How to take apart?

jdewees953

I recently acquired a
.25 Automatic pistol and I can not get it apart to clean it, and I also would like to know what it is worth?

On the left side of the slide it has some writing, and it says
Automatic Pistol Jieffeco Made in Liege Belgium
Brevets 259178-265491
Davis-Warner-Arms-Corporation New-York
On the left side frame it has what looks to be a horse or a lion standing on its hind legs with a line under it ,and then the letters PV ,and then under that a star O and an arrow, and the same thing is on the slide as well. On the right side are the serial numbers, and on the trigger guard there is a number 17.

I need to know how to take it apart so I can clean it? I tried a few suggestions from my friends ,but they did not work, and I cannot find anything on the web. I would also like to know if it is worth anything? Thanks John

rufe-snow

It's a old timer dating to the 1920's. The markings you describe are standard Belgian Proof Marks. Generally there would be little collector interest or demand unless it factory original and in at least very good condition. If you can clean it up externally without taking it apart it might be best. It has a complicated and unusual disassembly, if something breaks or is lost, not likely to find replacements very easily.

There is a dovetailed locking plate on top of the slide, that secures the slide and separate breachblock together. This has to be released/removed? so that the slide can separate from the breachblock, and be removed forward.

rehi2620

#1 remove mag
#2 open slide
#3 hose down with Birchwood casey gunscrubber or simular product
#4 air dry
#5 spray with good quality gun oil

In my 25 years gunsmithing I made more money reassembling guns that people should not have taken apart, than I made doing anything else.