Three Steyr Pistols

Each of these brand new semi auto handguns includes a multifunction element marked with a 1.5. If you don’t find one in the gun on your bench it isn’t a member of Steyr-Mannicher’s latest generation of concealed carry handguns. Multifunction what? It was new to me as well, however, without it the Steyr M-A1, C-A1 and S-A1 would make terrific surf casting sinkers. A multifunction element marked with 1.5 is the heart, lungs and upper GI tract for the new pistol series.

It’s made of steel, gets inserted into the frame, includes the trigger and new safety devices. Because its Austrian designers decided that wasn’t enough, the slide catch lever and the ejector call it home too. The A-1 series have much more in common than a multifunction element. They are all mechanically locked, recoil operated and compact. Their synthetic grip frames have been ergonomically designed to fit the hand comfortably, which they do. All use a reset action trigger system and have multiple safety options.

The latter allow the owner to personalize their applications. All are DAO and accommodate a move up, or down, in caliber with an available DIY conversion kit. Field Stripping For basic disassembly of these Steyr pistols you’re advised to proceed in the following order. Scratch the advised. You must. If you haven’t done Other calibers offered are .40 S&Wand .357 SIG. All pistols in the series are mechanically identical. so already, put on your eye protection. Remove the magazine.

Retract the slide to eject any live cartridge that may have been chambered. Lock the slide open. Visually and manually check the chamber. Release the slide to its forward position. Pull the trigger. Press in the

integrated limited access lock with the index finger of your strong hand and pivot the disassembly lever downward. Pull the slide assembly off to the front. Invert the slide assembly. Press the recoil spring to the front and pull it upward for removal. Grasp the barrel by the bolt lock. Lift it up. Slip it to the rear and upward to free it from the slide. Going All The Way This is extremely important. Study the main schematic and parts list.

Anything appearing on the list as an "assembly," "complete" or preceded by an asterisk (*) all translate as "No individual parts available." No exceptions. If an A-1 series pistol comes your way with a damaged component falling within those just-identified categories its owner is in for the cost of a fresh, fully-assembled factory replacement which you simply install. These Steyrs are fundamentally modular handguns. I suspect they are setting a standard for more of the same to come from many sources.

The exception to the need for parts would be when the cause of the trouble within the restricted assembly is dirt. Here you are not aced out of providing a valuable service for which you can charge. For this privilege we can thank the golden hearts of the Steyr engineers and the information they have provided in the best damn Armorer’s Manual I’ve ever seen.

With it as my guide, I can steer you far enough into proper disassembly and reassembly of a restricted component to brush, flush or blow away any and all grit, gunk or other compacted crud. Just remember, you break anything and you buy the factory replacement. I said I could steer you through this. I didn’t promise you a cakewalk or procedures as simple as these disassembly articles normally contain. In most instances here you’ll be able to refer to the main schematic and parts list as usual.

Frequently, there will be drawings and/or reproductions of photos that appear in the previously praised Armorer’s Manual. The Manual also carries part numbers which mostly match those appearing in the main schematic parts list. In others, a step in the disassembly or reassembly may only refer to one of the sub drawings (A through H) on the main schematic. In still others, 5 stamped deeply on the multifunction element (A) confirms it’s a member of the family.

Amanual drawings are used as an aid in familiarizing you with how certain systems in the pistol are designed to function, something that is always excellent information to possess with any firearm. I’ll begin with the indirect firing pin catch in manual drawings 8 and 9. The firing pin is blocked by the catch (10). When this safety is acti- A

vated the catch is supported by the catch pin (14) and lever (11) which rests on the multifunctional element (6). The safety is deactivated when the catch is moved back from its forward position by the trigger bar (16). It seems appropriate at this point to get into three other safety functions. Manual drawings 6 and 7 respectively relate to the activated and deactivated drop safety.

Beginning with drawing 7, when the trigger (arrow) is pulled the drop safety is deactivated but is automatically reactivated upon the trigger returning to its fully forward position. Now for the trigger safety. Refer to drawings 4 and 5. In the simplest of terms the safety (18) is located within the trigger (17). The protruding section of the safety engages the multifunctional element (6) blocking the trigger from moving to the rear.

When the shooter presses inward on the safety alone it rotates out of engagement with the element and allows the trigger to be pulled. The safety is automatically reactivated when the trigger has been fully released. It is up to the purchaser whether an A-1 series is equipped with a manual safety or not. Refer to manual drawings 11 and 12. The manual safety rod (26) appears on both sides of the frame above the trigger guard. When both ends of the rod are pulled down the trigger is locked.

The safety (25) can be deactivated by pushing it upwards with the trigger finger. Hopefully, the A-1 Series handed you for service will have a manual safety. If not, there will be no manual safety rod present to push out in order to remove the multifunctional element for detailed cleaning or replacement. Since these rods carry an asterisk on the parts list and also due to its precisely positioned slot for the manual safety spring (28), the rod cannot be substituted for with a garden variety slave pin.

I am forced to suggest you make a call to Steyr. Sound greatly distressed. A highly A small blade screwdriver is inserted between the back of the extractor and front of the plunger when disassembling from the slide. valued, long time customer owns the pistol with no manual safety. The multifunctional element is in dire need of a thorough cleaning, yet, you cannot remove said element from the frame due to the absence of a manual safety rod.

You realize it is a restricted part but—you can choke up here a little for extra effect—in this case couldn’t Steyr make an exception? Having great faith in your persuasive abilities, you should at least discover how to remove the element from an A-1 Series waiting on your bench with no manual safety. I’m going to assume you will not be faced with the complication of a missing rod and proceed accordingly.

These two Armorer’s Manual illustrations provide DIY, detail for reassembling the trigger/trigger bar sub-assembly to the multifunction element. Complete details are provided in the text. B A You’ll need a screwdriver with a 3.5mm blade. Insert it under the safety spring. Lift and disengage the spring from the rod then push the rod out of the frame left to right. Turn the disassembly lever counter clockwise to align with its disassembly mark on the frame. Push out the lever with your screwdriver.

Using the key (50) provided with the pistol, press inward on the key lock (23) then turn the lock 45 degrees counter clockwise. The element should now be free for removal. The key lock is to remain inside it for the moment. Firmly grasp the element between your forefinger and thumb. The thumb serves to trap the slide catch spring and the finger does the

same with the key lock. Maintain the squeeze, lift up on the element until its ejector end clears the trigger slot in the frame and remove it forward. The trigger bar and manual safety assembly, if it has one, come out still attached to the element. The key lock, key lock spring (24), slide catch (30) and slide catch spring (31) are next for removal. The manual safety pin (29) awaits but you’d best first clearly note how that pin relates to the rest of components in subassembly "E" on the main schematic.

Do the same with trigger bar subassembly "C" before pushing out the trigger pin (22) and withdrawing the trigger spring (20) from the trigger. While there are several restricted parts in the slide (33) their number fails to exceed the number of them in the frame. Just enough to frustrate you? I think yes, but the only tool you’ll need is that now familiar screwdriver. The slide plate pin (49) is spring loaded. Depress the pin with the driver and push out the slide plate (42) simultaneously with your thumb.

The plate pin and spring (41) will jump out without the plate to stop them. The firing pin (43) and its spring assembly (44, 45, 46) might have the same idea. Be prepared to prevent that so you can remove them at your leisure along with the plate pin and spring. A similar challenge awaits when addressing the extractor (39). Its pin (40) is also spring loaded. Once the extractor is out of its way, the pin can depart into the unknown.

It will never get the chance if you insert the driver blade between the pin and extractor, and then push the extractor forward. Keep the pressure on the pin, pull out the extractor and you are in total control of removing the pin and its spring (51) when you please. What remains for you is that seriously filthy element. It’s been lying there awaiting the scrub away, flush away, blow away, blow dry and light lubrication mentioned earlier.

Drawings from the manual support the author’s testifying to its excellence and encourage gaining a solid understanding of how systems function in a given firearm, which is vital to properly servicing it. If necessary, you can indulge in a bit of wiggling of the catch or lifting of the catch spring to get at some harshly impacted area but remember the Golden Rule: You break anything, you buy the whole thing.

Not wanting to leave you pondering such a horrible fate, I prefer to begin concluding this denuding of Steyr pistols with far friendlier reassembly tips. 1. When reinstalling the trigger spring in the trigger, the trigger Though you will read of how this safety system operates, the two manual drawings above visually add greater understanding to the written words. safety must protrude above the trigger bar. 2.

The thusly pre-assembled trigger bar assembly is shown in manual photo #69 with the trigger pin pushed through to retain it and the bar swung upward to hook into the catch as per photo #70. 3. The combined element/trigger bar assembly unit is inserted back into the frame with the two tangs at the rear of the element going into their matching frame slots first be-

While not appearing specifically on the long list of restricted components the drop safety itself interfaces closely with a number unavailable to anyone outside factory-designated service personnel. fore swiveling the unit down into place. 4. The disassembly lever is pushed in until it engages and has to align with its frame mark when rotated downward. 5. The manual safety spring notch on the safety rod must face upward during and after the reinstallation process.

Despite Steyr reset action trigger safeties externally resembling other systems gaining popularity with many firearm manufacturers, do not assume they function exactly the same and vice versa. I’ve been staring at the parts list trying to rationalize on why items I’d consider as non critical are restricted while others, like the frame, which is always restricted by every other manufacturer, appears to be available to all comers.

I had to settle for a no decision other than maybe that’s just the way things are in Austria. AG American Gunsmithing Association

Steyr M-A1, C-A1 and S-A1 Pistols (Specifications subject to change without notice)