Best/Worst Roll Marks?

[Boats]

In your not so humble opinions, which pistols have the best (tasteful) roll marks and which have the ugliest? Show us your pics of pistols festooned with lawyerspeak and the ones where you have to guess at the manufacturer.

My personal favorite was a Beretta 92FS I had. Very tasteful roll marks. It was as if the factory was thinking, "Well, we do have one of the most distinctively shaped handguns on the market, no need to shout."

My least favorites are on some of the Ruger revolvers I have seen, covered in warnings. A tie goes to the STI VIP, 1911 which sports one fugly roll mark.

 

[Spackler]

The new SW1911 has a big ugly rollmark.

I love my 4013TSW, but I could do without the big laser-engraved "TACTICAL" on the slide.

Since S&W semi-autos usually have the magazine disconnect, they seem to think it necessary to put "capable of firing with magazine removed" on those that do not have the disconnect, which is also unattractive.

 

[hksw]

Good:

Walther Banner
Imbel Gear

Bad:

HK electric pencil-type serial numbers
Location of new FN High Powers roll marks

 

[WonderNine]

The new SW1911 has a big ugly rollmark.

From what I've heard, the final version is not going to have that rollmark.

 

[Jack T.]

Best: I have an older Caspian with no rollmark what-so-ever. Only thing it has on the slide is rear sertations ( sp? )

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

My personal favorites:
Glock
Sig Sauer

My personal dislikes:
Kimber
Most anything with gold.

 

[556A2]

I like the new Colt 1991A1 rollmark, Colt revolvers, and Sigs. I absolutely hate Ruger's.... I don't like reading safety instructions while I'm shooting

 

[Zundfolge]

I like the Kahr roll marks.

My Steyr M40 has nice clean ones too.


And for some stupid reason I think the white rollmarks on the Mauser M2 look kinda sharp

 

[Steelharp]

From what I've heard, the final version is not going to have that rollmark.

WonderNine, they're in stores now with the rollmark. Is there another "final version" coming?

Mikey D...

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

I like the Kahr marks, Walther, Glock, SIG, lots of others.

Don't like that SW 1911...

 

[Sean Smith]

Colts had classy markings between, say, 1950 and 1970. The XS/XSE have similar markings. The new 01991/01091 guns (the basic government models) look classy now, too, but I could do without the "Series 80" stamped under the ejection port. On the other hand, their huge-rollmarked Series 70 guns and especially the original "M1991A1" guns were tasteless as all get-out

I have to say that I'm baffled by the proliferation of otherwise nice guns with horrible markings on them. The Valtro is the most baffling of all... a $1,400 gun with markings so atrociously stupid and ugly that I know for a fact that I'd have them ground off the gun. The S&W 1911 is almost as bad, but at least the laser engraving should take less time on a grinder to get off the gun.

No taste. No class.

 

[BigG]

Rampant Colt.

 

[KMKeller]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the HUGE lettering on the Taurus revos.

 

[cratz2]

They're beautiful guns but I think the big 1998 on the Valtro guns almost makes me not want one. Sorry Sven.



I'm also not crazy about the STI rollmark esp for California. I'd have to say that's worse than the Valtro.

 

[cratz2]

I must say I'm a fan of the Caspian/Baer/RRA no rollmark look.

I always thought 10rings Rock River was a nice non-nonsense looking piece. You still have that one, Todd?

 

[GrandmasterB]

I agree on the Valtro rollmarks. I never did like those.

I like the script of the Ed Brown Kobra

Credit Don Puffer on the photo

 

[c_yeager]

i find it really annoying to look at the stupid warnings and instructions on my rugers almost to the point of debating having them taken off.

 

[Erik Jensen]

I like the rollmarks on my MK40's slide, but the electric-pencil style marks on the frame have got. to. go!

prewar commercial Colt's, and the NRM 01991A1 have lovely rollmarks, too, at least compared to the ORM 1991s. enough of a difference that I ordered a NRM model rather than buy the 1991 the local ballistic conflict resolution device emporium had in stock. besides, the one in stock was stainless. not a big fan of stainless. the Kahr was just too good of a deal to pass up.

the no rollmark look works for me too.

dang it! you guys already mentioned all the good ones!

 

[Soap]

I like very minimal rollmarks. My favorite will have the model of the gun, serial number, and perhaps a logo. The best IMO is the Colt series 70/80 and the GI 1911s.

The worst are any that look laser engraved, that are busy, or have "Please read instruction manual before use".

 

[WonderNine]

WonderNine, they're in stores now with the rollmark. Is there another "final version" coming?

Mikey D...

Oh no...

Oh well chalk it up to B.S. I heard on this website that gave me the impression that S&W puts huge rollmarks on their guns for magazines, but then removes them for the production version.

 

[dsk]

I think Colt deserves kudos for making an immediate changeover from the ugly M1991A1tm rollmarks to the much more eye-appealing "Colt's Government Model" markings. I agree with sean that the "Series 80" on the other side could be made smaller or go entirely, but I'm happy enough that the billboard is gone from the left side.

However, the horse's ears are still missing.....

 

[n2299]

Let me add another vote to Valtro'a huge 1998 A1 for the worst roll mark.(But I love the pistol )

One of my favorite is the old Colt commercial's small rollmarks.

 

[Dannyboy]

And one more vote for the Valtro as the worst. For the best, I'd say the Dan Wesson Razorback. Just a nice little logo behind the rear serrations.

 

[Mannlicher]

Best: Colt's Combat Commander, 70 Series

Worst: Any Ruger SA

 

[BerettaNut92]

Anything that has my name on it