[spartanpride]

I was just wondering if that big "Rock Island Armory" badge stamped into the left side of the slide on my 1911 could be removed. I thought about sandblasting to see if I could get it off like that, or if it's just too deep and I should just not worry about it.
It's no big deal really, just more of a nuisance than anything.

[rondog]

Why is it a "nuisance"? It's just the brand rollmark, kinda big is all. To remove it, you'd have to mill off the side of the slide down flush with the bottom of the letters, which would also remove most of the cocking serrations on that side. Then the slide would be lopsided, so you'd have to mill the same amount off the r. side of the slide, then re-cut all the cocking serrations. Even if this would work, you'd have spent a bunch of money for no good reason, and the lettering might still be visible anyway. Stamping alters the molecular structure of the steel, and is nearly impossible to elliminate. The slide would be too thin now, and would probably crack.

Bottom line, it t'ain't no thang, leave it alone. Or sell the pistol to me cheap and buy something else.

[Kingofthehill]

Treat it like dent repair on a car... fill it, sand it smooth and paint the slide.

Ive done it... no biggie.

The #1 reason I love my Dan Wesson so much is that they don't use the slide as a Billboard for advertisement.

Strip the slide, media blast it, fill it with just about anything that will adhere to metal and then paint...

JOe

[rondog]

I suppose that's an option, but jeez, bondo and paint on a gun just ain't right....

[Sunray]

Forget about it. Not worth the effort. It's actually something you should have considered when you bought it.
"...sandblasting..." That'll remove the finish nicely.

[spartanpride]

Well I'm going to refinish it anyway, I just don't like the looks of that big stamp on the side, I like my guns plain jane with just smooth metal. And seeing how this is just my cheap truck gun, I don't see what it would hurt to try the body filler option, I'll try it out, thanks!

[navyretired 1]

I'm with you, If they want to advertise they should pay us. Sarco sells systemi colt slides with the lettering surface ground off and reparked very inexpensively. Get one fit one then all you have is a serial number and a forged slide as good as a Colts, (no cracking) the original markings were very light. Even after surface grinding the one I have is thicker than any of my Series 70 Colts.

[Oyeboten]

I imagine...

If the Slide is Steel...and cleaned well to bare Metal, anyone with a 'Metal Spray' outfit ( uniformly heating the Slide, of course for the procedure, ) could delicately spray-fill in the offending area...with a like-same or similar-enough Alloy, and, you could then Draw File the area flush, and it would be as if no impress or stamp had ever been there.

Re-Blue, Parkerize, Nickel, or as you please then...

I doubt the Slide was Factory Heat-Treated in a way where the procedure would adversely effect it, but, that might be something to find out about, if considering this means.

[Hacker15E]

If they want to advertise they should pay us

Uh, no.

Alternately, you knew what the product looked like when you purchased it, and you were free to choose a different product if you objected to the billboard.

[navyretired 1]

Hacker15E- You got the wrong guy, I don't buy weapons with large brand names put on at a foreign country factory if I know, because I don't make my decisions so I can Advertise to everybody "hey now I've got one". The weapon is the basis for beauty not the Name. And to answer your question before ask, I bought a 22 LR conversion for a Browning HP made in Argentina and when it came the side of the slide said Rock Island Armory. They were apparently a run made for RIA and rejected or they change their mind because RIA has never marketed them. Their loss, it's made like the old Kart conversion and shoots like a house on fire. BTW I'm making no judgement on RIA weapons just the garish name On slide.

[highorder]

We talked this exact topic out not too long ago...

Bondo and spray.