Arik
Member
Regardless, what does that scratch do to that tool? Other than not look brand new!
Imo and idiot mark destroys the tool. Say banging on the slide with a metal hammer.... idiot.
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Idiot scratch
- Thread starter Expo2248
- Start date
Imo and idiot mark destroys the tool. Say banging on the slide with a metal hammer.... idiot.
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I attend many Car shows with my Toy Truck which is a 1972 GMC P/U. The truck is white with Blue Glass in the entire cab. It came up here around 30 years ago now and I rodded it with a 450HP 355 engine with double camel hump heads. Yes I scream when someone scratchs my Toy Truck. My language can change as well at those Bad moments needless to say. But it happens on rare occasions. The older I get the more patience I seem to have as well I am finding.
Hairtrigger
Member
I would hate to have a gun I am afraid to use or a vehicle I am afraid to drive
cmj8591
Member
Don't take it personal. You just have to remember that a lot of the people posting here have never been out of the house. Never mind in situations where their life depended on their side arm.
CBus660R
Member
All I know is this thread is making me feel less guilty about the "assembly scratch" I put in my brand new Colt Gov't model I bought with high school graduation money.
I'm admitedly not real experienced with 1911's ( shot a few, and been through several myself [Colt,Springfield, RI] and currently have a stainless Springfield that's a real keeper). But somehow, this thread is the first I'm seen or heard of the scratch on the slide. Now that IS a sho 'nuff idiot scratch! The typical one of the frame is at least somewhat understandable IMO, but putting one way up on the slide definitely warrants the term "idiot" (again, IMO).
BTW, I've often wondered why some manufacturers havn't just machined a small groove in the frame, bypassing the whole "mark" thing. Probably some good reason that I'm not thinking of (other than the extra cost/effort), and besides, that would surely rankle the purists. Always seemed like a good idea to me though.
BTW, I've often wondered why some manufacturers havn't just machined a small groove in the frame, bypassing the whole "mark" thing. Probably some good reason that I'm not thinking of (other than the extra cost/effort), and besides, that would surely rankle the purists. Always seemed like a good idea to me though.
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many times people have referred to guns as tools, and what is the big deal about an idiot scrtch as long as the gun functions. "its a scratch. it does not affect the function! its a tool!" a friend once brought me a husqvarna chainsaw to take a look at it why it would not run. (his job is landscaping and chores). the chainsaw had a broken off switch, an av mount broken, an extra hole on the exhaust made from a pitch fork right were the escaping flame had torched the chain oil tank, and a dishwashing sponge for an airfiler where once was a proper filter. all this deterioration to the poor saw was done over a lenghty time, and not overnight. yet, for his standards, the saw was fine, for up until that moment! i suppose you get the idea of right and wrong. yes, the chainsaw is a tool. yes, using it as an ax (which is also a tool) is wrong. firearms are tools and tools made to withstand proper use. if someone managed to ruin it by putting it together, how standard was it in his mind to shoot 45 super through it also? hey, its just a tool! and yes, i do care for not crushing my car around, but then again, a car is not something that i can put in a holster and carry on me. therefore, would you care to buy a beaten up car that drips fluids for your daily ride? why not? how much abuse is much? its just a tool??? there, my point exactly!. there is one good thing about idiot scratches though. they help bring the price down if you are interested in the gun. and yes, there is a reason why they call them that it seems.
Arik
Member
Or you simply don't care about finishes. Like me! I buy the gun not the fancy paint. Most of my guns came used from police departments. Most have a good amount of finish wear but that's all they have. I'm not going to deliberately scratch up a gun, or a chainsaw or a car but I'm not going to loose a second of worry if the gun happened to get a scratch. Scratches don't equate to function or anything else. Someone could have just as easily messed up the internals but kept the finish pristine because most people seem to care more about that then anything else.
Of course price has to reflect that. Bought a used HK USP45 with 3 mags and new night sights for $380 because it has scratches. Try finding a USP45 for that price anywhere
How about this Springfield TRP? $650 with night sights because of the previous owner's barely visible "idiot scratch". Hard to see in picture but it's there
I even have a gun that has no finish left. Absolutely zero. Still works though.
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So I guess there is concern that the scratch somehow impacts the function of a 1911. A scratch is a scratch. Does it have an impact on price? Maybe it does if it is a common run-of-the-mill item. And for rare pieces, well it just depends how rare it is. There are some I would be happy to have with little to no finish and issues much worse than an idiot scratch.
So, I guess, for me anyway, it just depends. These marks are from a mistake, its not like someone beat the thing with a hammer - which I have seen the results of, and that is abuse caused by ignorance. And I never met anyone that intended to put the scratch on a piece when they woke up that morning. Lets face it, it is not that hard to make this mistake. Otherwise there would not be so many of them out there with a scratch on the slide.
I have bought 1911 style pieces with a scratch. I have bought many more without the scratch. Do I want the scratch? No. It's a common blemish on the 1911 style, and if you want perfection, don't buy one that has a blemish.
Men, women, horses, cars, houses, guns..... they all have imperfections after going around the block a few times. I sure do.
So, I guess, for me anyway, it just depends. These marks are from a mistake, its not like someone beat the thing with a hammer - which I have seen the results of, and that is abuse caused by ignorance. And I never met anyone that intended to put the scratch on a piece when they woke up that morning. Lets face it, it is not that hard to make this mistake. Otherwise there would not be so many of them out there with a scratch on the slide.
I have bought 1911 style pieces with a scratch. I have bought many more without the scratch. Do I want the scratch? No. It's a common blemish on the 1911 style, and if you want perfection, don't buy one that has a blemish.
Men, women, horses, cars, houses, guns..... they all have imperfections after going around the block a few times. I sure do.
Gunsnwater
Member
Except for when you're really a klutz like moi and manage to get the slide!
(Not mine but same idea)
You know that doesn't even line up with the notch. /saltrub
Gunsnwater
Member
Nice idea, I'll pass that on to newbs.
Gunsnwater
Member
Lots of guns are like that. P08 Luger, AK47. Tokarovs have that clip on the take down. Just to name a few.
Gunsnwater
Member
I'm admitedly not real experienced with 1911's ( shot a few, and been through several myself [Colt,Springfield, RI] and currently have a stainless Springfield that's a real keeper). But somehow, this thread is the first I'm seen or heard of the scratch on the slide. Now that IS a sho 'nuff idiot scratch! The typical one of the frame is at least somewhat understandable IMO, but putting one way up on the slide definitely warrants the term "idiot" (again, IMO).
BTW, I've often wondered why some manufacturers havn't just machined a small groove in the frame, bypassing the whole "mark" thing. Probably some good reason that I'm not thinking of (other than the extra cost/effort), and besides, that would surely rankle the purists. Always seemed like a good idea to me though.
It happens to people afrade of the I.S. they start the slide stop high over the slide where it's open air. They then find out the pin is not that long.
Some combinations of parts are easy than others to avoid the scratch. That matchbook trick is good stuff. Pressing straight in often will catch the detent pin in the stop slot and now you need a pick to shove the detent back as the stop won't push in or pull out until you do.
Look at your slide stops and see the zig zag path the plunger has to follow. You need an incline for that plunger to follow. If you don't have one, stone it in. Think about how it all works together so you don't end up with failure to lock open.
Fitting slide locks effect what kind of follower will work. We would like them all to work but straight from the factory I have found some lock on plast, some on rounded metal, some on flat metal and some work with everything.
They also can stick in far enough to get hit by different bullet types. Shorten them up and maybe they won't lock back anymore.
I bought a hardly used E series, I didn't notice the idiot scratch until I got home. Slide stop covers it mostly until slide lock. I hate that scratch.
Oh well. Not going to sell it, ever.
The gunners on here that post “it’s just a scratch” we’re the ones that initially put the scratch in their new gun and it’s their way of poo-pooing their mistake so they can live with it.
I bought my 639 knowing it had one and lost endless hours of sleep fretting over my poor choosing. It ended up polishing out just fine. Now I’m hooked on Ambien, have a nice pistol and sleep like a baby.
I bought my 639 knowing it had one and lost endless hours of sleep fretting over my poor choosing. It ended up polishing out just fine. Now I’m hooked on Ambien, have a nice pistol and sleep like a baby.
gman51
Member
I bet a gun with the so called idiot scratch still shoots the same as it did before it got the "idiot scratch". Only an idiot thinks differently. My scratch is on the frame rather than the slide so am I just a slow learner?
I don't wax the bed on my pick up and I don't put a nose bra on my car either. I have to laugh when I see a nose bra because nobody can tell me a scratch or a chip is as noticeable as a nose bra. I really think calling someone an idiot because of an action could be idiotic.
I don't wax the bed on my pick up and I don't put a nose bra on my car either. I have to laugh when I see a nose bra because nobody can tell me a scratch or a chip is as noticeable as a nose bra. I really think calling someone an idiot because of an action could be idiotic.
First thing we were taught in a Personal Defense/Carry Class, if you were not willing to drop your gun on the concrete ground...then you should not be willing to carry that particular gun. I treat my carry guns as a tool, and my collectible ones, well, I put them to bed every night with a blanket. I get it, Idiot scratches suck!
I can see I would not have done well in your Personal Defense/Carry class.
Poor old TTSH does not drop on concrete ANY gun EVER! 
And that includes my guns and anyone else's guns. 
03hemi
Member
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lol, That's funny!
It can be done though, always take the spring pressure off first and always put the spring pressure back on last, I have some w/o said scratch reassembling in this procedure. Most of mine do, as I buy most of my guns used.
Example: See it can be done, no scratches on one of my Colts.
It does not deter me from buying one though.
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