Reassembling the P-32.

The presence of a new "Hammer block" device makes reassembly of the P32 and P3AT slightly more difficult than the P11/P40 pistols. If you are familiar with the P11, and how to release the hammer spring, skip over this first part.

First, unload the gun and remove the magazine. Draw the slide back and eject the round from the chamber. Allow the slide to close. While pushing the slide back very slightly, pry the assembly pin loose and remove it. The slide should come forward and off of the receiver.

The next step is to disconnect the mainspring. A small screwdriver under the plastic block in the bottom of the grip will pry it up and allow it to be pushed out of the slot and into the mag well.

Now that the tension is off the hammer the two pins holding the frame in the grip can be driven out. Use a flat tipped punch almost as large as the pins so they won't be expanded and ruined. Make sure you have solid backing like a wooden block with a hole in it to clear the pins.

Now the frame can be lifted out, and what ever work is needed can be done.

To reassemble the P32 and reset the hammer block I use a strip of metal 3/8" wide and about six inches long, made fron a hacksaw blade ground smooth on each edge and the end squared off.

If whatever work you needed to do is accomplished, reassemble the frame components and push the hammer spring down into the mag well.

After getting everything back into the frame, springs, drawbar etc, slip the frame into the grip. This will keep the frame components in place while you do the next step. Don't hook up the spring in the bottom of the grip just yet. Put the front plastic pin in. This will still allow the rear of the alloy frame to be lifted from the grip about 1/16".

Holding the hammer FORWARD and allowing the trigger to go forward, lift the rear end of the frame from the grip about 1/16 of an inch and peer in, under the serial number.

You will see the top of a metallic object lying back against the grip under the frame. This is the top of the hammer block device. It is necessary to push this forward while the hammer is held FORWARD. It is spring loaded and wants to lay against the rear of the grip so this is where you need the thin flat blade to slide in the opening and push it away from the rear of the grip towards the front of the gun.

Pull the trigger after you do so that the trigger bar catches it and holds it forwards and hold the frame tight against the grip while you pull the tool out. If you have done this right you will find that the hammer catches at half cock on the blocking device.

Keep the frame down as tightly against the grip as you can, allowing only room for the tool, otherwise the blocking device won't hook under the hammer.

When you are doing this, don't let the frame come up out of the grip, or you will lose the hookup. Withdraw the tool, hold the frame tightly down in the grip,

Insert the rear pin to keep the frame down in the grip and hook up the mainspring in the mag well.
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Now try the trigger and reset the hammer by pushing it back until it catches, then it will strike again. Reassemble with the slide, and you are done.