[txstyletj06]

i was racking the slide on my new XD45 last night and i had my sterling silver ring on (i usually take this off when handling my guns). well i racked the slide and rubbed some silver off of my ring and on to the slide. there isn't a goouge or scratch, its just a little bit of silver coloring on the slide, almost like i took a pencil and made a mark on it. ive tried break away and hoppes no. 9 and neither took it off. what should i use??? will anything work???

[default]

Well, I don't know for certain what sort of finish is on an XD (I believe it has varied somewhat in the pistols' history, from the HS2000 to the XD45ACP), and I don't know how silver compares to brass, metallurgically, at least, but I have found that an ammonia-based cleaner, such as Sweet's 7.62, if applied carefully, will remove brass marks (that Hoppes and CLP couldn't get rid of) from the slides of parkerized and nitro-carburized (various proprietary finishes, very ignorant of the chemical details), etc. pistols. For what it's worth, I've used it sparingly and then thoroughly removed it and cleaned with CLP after the marks were gone, against the chance that the ammonia might react with the finish over time.

I'd recommend waiting for a second or third opinion, as I'd hate to have you further mar the finish of your gun, but this might be something to look into. If worse comes to worst, guns are meant to be shot, not looked at, but I expect in all likelihood you'll be able to clean it off and have the piece look brand new. How is that XD45, anyway? The last thing I need is another full-size pistol in a caliber more expensive than 9x19, but I've heard good things and was quite impressed by the example I handled. :)

[stevekl]

Good gravy!

It's a a GUN, you big baby.

A gun is a man's tool and you're treating it like it's a priceless Ming vase. Do you think carpenters freak out when their hammers get scratches on them?

[modifiedbrowning]

Don't fret about it and shoot your pistol and have fun.

[Car Knocker]

A gun is a man's tool

I've heard tell some women use them too!

[10-Ring]

You scratched your poly gun? Send it back to the manufacturer for repairs ASAP :evil:
In all seriousness, just shoot it & enjoy it! It's a poly gun (which are usually ugly at birth anyway) and one made in Croatia at that! Don't seat it!

[dleong]

what should i use??? will anything work???
I've found that Birchwood Casey's Perma Blue does a decent job of "removing" brass scuff marks from the finish of my guns. Don't know if it'll do likewise for a silver scuff mark, but it might be worth a try.

[clown714]

one word:

"Sharpie"

clown

[bigcim]

its a scratch on the gun i got one on my xd 45 buy it rubbing against the bottun on the pocket of my pants.It looked like a lite pencil mark to me but nothing has taken it off under closer look it looks like a scratch

ps sharpie doesnt work

you can send it back to sa and have it coated it tougher stuff i think its called armorkote for a $100

[Hawk]

Carry it loose in a tacklebox for a month or so. The silver mark will fade to the point you'll have trouble finding it.

I tend to welcome the first mark in a "using" gun - takes the pressure off, allows one to relax. Should you ever find yourself at a range that has concrete benches, you can simply enjoy yourself rather than spending a half-hour hunting for a down pillow to rest it on.

Besides, I believe "XD" isn't an acronym for Croatian words that would translate to "froo-froo pretty", but rather a spelling-challenged English phrase that conjures up visions of hard work, dragging through mud, dropping in gravel, run over by (ugly) truck kinda thing.

The first few scratches in my SilverPidg3 were kinda traumatic but it shoots better now that it isn't getting babied. Embrace the mark, become one with imperfection. You'll be glad you did. HTH.

[symr00]

Good, grief!! It's not a blued S&W or Colt, it's a plastic and steel tool.

[txstyletj06]

maybe it is just a poly gun and maybe they are ugly(not as ugly as my glocks) and maybe it will eventually get beat to hell and back, but for now its the newest addition to my collection. im still in college and i work my butt off and go to school full time so that i can afford to have these guns so to me it is rather important. maybe i dont like the mark and maybe its just a lil bit of an eye sore to me so i simply asked for opinions on "how to remove it!" i didnt ask for smart a$$ remarks about how i should "not worry about it" or "stop being a baby," so if you are going to be an idiot and not contribute anything positive to the thread just keep your comments to yourself. im here to learn more about my gun and to trade stories, ideas and information with other like minded people, not to deal with asinine comments.

[DWARREN123]

Always try a pencil eraser first, it may work and will not hurt.

[Hawk]

Well, as much as the Zen of embracing the mark worked for me in the long haul, I can relate to one preferring other options.

Conjecture 1: It's been a while since I was taking Chem 101 but I seem to recall that silver solvents (not silver oxide solvents) could be pretty dicey. I'd try removing the thing mechanically (pencil eraser) before using something that might affect the finish. Either way try it in an inconspicuous area first.

Conjecture 2: If the slide finish on the XD is relatively porous, you may be looking at what amounts to "inlays" and getting it out will be a bear. Somebody more familiar with the finish may be able to comment. If this is the case, it may well come out on its own, given time. If you can check under magnification, I'd be curious if its sub-surface.

If all else fails, and you're looking at a refinish, I'll confess to owning a fru-fru gun which to my great surprise has stayed relatively nice looking despite my best efforts to the contrary. I'm told it's because of the hard chrome - stuff is hard to hurt. The slide isn't serial numbered and can be mailed to the plater. There are a number of good ones but this is the one I used: APW (http://www.apwcogan.com/Refinishing.htm).

[Marshall]

Put a matching one on the other side and call it customized. :D

Soak it in oil.

[XDKingslayer]

It's like a truck. It's only the first dent that hurts.

[gudel]

People here say the xd45 has melonite. I don't think it does. :D