The only tricky part is getting the recoil assembly back in place without a tool. I've managed it, sometimes it takes a few tries but I've never needed a tool.
Basically I place the slide top down on the table with barrel in place, muzzle end facing away from me.
I compress the recoil assembly using the index finger and thumb on both hands so the rod sticks out. I then work the index fingers so the finger nails are doing the holding in front.
Using the middle fingers, keep the slide from moving forward as you insert the front of the recoil assembly. The trick is to do it while keeping enough pressure that the rod keeps poking forward. It takes several tries at first, but now I can usually get it within a try or two. Once you have it, your thumb and middle fingers will be holding things and you can lower the back of the recoil assembly in place.
Keep an eye when you take the slide off the frame where the slide sits freely without the pin. If it stops way short of that point when you try to put it back on, the back if the recoil assembly just needs to scoot around a little bit, probably a little up away from the barrel.
A tool makes this process much easier, but it's nice to know I can strip it down with nothing more than a toothpick in the field...
