I may be dumb. I struggle with gunsmithing blocks.

[Underwhere]

I'm a big fan of having the right tools for the job.

But I've always improvised if I thought it appropriate.

As time goes on I try and buy the "right" tool to be prepared for more work.

A few years ago I purchased my first generic gunsmithing block. I struggled with it, always thinking there must be more I could do with it. It was OK sometimes. Rarely perfect for what I needed. I often wondered whether my trusty roll of masking tape would work better.

Last week I bought the CZ block. I thought for sure that this time I would open up the box and find a myriad of ways to use it, all of them fitting perfectly.

There were no instructions and I can only figure out 3 ways to use this thing. I can only assume that some design thinking went into this. There are many holes. Not all of them go all the way through the block.

I'm sure I'm dumb. What am I missing?

*The recess for the hammer is obvious.
*I found a way to remove the trigger pin.
*I found a way to remove the firing pin retaining pin.

Front of the block


Back of the block


The trigger pin


The firing pin retaining pin

[The Guardian]

I've always used a block of soft wood and some various holes I drilled in it.........can't help with this.  I can say I usually find the right tool to be somewhat limiting in how I need to use it....there are some exceptions but not many     Oh, and I like the polished trigger, thought of doing that myself......I'm feeling more inspired 

[1SOW]

Extractor pin "part way through"?
Sear Pin?
Name the pins to be removed and see what fits?

[Underwhere]

Extractor pin "part way through"?
Sear Pin?
Name the pins to be removed and see what fits?

The extractor pin is taken out with the slide sitting in its rails. With that I think the slide itself is high enough that the pin will come out without hitting the surface the slide is on. So i don't think the block provides any advantages to a flat tabletop.

The sear pin makes sense to capture in the block. I just wonder if there was a specific hole it was meant for. There are a few to choose from.

[schmeky]

Our guys in our shop all use a roll of masking tape as a "bench" block.  It works extremely well and will last for months, then just get a new one.

Then we use a steel bench block for removing/driving in hammer pins, etc. 

[Underwhere]

Our guys in our shop all use a roll of masking tape as a "bench" block.  It works extremely well and will last for months, then just get a new one.

Then we use a steel bench block for removing/driving in hammer pins, etc.

Yeah I may go back to that.

My wife always wonders why her masking tape is all dented up and has a hard time unraveling it.
That can just be one of my mysteries. She has plenty to offset it.

[1SOW]

Extractor pin "part way through"?
Sear Pin?
Name the pins to be removed and see what fits?

The extractor pin is taken out with the slide sitting in its rails. With that I think the slide itself is high enough that the pin will come out without hitting the surface the slide is on. So i don't think the block provides any advantages to a flat tabletop.

The sear pin makes sense to capture in the block. I just wonder if there was a specific hole it was meant for. There are a few to choose from.

To thoroughly "clean" the extractor channel,  you don't need/want to remove the extractor pin.  You want to drive until the extractor is freed for removal,  and then simple to reinstall.