Do you like a 1911 with a nice roll-mark or a blank slide?

I tend to like them blank. I don't mind very subtle roll marks like a Dan Wesson or period accurate like some Colts or Others.

A nice and tasteful roll mark is OK. Of course, what's tasteful to one is garish to another. Mom is visiting and we were in a gun store today; most of her guns are revolvers and she wanted to know why the Colt/Umarex 1911-22 I was looking at had so much writing on the slide...

I prefer blank, but for the most part, rollmarks don't bother me.

I have an ugly roll mark Colt, but I like nice looking roll marks; and that's very subjective on my part.

It doesn't bother me either way. I never read the side of the gun when I am shooting.

To my eyes, big roll marks along with those front "cooling fins" make for a ulgy gun. I know, cause I have a few, that only an owner could love.

I think it depends on the words on the rollmark. I believe a Wilson Combat rollmark is a lot nicer than a Llama rollmark. Kimber is almost too big but it has a flair. The big R on the Remington may be a bit much and a subtle Dan Wesson rollmark will always look good. Baer, Brown, Nighthawk, nice. RIA or AO, not so nice.

Sometimes nothing says the most.

I like blank or minimal. Cannot stant colts of the last few years with the gigantic billboards even thou they are great guns.

Just don't put the entire safety manual on the side of the gun and it is alright by me.

Frankly I like both. A nice tasteful rollmark with fine print and clean design is pleasing to my eyes. I've always liked Colt's because of this. Clean slides without roll marks are also okay with me, but I can't help but feel like they are missing something sometimes.

What I don't care for are large billboards that take up the entire slide, like the early S&W's and their giant "SW1911" written across the left side. Giant "read manual before using" or other type safety warnings are also a turn off.

Seems like a lot of the post 100th anniversary Colts are coming with a blank passenger side- Curious to know why

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Brent (a Colt employee) commented on it over on the 1911 forum. He didn't give a specific reason for it, but noted that most of their 2012 models had the right side roll marks deleted. The exceptions are guns like the Combat Elite and Gold Cup Trophy which have large specific roll marks for their right sides.

To me there is no such thing as a "good" roll-mark, laser etching or 1900's style engraving. 8) I like my art simplistic.

I actually bought a Colt Government last year so I could have the "100 Years of Service" roll mark on the slide.

larryh1108 said:

I think it depends on the words on the rollmark. I believe a Wilson Combat rollmark is a lot nicer than a Llama rollmark. Kimber is almost too big but it has a flair. The big R on the Remington may be a bit much and a subtle Dan Wesson rollmark will always look good. Baer, Brown, Nighthawk, nice. RIA or AO, not so nice.

Sometimes nothing says the most.

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Thats interesting.The AO by Khar i looked at a few days ago doesnt have any ugly roll mark on it at all.

Makes no difference to me as long as the gun works. I'm a function before form kinda guy.

Large letter roll marks are obnoxious looking. If it has a "billboard" type of roll mark than I don't like it. If it's small enough like what the Colt standard roll marks are, it's a-okay. A blank slide is nice but the small lettering on my Valor is just right.

Colt's Government Model is all it should say, IMO. I'm not a fan of any of the iterations of the anniversary billboard, personally. And no forward slide serrations, thank you very much.

Blank looks best I think. Not sure what the front serrations are anyway but much rather not have them. I know they are not for cocking because that would be a dumb place to put your hand when loading a round to the chamber.

Press checks, supposedly.

I don't like engraving nor front serrations. My 1911s don't have them.

Mine is blank except for a serial number at the muzzle end, and 2 tiny eagles just in front of the cocking serations, all on the left side.

Got rid of the Para I got for Christmas because I diddnt want to walk around with a 1911 with a gun that said WILD BUNCH down the slide.

Nakanokalronin said:

Large letter roll marks are obnoxious looking. If it has a "billboard" type of roll mark than I don't like it. If it's small enough like what the Colt standard roll marks are, it's a-okay. A blank slide is nice but the small lettering on my Valor is just right.

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I have to say that style is my favorite. Not completly blank, but small markings. BTW nice gun

blank for this one.....