[Ron Wood]

Gerben found a good reference. I found out how to disassemble a Borchardt by studying the parts diagram and figuring out how it should come apart. I got lucky and did it right, but I also was not working on a pristine piece so as long as I didn't break anything I was prepared for a little trial and error. The most important thing to observe is holding the mainspring housing tightly while taking out the retaining screw and then ease off the tension to unhook the mainspring from the toggle T-link.

The spring covers on the side that give you access to the toggle axel pin are held in place by a T-shaped stud on the back that fits into a slot in the frame. You can rotate the cover far enough to completely remove it from the frame if you want to...but when reinstalling it be sure to hold the cover down tightly so that it can pivot freely on the shaft of the T-stud. I had to fix a Borchardt for Ralph Shattuck one time because someone had removed a cover and then tried to turn it to put it back on without holding it down. They didn't get the top of the "T" totally within the frame so consequently when they rotated the spring cover the stud twisted out of alignment and the cover wouldn't lock back into place. I got the stud rotated back properly, but when you are working on a $15,000 gun with a pair of smooth jaw jeweler's pliers you are sweating BBs the whole time.