"Idiot mark," but No Idiocy

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by Pterodactyl:
I gave in to temptation (couldn't wait for a rebate) and bought a new Commander-size 1911, #108283, last Friday. It looked great and has shot reliably.

However, Sunday morning I noticed the dreaded "idiot mark" scratch below the slide release--and I have not yet disassembled the pistol, so I have no idea how it got there. The owner of the shop where I bought it agrees with me that it wasn't there Friday, and I have full confidence in his eyesight and honesty.

So far as I know, the slide stop should never travel downwards to make that sort of scratch during normal operation.

I hope that someone has an idea about what's caused it--and how to fix and prevent it! It's going back to the gun store Saturday for an inspection, but I'd appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks.

You're kidding right? I almost cannot believe that anyone gets concerned about these minor scratches and blemishes, even if you did cause it.

Hell, I took a brand new Les Baer TR Special to the range one cold rainy day. I slipped and fell (gun first) into a wet dirt bank and the pistol has a nice "character mark" on its slide. I wiped off the dirt and mud and went on about my business. By the way, the pistol never failed, and it has more finish wear around the edges now, and quite frankly, I hope when I die, all of the pistols in my modest little group have plenty of marks on them.

Even if you caused it somehow, if you put the piece to its intended use, it will have many more by the time you die. Just enjoy the thing and realize that the only guns that qualify for "idiocy" status are "safe queens" that get under used and over cleaned, polished and modified.

Happy shooting with your new pistol!

 

[Pterodactyl]

Shawn, my perspective on the scratch issue is essentially the same as yours, although my posts may not have made that clear. I do look forward to the day when this gun has the patina that results from years of use. My Kimber 1911 has that now, and when I look at the worn areas I reflect with satisfaction on the time I've spent shooting it.

What threw me off about the scratch on this two-day-old, never-disassembled gun was my failure to understand it under the circumstances--perhaps analogous to finding a dent on a new car that's never been out of the garage. I may never figure it out, and I believe that any fretting from here on would pass the point of diminishing returns.

I can assure, you, regardless, that I am enjoying the heck out of shooting it!

 

[dogsoldier]

Perhaps the scratch WAS there...all along....but HIDDEN beneath a 'temporary fix', such as Alumna-Black????

 

[Stockhouse14]

I think PICs are needed as there are alot of folks out there with different opinions of what an "idiot mark" is.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by Pterodactyl:
Shawn, my perspective on the scratch issue is essentially the same as yours, although my posts may not have made that clear. I do look forward to the day when this gun has the patina that results from years of use. My Kimber 1911 has that now, and when I look at the worn areas I reflect with satisfaction on the time I've spent shooting it.

What threw me off about the scratch on this two-day-old, never-disassembled gun was my failure to understand it under the circumstances--perhaps analogous to finding a dent on a new car that's never been out of the garage. I may never figure it out, and I believe that any fretting from here on would pass the point of diminishing returns.

I can assure, you, regardless, that I am enjoying the heck out of shooting it!

I am glad to hear that you buy them to use! Congratulations on the gun!

 

[Cartouche]

Well, FWIW, the first 1911 I bought, had one of those idiot marks also. Why? I am the idiot that put it there. I have never done it sence on my others, but this one has it. I am still POed about it

. Now, it is going to be re-finished cause parkerized in my area dosen't hold up. But I was dumb and had never fieldstriped a 1911. Live and learn. I know you said you did not do it, and I am not implying in anyway you did. Hell, I am willing to bet any body who has a 1911, or has had, most will have this scratch. If they would fess up.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Update: The shop owner/smith confirmed that the scratch resulted from a tiny imperfection on the back of the slide stop, which he's lightly filed. A touch of Aluminum Black (thanks again, tlen!) hides the scratch nicely.

Of course, it may come back in the course of normal use. I may also put on my very own "idiot mark" the first time I clean the gun. Neither of those situations is going to cause me a meltdown--because I do, indeed, "buy [guns] to use." And this one sure is fun!

I believe that, when it comes to guns that actually get used, there are two types of 1911s: those with scratches and those that haven't been scratched yet. Both are welcome at my place.

 

[BUFF]

My department used to have an armorer who was famous for inflicting scratches, marks and other sundry damage upon the deputies' (and the department's) firearms. I hated him inspecting mine. He would put a big, new nick or gouge in someone else's new handgun and when they complained, he would tell them, "Hell, now the suspense of waiting for the first scratch is over and you can relax. I did ya a favor!"

I shudder to think of how many revolver sideplates he gouged with his cheap, ill-fitting screwdriver.

My first stainless Colt Government Model sports the same idiot mark as your new pistol, done by the above idiot's replacement idiot, the first time he inspected it. I still cringe when I notice it. I have worn that Colt to work most of the time since 1991, and it has picked up other character marks since. I am wearing it as I type this, as a matter of fact!

 

[jed1177]

I feel your pain. I pay big money for guns, cars etc and I like to keep them looking new as well.

It's too late now, but in the future, to avoid the idiot mark, place a business card on the frame as you move the slide stop into place. It is cheap and protects the frame as the stop goes in.

I have a new method of examinig a pistol or revolver prior to purchase. I, like most of us, have found an imperfection after purchase and once you know its there, it's the first thing you look at everytime you pick it up.

I put on my magnifing glasses, and start at one end and go to the other, top to bottom, side to side, and around every corner. Takes a little while and yes, you get some strange looks, but it's your money.

This applies to most of my firearms, but just to lay to rest the "too anal" thing I also own some workhorse firearms. They are not pretty. No fancy grips. They work every time. Just work horses. Keep them oiled and quite frankly, when I need a gun, they are usually the ones grabbed first.....not the BBQ versions.