New SA 1911A1 Loaded SS "idiot mark"..

[Loaded45ACP]

Having just received my first ever 1911A1 "Loaded" earlier this week, I managed to put the legendary "idiot mark" on it thanks to the slide frame. (Feel like such a tool!) I've been a reader of THR now for quite some time. However, my decision to buy a 1911 was rather sudden and I didn't do my homework on this particular problem beforehand. (So I didn't utilize the playing card, or tape underneath the slide stop). I've got the stainless steel model #PI9132L. Hopefully, since this is stainless with the "brushed" finish or similiar. My mission is to buff this sucker out, at any means possible. Do any of you THR'ers have a particular method of getting rid of these or any other scratches on stainless guns with the finish such as mine? Would Flitz! and a Scotch-Brite pad do the trick? Any suggestions appreciated..I've done the searching in numerous forums but nothing pertaining to this exact issue on this gun. Thanks again and I love this 1911! (Except for the scratch).

 

[45R]

Do you have a picture, how deep is the mark?

 

[45R]

Here is a brandspanking new one. I have no idea how it got this way, pulled it off the shelf to photograph about 3 years ago. Its got a nice mark on the slide and frame.

 

[Loaded45ACP]

The mark itself is rather light. The pic on this thread http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=100710&highlight=1911+idiot+mark is virtually identical to mine. I realize this thing is going to get marked every once in awhile. I just would like to have a plan in place to keep it looking as good as I can.

 

[Loaded45ACP]

That picture is definately an idiot mark. Except that slide stop went all the way up to the slide frame Which I'm fortunate I didn't do.

 

[45R]

Not to worry. It will get scratched over time from hard use.

 

[GaryK]

I wouldn't worry a lot about it. Right now your gun is new and you are agonizing over every imperfection. Once you shoot a few thousand rounds through it there will be other blemishes and you will hardly notice it.

 

[Loaded45ACP]

Oh, I'm sure it will. Being that this is my rookie 1911 I can always look back on it as the pistol I made all my mistakes on! I'm still a bit down about it though. Of course, then again..it's not a showpiece. I'm just anal about this stuff. So, I was hoping to get rid of the mark somehow..

 

[El Hombre]

Hello,
A a little buffing with a grey scotchbrite pad will take that right out and you'll never notice it was there.

Deep scratches can be hit with the green scotchbrite pads then blended in with the grey pads.

Note that this is only for stainless guns with the brushed finish. Blued guns are pretty much out of luck. You could try some cold blue, but it will probably always look like a "patch"

Good Luck!

 

[Missouri Mule]

Don't sweat it if it is a carry gun as it will eventually see more scratches.
I used to obsess and fuss over every little mark on my prized 1911's.
Now I buy em to use. I do my best to take care of em. But since they no longer live in padded gun cases I figure crap is a gonna happen!

Learn from the experience and go on!

I have only owned one 1911 that required any extra technique or effort to install the slide stop and it was a sloppily fitted Colt / Sistema.

 

[Loaded45ACP]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm sure I'll have more 1911's eventually in which to get it right so I'll always remember my first. I'll try that method El Hombre. I'll also be trying some various Emory cloths. This will be my eventual carry gun anyways so the other 1911's can stay in the boxes..lol.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Over 15 years ago, I bought a Colt Governmnet Model, brand new, for my 21st birthday, but two weeks before I turned 21. After two weeks of anticipation, on the day of my birthday, I went and picked it up from the shop. Later that night, with it still new and not having been fired, a buddy of mine decided to show me how to field strip it, as he had several SAs and shot in some competitions back then. When putting the gun back together, he gave my brand new gun the infamous "idiot mark". It's still there as a reminder to be careful who I let handle my guns. Every time I see that mark, I think of him.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

This happens to just about everybody. I put one on my Colt Government Model the first time I field stripped it more than 20 years ago and I was sick over it. You just learn from it so that you don't do that to your next one.

 

[Rimmer]

My SA Loaded SS came with the same scratch marks. I used a dremel with a buff wheel and jewelers rouge to take it out. Also buffed the back of the slide stop to remove the sharp edge that created the problem in the first place.

Mine was much deeper than the one shown in this thread.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=100710&highlight=1911+idiot+mark

 

[mrmeval]

The idea of that minor scratch being of importance is so picky it's strange to me. While I'm proficient enough to disassemble mine without scratching it I'd not consider that scratch enough to bother with.

Now if the gun was some collectable I'd have if swaddled in polymer wrap or mounted in a nitrogen inerted case.

 

[Loaded45ACP]

Being that this 1911 was my first semi-auto ever, mistakes were bound to be made. I was being extremely careful but wasn't aware how the slide stop installation was going to be. The manual never made warning about the possibility of it catching the trigger guard and scratching the finish if done improperly (while moving it up the side, which was the wrong maneuver obviously). Most messages I've read in forums specific to the 1911 disassembly didn't mention the idiot scratch or how to prevent it from happening. These posts were clearly everywhere, I was just unlucky that I didn't find them before it was too late. I've never owned a gun over $500 in value before and this one was close to $850. So, I was disappointed with myself for most of this week just at the principle of scratching such a nice pistol. My lesson was clearly learned and I will never make such a mistake on future 1911's. Especially when I get a TRP or Professional model. Of course, normal wear marks won't bother me as much. It's the negligent part that gets me and not knowing how dangerous that slide stop on brushed stainless can be.

 

[mrmeval]

I meant no disrespect and can understand the chagrin at scratching it. I've never owned a really good one. The first 1911 I had was a Norinco the 2nd's is one of the Philippine clones. I've not scratched it but probably had done so to the Norinco.

I'm not sure what kind of coating is on this S.A.M. Elite but it's pretty good.

 

[Loaded45ACP]

Oh, I didn't think you were disrespecting me at all. All I can say is this 1911 is one damn fine looking AND functioning weapon. This scratch only covers a very small area anyways and it's not bugging the hell out of me anymore as it was. Thankfully I got stainless and there appears to be more than one method on getting the light scratch removed.

 

[ccw007]

I think most of us have been here before. I put a real IDIOT mark on mine. I say real because I knew better. Anyway I sent it to Springfield for a minor issue unrelated to this and they fixed it without me saying anything about it. I am in the market for another 1911 and Springfield will be my choice because of this reason.