I scratched the frame on my new Springfield 1911

Status
Not open for further replies.
E

ejpk

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2011
Messages
18
Location
USA
Big newbie mistake...while reassembling my Springfield 1911-A1 for the first time, I managed to scratch the frame while reinserting the slide stop. http://www.thehighroad.org/images/smilies/banghead.gifhttp: The slide stop was a tight f...hat do they use to make the "brushed" finish?
 

Attachments

  • SA 1911-A1 006 (Small).JPG
    SA 1911-A1 006 (Small).JPG
    113.6 KB · Views: 328
Last edited:
Live with it. You'll likely do the same thing several times. You don't see many 1911's without a small scratch there.
 
Lovingly called the "idiot mark".

Only the clinically obsessive-compulsive manage to actually use a 1911 that doesn't end up with one.
 
Don't worry about it - that same exact mark is on many a 1911 frame and is lovingly referred to as an "idiot mark" :D.

Realistically any gun that you shoot and disassemble repeatedly for cleaning is going to get scratches and wear. They only stay perfect if you put them in a glass case. Just consider this part of breaking it in.
 
Just exactly reason number one for me being sick and tired of my NIB guns.

Another way to look at it is a friend of mine finally bought his first factory new vehicle when we were in the Army together. He bought a pretty little S-10 and babied and waxed that thing religiously, fretted over it in an almost unhealthy manner and generally acted like he had done nothing in his life to deserve such a prize. One day we were dismantling an old carriage shed on his property and he dropped a beam against the outside of the bed. Well, we all sucked in a lota wind and pretended to be looking most anywhere in Kentucky but at him or the gash in the side of the truck. he, meanwhile, has his head down and away from us and is making some kinda possum-in-labor sound and we're thinkin' he's gonna blow... Turns out he was laughing with this sense of overwhelming relief and eventually blurts out - "Finally! I can't believe it took so long - I finally have a TRUCK I can use!"

So? You got a bit of sign on a 1911... Now go out and shoot the crap outa it! And when the purists comment on the mark, tell 'em one way to keep it from happenin' is for them to come over and clean your guns for you!
 
That mark is easily avoided, but now that you have the blemish, you have a decision to make.....
 
1000 grit or higher sand paper. or higher. I normally have a piece of it with my gun stuff. I just installed a new trigger and had been polishing on those parts, I thought I'd buff on my idiot mark, Rub the same direction and it should have a similar sheen as the rest of the frame.
 
If it is not too deep Flitz metal polish can take it out. Personally I would just live with it. I might be the first but it will not be the last mark you will put on that gun if you plan to shoot it.
 
Wait until you overshoot the frame and put a scratch on the slide.
Click to expand...

I was just going to say, at one point I managed to not only scratch the frame trying to get the slide stop in, but it rolled over and made a nice arc across the slide, too.

But, honestly, that's probably the least noticeable mark / blemish on that firearm at this point. You could analyze my grip simply by looking at where the bluing is rubbed off.
 
Never ceases to amaze me at the number of people that do this. Just remember, it's not a race to see how fast you can disassemble and reassemble your guns like they do in the movies. Getting in a hurry causes you to be careless, and carelessness is what put that scratch there. A little trick is to use your left thumb to apply pressure to compress the plunger spring while using your right thumb to apply downward pressure to insert the slide stop. One thumb should never be applying more force than the other. Just work it in nice and slowly.

Now the good news is that I've bought numerous 1911s that have already had the mark put on them. Your gun is stainless so that's even better for you! Completely disassemble the pistol. Get yourself some 1000 or 1500 grit sandpaper. Put a drop of gun oil (or any other oil) on the scratch. Now take the sandpaper and start lightly sanding IN ONE DIRECTION THE ENTIRE TIME until you have sanded out the scratch. Then you can go back with some Flitz polish or some Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish and buff out the area where you sanded. You'll never see a thing and you'll be as good as new! I've done this to at least 10 guns and I've shown the technique to many friends as well so that they can fix their boo-boos.

Just remember: take your time when assembling your pistol!
 
I've had good results using a green Scotch pad and some rem oil rubbing the scratch rubbing with the grain of the metal. Good luck.
 
I'll Fix It!

By throwing it down the driveway or by putting it in a tumbler filled with rocks until it gets worn in real nice. Seriously, just live with it until it has enough scratches to need refinished.
 
Use this:

http://1911-ispt.com/buy-now.shtml

I have owned 6 Springfield 1911s over the years. For some reason - Springfields generally have a hard time getting the slide stop past the plunger tube without using a screw driver or something else.

Other brands of 1911s I have owned - they go in easily. But not any of my SPringers. Some will say - use a credit card, business card, tape, etc... I did some of that over the years.

When I had a $3k Springfield Custom Shop 1911, I bought one of these plastic "tools" - they work great and work every time. Protects the frame from a scratch
 
For some reason - Springfields generally have....
Click to expand...

I own 3.. My, newest, 2010 build date, Ultra Compact loaded, stainless, it's slide stop goes in very easily. I've compared that slide stop with the one on my updated Mil Spec.. visually the look the same, I've not measured them yet. I DID notice that the Plunger Slide Stop on the Mil Spec sticks way farther out than on the loaded. I ordered a new plunger spring assy from Wilson in stainless. Either the stop in the plunger tube is off or the plunger is. I'll measure.. and adjust stainless plunger accordingly.
 
wally said:
Lovingly called the "idiot mark".

Only the clinically obsessive-compulsive manage to actually use a 1911 that doesn't end up with one.
Click to expand...
I disagree. It's entirely possible to not be anal-compulsive, and own and maintain several 1911s without ever causing the idiot mark. You just have to be very aware. :)

That said, it's not a big deal, particularly on a "working" gun.
 
1KPerDay said:
I disagree. It's entirely possible to not be anal-compulsive, and own and maintain several 1911s without ever causing the idiot mark. You just have to be very aware. :)

That said, it's not a big deal, particularly on a "working" gun.
Click to expand...
I learned my lesson from the previous owner of my first handgun, when I got my 1911 it already had an idiot mark on it so I learned to avoid it on the 1911s I've bought since.
 
It's hard to imagine there are THAT many people putting those scratches on their guns. But I guess there are...
 
Most manufacturers finish the frame and slide at 400 grit. Getting it to blend in is the tricky part. Most people who try to blend it in end up wishing they would have just left it alone. It all depends on how deep the metal is gouged and how much skill you have. Nonoe of this would be happening if the manufacturers would simply cut a small groove in the rear edge of the slide stop so that it simply pushes the plunger out of the way instead of bouncing off of it. Go to the 1911 forum and search for the Logman slide stop mod. It can be done with a needle file in 30 seconds and the slide stop just pushes straight in every time. No more scratches. It may not work on some Colts because of the way they cut their slidestops. (really poorly)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

L
  • Locked
Whats the best way to get rid of the idiot mark on my 1911?
Replies
9
Views
952
Jolly Rogers
J
MoreIsLess
  • Locked
Scratching the 19111 frame
Replies
9
Views
706
HisSoldier
HisSoldier
B
  • Locked
Idiot Scratch Prevention Tool (ISPT)
Replies
21
Views
3K
Quoheleth
Quoheleth
R
  • Locked
A new 1911
Replies
18
Views
957
RRTX
R
Deaf Smith
  • Locked
Springfield Armory 'Compact' .45 1911
Replies
5
Views
762
Zach S
Z
Back
Top