Getting rid of 'idiot marks' on my 1911?

[Stickwick Stapers]

I have a Springfield 1911 Champion with the shiny stainless finish, bought it about three years ago when I was a total n00b, and I am stuck with 'idiot marks' on it from when I couldn't figure out how to manipulate the slide stop. Is there any way to have these marks buffed out or otherwise removed without harming the shiny finish? (I've had a look through old posts and found some advice for brushed finish, but not shiny -- if this has already been addressed somewhere, I would appreciate a link. Thanks!)

 

[JoeHatley]

You should be able to buff all but the deepest marks out with any metal polish. I like Flitz.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[Stickwick Stapers]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

 

[Shipwreck]

Red scotchbrite pad - I prev had a stainless milspec in the 1990s. Had some scratches on the slide - gun smith used it and took all the scratches out. After that, I went to an industrial supply store and bought a red scotchbrite pad myself. I still have about 90% of it - U just cut off small squares of it to use.

Basically, it scratches a new grain into the stainless. You rub it back and forth, horizonally, and it will get rid of scratches. U will probably have to do the entire gun to make it match.

Or, pay a few dollars and get someone to beadblast it and put a matte finish on the stainless.

 

[Zach S]

If it isnt too deep you could just buff it out with a compound. I use Mother's Mag wheel polish, mainly because it works so well on the stainless sheetmetal that I've purchased from work. I had good results with it on a Kimber I polished the slide's flats with, looked like a mirror when I was finished. Now it looks like a mirror with a lot of tiny scratches, looks almost brushed at the muzzle though...

I'm more of a fan of blasted stainless though.