Idiot friend left idiot scratch on brand new Colt 1991...

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If my idiot friend has guns, I think I'd ask to check out his new 1911...if ya know what I mean...
 
Regarding idiot marks. I only have one gun with an idiot mark, my Winchester 9422 XTR circa 1979 or so. Right on the top of the receiver done when mounting scope rings. It's just a very slender scratch but it looks like a gash to me.

I am a long time shooter and keep all my guns in pristine condition. My motto is, "Shoot it a lot, but leave it clean for the next guy," 'cause sooner or later your wife's gonna bury your bones and first thing she's gonna do is go down to the gunshop to sell those guns for money to buy girl things. There's no need to bash up your guns in everyday use. They might be tools, but they ain't hammers.
 
Bullfrogken-that looks like good old honest wear to me. Not an idiot scratch to be seen. Nice piece BTW.
 
Its like buying a new car, the first nick always hurts. But it gets easyer with time, than in a few years you just stop caring.
 
That first mark or ding is always the hardest to take. If its a shooter no big deal. If its a safe queen then get it fixed.
Your buddy should help out if getting fixed. He should have not touched it if he didnt know how to put it back.
 
Yep, that is why I have bought very few new guns, cars or motorcycles over the years.

At least half of my 1911s have idiot marks, none (yet) have been installed by me. The advantage of buying used is that it is already, well...used. If it has an imperfection, then I can carry it without being paranoid.

But yes, if someone else who claimed to be knowledgeable put the first scratch in my brandy-new 1911 or motorcycle, I would be...how do I put it tactfully? Singularly unimpressed with said individual, and unlikely to associate with him in the future.
 
I've done this to my DW RZ-10 that I bought used and it didn't have a idiot mark when I got it, but sure enough I gave it it's first one. Fortunately for my RZ-10 had polished flats that made it easy for me to use some 600 grit and then 800 and finally 1500 to smooth it out. I also have used some ultra fine and super fine scotch brite for polishing and it works great for spot polishing. Of course I'd finish it off with the Flitz and it looks like a show piece! One little trick I've found for me that helps to eliminate, or at least minimize the chance of a idiot mark is to put a drop of gun lube (in my case it's Prolix XTra-T lube as it's nice and heavy and wont run) on the tip of the slide stop. It helps to slide it into place without any scratching if you make a mistake.
 
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=214825
HisSoldier said:
I can't believe the people saying this is no big deal. I try to handle my guns with care, and to teach people how to disassemble 1911's without putting idiot marks on them.

There is a great thread on this in the 1911 forum. A man whom I consider to be a personal friend even though I've never met him, "Log man", is so knowledgeable about 1911's that I read everything he writes about them, and I've learned alot from him and others in that forum.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=214653

Once you modify your slide stop like this you will be amazed at how easy it is to install it without making a mark. It takes a few seconds (Literally!) with a fine tapered swiss file.
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Thanks for the great link to the "Log Man" method. I frequent the 1911forum more than here and I'd seen that before too. I'll also post this link that was in the prior link that BigJon posted with much more detail on how to avoid the idiot mark.
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=214825
 
You know, I can appreciate your attitude about this as it is looked at by many as a tool. But, I also appreciate even more how someone can be upset about this mishap as many of us spend thousands of dollars on a fine 1911 and want to keep it in as new of condition as possible. I'm one of those people and belittling them is not constructive.

A gun, especially a very fine 1911, is meant to be shot and appreciated as a work of art. Why wouldn't you want to take care of it and keep it in as new of condition as possible? Now having said that I am aware that one of the sexiest things in good gun porn is a beautifully holster worn blued 1911 is not a bad thing and even gives a nice carry gun more character. But the idiot mark is another thing entirely. It says, "somebody that didn't know what they were doing field striped this thing!"

So, lets get this straight... Idiot marks suck and if you don't thinks so then that's your business if you like having your gun look like you don't care or don't know what your doing.
 
I am a long time shooter and keep all my guns in pristine condition. My motto is, "Shoot it a lot, but leave it clean for the next guy," 'cause sooner or later your wife's gonna bury your bones and first thing she's gonna do is go down to the gunshop to sell those guns for money to buy girl things. There's no need to bash up your guns in everyday use. They might be tools, but they ain't hammers.
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It would be nice to have this or that handed down to my daughter, but for the most part, I could care less about what happens to my guns after I get planted. Besides, with the insurance policy I had, my wife would have probably gave them away for next to nothing.

I really dont care about the next guy. I'm listed as a donor, but I'm not gonna do everything I can to make sure my ticker will last long after I'm done with it.

I know they're not hammers. The idiot mark isn't a sign of abuse, nor is it a sign of negligence IMO. Its a sign of "**** happens," much like the scratches on a lock of a car door. Its avoidable, but only if you're really careful.

I've changed many u-joints on many cars- and I dont use a socket and ratchet to hammer them out. But when I buy hand tools, they're put to use immediately and look like any other tool in the box. Except for 17mm sockets and wrenches that came with sets. I haven't found anything they fit...
 
a work of art
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The beauty (to me) is when form provides function.

You can spend big bucks to put your 1911s on the wall next to the Mona Lisa if you want to.

I buy mine to enjoy shooting ... a lot ... as much as I can afford to shoot.

Any tool that gets used a lot is expected to show ware.

Like an axe handle that is worn to the shape of the loggers hands, holster ware and such on a handgun only endears them to me more.
 
Some slide stops are beveled vary nicely and have lighter spring force on the plunger and fit a little looser in the hole... these go in easy.

Some are tighter and stiffer and the bevel doesn't seem to push the depress the plunger the way it should.

If someone has a very difficult to insert slide stop and puts a hair line scratch on their frame, that does NOT make them an idiot.

Some guys have pristine frames because they know how to carefully install the slide stop and how to take extra precautions. They may even modify their parts to make assembly easier.

Some guys have pristine frames because they never take their guns out of the safe, except to take pictures of them for posting on the internet.

Which type is more likely to run around calling others an idiot?

Rather than building themselves up with knowledge and ability, some chose to make themselves feel proud by tearing others down with ridicule and name calling.

That's why I personally don't use the term.
 
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It depends if you are going to shoot and carry the gun or turn it into a safe queen.
 
I'd hate to see what revolver cylinder drag lines do to you guys...
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No, that's normal wear and I've never heard of anyone trying to prevent that.

We are talking here about stupidity in action being exacted on someone else's gun. I would have offered to buy the gun from you for what you paid for it had I done that.
This is not too much different than missing the target and hitting your friends truck. "Oh well, it's a truck for goodness sake, it's supposed to have bullet holes in it!"

Idiots.

I have 7 1911's, only one has an idiot mark on it, by the guy I bought it used from. I saw it when i bought it, so it doesn't bother me.

What really shocks me is how many here think there's nothing wrong with putting an idiot mark on a new 1911. Sheesh, I guess I'll be real careful about who I hand my guns to if so many people think it's alright to scratch them up for no good reason. What's so hard about learning how to do it right?
 
if its just a little tiny scrach dont worry about it my 1911 is covered in idiot dings scraches marks gouges and all kinds of other marks and wear that just happens with time i think it gives it character also mine is a knock around essex parts gun so that has a lot to do with my attitude about it
 
I think most of us, and that definitely includes me, put way way too much stock in the cosmetic appearance of guns.

For example: I recently acquired an unissued condition milsurp Mak. It has a few light dings to be expected in a 27 year old pistol, otherwise near perfect. While handling it I made a klutz move and may - may - have added a very small hairline scratch to the slide. Problem was I couldn't remember the precise location of the few little scratches that were already there. Drove me absolutely bonkers for days, wondering whether I scratched it through carelessness. Sounds crazy I know but other guys who are fanatical about gun appearance can maybe relate.
 
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