformation on the front and 
shoulder 
d. over expanded case mouth  
 
e. improper crimping 
 
 f. damaged case rims 
 
CAUTION:   NEVER USE CARTRIDGES OF UNKNOWN CALIBER, ORIGINAL AND LOAD. IT 
IS EXTREME1Y DANGEROUS TO USE A CARTRIDGE WHOSE PRESSURE IS 
GREATER THAN INDUSTRY STANDARDS, AS THE FIREARM M AYBE DAMAGED, 
AND DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO THE SHOOTER OR OTHER PERSONS 
MAY RESULT. 
  
						

							
 
OPERATING INSTRUCTION 
WARNING: ALWAYS KEEP THE PISTOL POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION WHEN LOADING 
AND UNLOADING. INSPECT THE CHAMBER AND BORE OF THE BARREL 
FOR ANY OBSTRUCTION, EXCESSIVE OIL OR GREASE. FAILURE TO DO 
SO MAY RESULT IN GUN DAMAGE AND/ OR INJURY TO THE SHOOTER OR 
THOSE NEARBY. 
LOADING 
To load the magazine, place the first cartridge in the front end of the magazine 
follower and push it down until it can be slid in under the feed lips of the magazine. 
Place the second cartridge on the top of the first and force it down in the same way as 
the first one. Repeat this procedure until the magazine contains the number of 
cartridges you intend to load. The magazine can take as many as eight (8) rounds. 
To load the pistol, insert the loaded magazine into the grip (handle} and push it up until 
the magazine release engages in its slot locking in place. Hold the pistol firmly with 
your firing hand. Grasp the slide at its serrated section with your other hand and pull 
it to the rear as far as it will go. (Note: the hammer can be cocked first to make the 
slide easier to pull). Then, release the slid e smartly. A cartridge is now loaded in the 
chamber and the pistol is ready to fire. Push the safety lock upwards into the SAFE 
position and leave it there until ready to shoot. 
FIRING 
To fire the pistol, press the safety lock down to the FIRE position. Obtain the correct 
sight alignment and sight picture and squeeze the trigger. To fire successive shots, the 
trigger must be released and squeezed repeatedly. When the last cartridge from the 
magazine has been fired, the slide remains to the rear. If you intend not to shoot or 
cease firing, remember you have a loaded gun in your hand. First keep the gun 
pointed in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger. Then, unload the gun 
by following the unloading procedure below. 
UNLOADING 
To unload, press the magazine release and remove the magazine. If the slide is in the 
forward position, pull it to the rear and retain by pushing the slide stop up. Inspect 
the chamber to make sure that the pistol is clear and unloaded. If the chamber is 
empty, press the slide stop down while squeezing the trigger, allowing the slide to 
go forward. If there is a shell or unfired cartridge in the chamber, manually remove 
it before pressing the slide stop down. Your gun is now unloaded. 
 
 
 
 
BASIC DISASSEMBLY AND REASSEMBLY 
Disassembly 
 Barrel and Slide Assembly: 
1. Press the magazine release and wi thdraw the magazine. Pull the slide 
backwards and check the chamber to ensure that the pistol is unloaded and safe.  
						

							
2. Press the recoil spring with your thumb and rotate the barrel bushing clockwise. 
 
3. Gently allow the plug and recoil spring set to move forward. Do not remove the set 
as this will keep the recoil spring guide in place. 
4. Pull the slide backwards until the smallest slot on its left aligns with the top rear of 
the slide stop. Remove the slide stop by pressing its pivot stud on the right side of the 
frame. 
5. Pull the slide directly forward of its  guide rails in the frame. The barrel, barrel 
bushing, recoil spring, recoil spring guide  and recoil spring plug will come out with 
it. 
6. Remove the recoil spring, guide and plug from the slide. 
7. Rotate the barrel bushing to the left as far  as it will go and withdraw it to the front. 
8. Tilt the barrel link forward to withdraw the barrel through the front of the slide. 
 
9.    Remove the firing pin by pressing it with & pin while simultaneously pushing the 
firing pin stop downwards and out of the slide. 
10. Using a pin (or the firing pin itself), pry the extractor by its groove out of the slide. 
B. FRAME ASSEMBLY 
1. Remove the pair of grip panels by unscrewing the grip screws with a screw driver 
of the correct size. 
2.    Cock the hammer. Hold the thumbpiece of the safety firmly with your thumb and 
index finger and exert a steady pressure to pull it outward while twisting it back 
and forth. The safety lock will thus come out of the frame. 
3.   Lower the hammer by gripping the frame as if for shooting, to compress the grip 
safety and press the trigger: while ho/ding onto the hammer to ease it down. 
4.    With the pivot stud of the safety lock, force the hammer pin out of the frame. 
This will permit the hammer and the hammer strut attached to it to be lifted out. 
5.    With the end of the hammer strut or a suitable punch, push the main spring 
housing pin out of the right side of the frame. 
6.    Withdraw the main spring housing assembly straight down out of its grooves in 
the frame. 
7.   Remove the grip safety and the three-leafted sear spring rearward from the 
frame. 
8.   Again, using the hammer strut, push the sear pin from right to left removing it out of 
the frame. This will permit the sear and the disconnector, which are both 
mounted on this pin, to be withdraw, out of the frame. 
9.   Partly push the magazine release in on the left side of the frame by as much as 
.075 in., and rotate the magazine release lock a quarter turn form right to left 
with a small screw driver. This enables the magazine release assembly to be 
removed out of the frame as a unit. 
10. Remove the trigger assembly out of its recess cuts in the frame.  
						

							
 
/ /. Push the combination slide and safety lock plungers and the spring between 
them out to the rear of plunger tube. 
12. Drift the ejector pin and lift the ejector out of its seat in the rear of the 
frame. 
13. To dismantle the main spring housing assembly, force the main spring cap down 
with a punch and push the main spring  cap pin put of its hole in the main 
spring housing. This will permit the main spring cap, the main spring, and the 
spring housing pin retainer to be withdrawn from the housing. 
REASSEMBLY 
While reassembly of the dismantled pistol is done in the reverse order of disassembly, the 
following special instruction will be of assistance: 
1. When the barrel and slide assembly is to be mounted on the frame, hold both the 
slide and the frame bottom side up. Make sure that the barrel link is tilted to the 
front as far as it will go and that the barrel link pi is flush in its seat. Then slide the 
frame forward into the slide rails. 
2.    The disconnector and sear are assembled together and it is important that they be 
in proper position. To do this, first mount the sear over the disconnector 
(curved section inward, lugs pointing downward}. Put the parts together into the 
frame by inserting the rounded head of th e disconnector in its hole in the frame 
so that the flat face of its lower end rests against the trigger stirrup. Slightly press 
the trigger so that the holes of the two parts will line up with that of the frame. 
Holding them this way, insert the sear pin from the left side of the frame making 
sure that it passes through both the disconnector and the sear. 
3.   In replacing the sear, make sure that its lower end is caught in the slot located 
at the bottom rear of the frame handle. The upper end of the left-hand leaf must 
rest against the sear. While retaining in this position, slide the main spring 
housing up in its grooves until its end is projecting only about one-eight of an 
inch below the edge of the bottom of the frame. 
4.    Cock the hammer to replace the safety lock. 
5.   Having replace the hammer, the grip safety and the safety lock, cock the 
hammer. Make sure that the hammer struts rests on the main spring cap. Then, 
push the main spring housing up into the frame to its final position and retain the 
assembly by driving in the main spring housing pin. 
 
 
CARE AND MAINTENANCE 
With proper care, your CHARLES DALY PISTOL will provide you with years of 
dependable service. It should be inspected, cleaned and oiled periodically to 
ensure that it remains in good condition and functions safety and reliability. 
Doing the job requires no total disasse mbly of the mechanical parts in the 
frame assembly. Under normal cleaning purposes, field stripping or dismounting 
of the slide and barrel assembly is sufficient. 
To clean the pistol after firing, first dismount the slide and barrel assembly. 
Scrub the barrel bore and chamber with  a bore brush dipped in a gun cleaning 
solvent to remove lead residues and fore ign matters left inside. Using an old 
toothbrush dipped in solvent, clean the areas around the slides breech face  
						

							
to remove powder and primer residues. Other parts and areas to be 
cleaned are the slide and barrel locking lugs, the frame and slide rails, firing 
pin, extractor claw and other adjacent areas. After cleaning, wipe all surfaces 
with a clean dry cloth to remove all traces  of the solvent and apply a light film of 
oil immediately thereafter. 
To clean the pistol thoroughly, disassemble all parts to the extent described 
above, taking care not to ruin or lose any part. Clean and inspect all parts then 
dry and lubricate very lightly. Reassemble the pistol, dry the barrel chamber 
and bore and check the gun for proper functioning before loading live ammu-
nition. 
When storing the gun for a prolonged period of time, it is necessary to oil it 
heavily with an acid-free lubricant. The ex ternal must be coated with an anti-
rust oil or grease to prevent moisture from settling on the metals and sipping 
into the internal mechanism causing the pa rts to rust and malfunction. Before 
usage, the pistol must be cleaned and wiped dry again as discussed above. 
CAUTION: THE GUN SHOULD BE STORED IN ROOMS WITH DRY ATMOSPHERE 
AND WITH THE LEAST HUMIDITY. IT SHOULD NOT BE STORED EN-
CASED IN LEATHER OR ANYTHING THAT WILL ATTRACT AND HOLD 
MOISTURE, CAUSING THE METAL PARTS TO RUST. 
 
 
 
 
 
Parts List 
(Note: With Reference to the Exploded, Drawing on page 14) 
 
Part No.          Description          
4501 Barrel 
4502 Barrel  Bushing 
4503 Barrel Link 
4504 Barrel Link Pin 
4505 Slide 
4506 Slide  Stop