I've seen some 'idiot scratch'ed guns but never one as bad as this. It's even scratched on the slide. Sorry it had to happen to a 1916 vintage Sprignfield Armory M 1911. Can anyone top this for ugly?

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Let me get my baby pictures.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

'Ugly' is relative, but a couple of years ago, Colt, in their on-line catalog, showed a shiny new Government Model complete with a very bad, factory-installed idiot scratch.

He must have been a slow learner!

That's terrible, just horrible. Goes way past ugly.

I know you are ashamed of that. Bet you put it up out of sight when company comes, don't you? I don't blame you.

Tell you what. Seeing as how a good many folks think I'm an idiot, send that ol' thing to me. It'll suit my lifestyle just fine. I'll figure out something to use it for, and you'll never have to look at it again.

I saw a Luger with a red dot sight mounted on it.

I think that puts the OP's complaint in a more realistic perspective.

The "Idiot Scratch" was fairly common when I was "Employed" by Uncle Sam. Mostly with 1911s that recruits were being taught to field strip 1911s..

The military didn't or doesn't care about scratches. You were taught to press in and up, perfect example of how to get an idiot scratch. By the way it's a beauty mark not a scratch.

Sure...any brand new Glock!

Those scratches are so common, I thought they came from the factory that way.
Besides, that ain't ugly, that's character.

I'm VERY careful to avoid this when cleaning my 1911. I've seen too many not to.

So far so good.

331 rounds down range.

Installation of the slide stop does take a certain "touch", but once you have it you're good to go.

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

I have a couple of 1911's. I know how to reassemble without scratching, but my Combat Elite does have a very slight scratch from one time I was reassembling.

I shoot my guns a lot, and to me, the "idiot scratch" is not a big deal.

As for a gun that was actually issued to the armed forces, well, who knows the history. There may have been a time when the pristine finish of a Government issued sidearm was that last thing the soldier cared about!

I try not to abuse my guns, but they will get scratches, dings, and so on. Guns are nice to look at, but they are more fun to handle and shoot often.

I actually put a small nick on one about ten years ago and I'm a fairly high-end gun smith. It came from the factory so packed full of brown grease it wouldn't function. I had no choice but to tear it into pieces. Fortunately it was my gun.

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Dr. B

Yeah I hate to see it too! I bought a pristine Satin Nickel pre 80 series Colt Combat Commander a few years ago. Except for the "idiot scratch"! Don't show it much any more as I always get the "nice idiot scratch" comment, when I tell em that I bought it that way I get a, oh sure you did.

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Stay safe people!

I don't really care about them or even notice them really. To me they are all ment to be used.....a lot! However I try not to put that scratch into my 1911 only because of the stigma it carries when trading in or selling. Any other scratch and it's oh well it is used after all. But that particular scratch somehow means that the gun was used as a boomerang for remotely detonating land mines

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That's terrible, how can you stand owning it. Please send it to me right away I hate to see you suffering.

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Back to back World War Champs.

We fail to understand that the "idiot" may have been
in a trench somewhere on the Western Front during WWI.
Things may have been a bit hectic...you know, like,
bullets buzzin around, mustard gas that sort of thing.

I'd forgotten that Springfield Armory made 1911's for the military. For some reason, I had in mind they were mainly producing 1903s in that time frame.

Wow I wish that pistol could talk. I bet it could tell some stories.

I wonder if that particular piece was used for training purposes.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Given the history of this pistol, maybe the dude was in a hurry(?).

I wouldn't be too judgmental of the original user. He may have been facing some difficult conditions when he was trying to disassemble the gun.

That's not an Idiot Scratch. THIS is an Idiot Scratch

Ouch! A Gold Cup no less.
...and on the wrong side!

Almost every used Korth that I have bought has the "Korth Idiot Scratch" on the back of the recoil shield, when the extractor is released forward and leave their ugly marks.

The contract that BG Crozier, Chief of Ordnance, negotiated with Colt was different that any other contract with Colt in the past. Colt was allowed to make the first 10,000 45s. After that, for every two pistols Colt produced, the government could make one at a plant of their own choosing. They chose Springfield Armory. The two plants were only about 60 miles apart and there were good relations between Colt and Springfield, so if Springfield ran into problems Colt helped them out. This went on until 1917; with a war probable in the near future, Springfield ceased pistol production and concentrated on rifles. Rock Island also started producing 1903s again.

Very interesting. Thank you for the information. Any idea how many they made?

I don't have any idiot scratches on mine.

Right!

Are you attracted to Yoda's sister by chance?



Bruce

I have some with the scratch, some without. My very first pistol was a brand new GI Springfield .45 I bought in 07. I saved up for that pistol, I'd always wanted a 1911. I was like a kid at Christmas when I got it. I scratched it the day I got it home when I was disassembling it. I simply didn't know better. Since then I've tried to avoid doing it.

Another Springfield I have is my go to shooter, it also has a scratch that was started by a previous owner. I've probably made it worse in the last 8 years I've had it, not sure.

I guess I don't like the term "idiot scratch". I'm not proud of the fact that I scratched my pistol but I'm not hung up on it.

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Put one on my first brand new colt 30 years ago Haven't done it since

Several years ago a guy brought in a old Colt Woodsman to see
if I could fix it. Guy was coon hunting and had put pistol and
holster on top of dog box in back of truck. Pistol had fallen to
road on trip home. When he missed pistol next AM, they went
back to look for it. They found it on state highway, buy spotting
holster on berm. Found the pistol some distance from holster
that had been shredded in traffic. Gun was totaled, frame bent
Barrel & slide ruined, not to mention road rash. I had to drive
a wedge into frame to salvage small parts.