Idiot Marks on 1911's

Had the "idiot mark" on my AKV pointed out to me once. They were referring to the mark from the selector lever. "Yeah, I should've just left it in the fire position always but idiots gonna idiot". :rolleyes:
 
gc70 said:
The muzzle was pointed at a wall, the exterior of which is brick, and my fingers were safely curled around the end of the slide and not in front of the muzzle.
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Well I would hope it was unloaded so it shouldn't have made a difference.
 
If it matters to you, learn how to keep it from happening. It is not difficult. If it does not matter to you, do not worry about it.

Tool? About anything you own can be considered to be a tool. That does not mean that these things should be abused. I think most people have some pride in ownership and like to keep all their "tools" looking fairly good.
 
OldNascar said:
If you use it as it was designed to be used the scratches are inevitable
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See that's the disconnect here. If you don't like "idiot mark" that's fine with me, I don't mean to offend. Frame Abrasion Radial To The Slide-stop, or FARTTS are from careless abuse of a tool, not from use as intended.
 
Just so everyone is clear, the term “idiot mark” wasn’t coined here. Go to any gun forum, and in particular 1911 forums, and you'll find entire discussions on the matter.

They even have a contest for idiot scratch of the year at one 1911 forum.

This was nominated a few years ago, but didn’t win.

C2C73820-6AF3-4DD3-9326-54F6BE3C7A81.jpeg

Honorable mention...
The wrong side even.

066E6468-3FA5-41C2-8E3C-EADBA8BABDFE.jpeg
 
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premise said:
I guess I don't have enough Matt Cross money to poo-poo an ugly assed scratch on a 1000 dollar pistol.

There is a reason it's called an "idiot" mark and not an "honest wear" mark.
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There's not a 1911 on the market that's worth $1000 of my money. Maybe that's why I concern myself with how well my tools work rather than how impressively pristine they are. If we were discussing a Singer 1911 I could understand the sentiment. If it's not something irreplaceable, Cylinder & Slide can make it look better than it did new.
 
Me. said:
I fail to see how the “idiot mark” is a problem of any sort. I also fail to see why people who have avoided scratching their combat pistol feel such superiority.
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Where in the heck in this thread did anyone tout their superiority because of their unblemished weapon? Where do you come up with stuff like this - did someone hurt your feelings in the past or something?

Me. said:
You folks would shlt yourselves if you saw my aluminum rims after I’ve spent a year parallel parking in the city.
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Most people just learn how to park correctly so that they don't curb their rims every time.
 
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All this talk made me go dig out my 1911 and check. I'm not an idiot apparently... well not a total idiot anyway. Give it a few more years and I think the mark will be more pronounced.
 
fieldgrade said:
As an aside, if that is somebody else’s paint on that bumper, some polishing compound will make the vast majority of it go away, and be much less noticeable.
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I am not so sure. I mean the polishing compound seemed to help but it still seems noticeable to me. ;)

polishing compound.jpg
 
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James said:
I am not so sure. I mean the polishing compound seemed to help but it still seems noticeable to me.

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I *slightly* boogered up the right side of the slide when I counter sunk the hole for the slide stop pin, and I also flush cut the pin itself. I used some “broken-in” 220 grit paper and it matched the brushed stainless on this Springer pretty darn well. Not the best pic, but the gun looks good in person, aside from some honest wear from a lot of match shooting.

B06B8C97-3D9C-4C97-81DD-B8A817F09526_1_201_a.jpeg
 
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fieldgrade said:
I *slightly* boogered up the right side of the slide when I counter sunk the hole for the slide stop pin, and I also flush cut the pin itself. I used some “broken-in” 220 grit paper and it matched the brushed stainless on this Springer pretty darn well. Not the best pic, but the gun looks good in person, aside from some honest wear from a lot of match shooting.
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Nice work! Stainless is much easier/cheaper to deal with vanity stuff. Since this one has already lost most of its collector value I think I will rust blue it when I am done sanding/polishing.
 
fieldgrade said:
I *slightly* boogered up the right side of the slide when I counter sunk the hole for the slide stop pin, and I also flush cut the pin itself. I used some “broken-in” 220 grit paper and it matched the brushed stainless on this Springer pretty darn well. Not the best pic, but the gun looks good in person, aside from some honest wear from a lot of match shooting.

View attachment 248801
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I did get a deal on a stainless Springfield that had an idiot mark. I was able to take sandpaper and work it with higher and higher grit until it disappeared.
 
Me. said:
And... my comment wasn't so much about this thread, as the fact that the term is "idiot mark". Anyone who uses that term is likely claiming they are smarter.
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I think folks are over-reading any perceived insults. That mark caused by improper assembly of the slide stop into a 1911 is universally referred to as an “idiot mark” or “idiot scratch” by anyone who has any familiarity with 1911’s, and discussions about 1911’s. Folks that have never heard it before might wonder why the condescension, but in 1911 circles, if someone says "idiot mark", it is widely known that they are referring to that scratch caused by the slide stop being inserted incorrectly and boogering up the frame.
 
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oh yeah. SR1911 first one I owned. Putting it back together, following everything that I am supposed to do properly. finger slipped and there the idiot mark now lives. Made me, well, say a few choice words.
 
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fieldgrade said:
Just so everyone is clear, the term “idiot mark” wasn’t coined here. Go to any gun forum, and in particular 1911 forums, and you'll find entire discussions on the matter.

They even have a contest for idiot scratch of the year at one 1911 forum.

This was nominated a few years ago, but didn’t win.

View attachment 248761

Honorable mention...
The wrong side even.

View attachment 248762
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I could carry either one and be happy. The top one with the markings on the slide could make for interesting discussion as well with a little more effort a piece of art.
 
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pee wee said:
oh yeah. SR1911 first one I owned. Putting it back together, following everything that I am supposed to do properly. finger slipped and there the idiot mark now lives. Made me, well, say a few choice words.
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@pee wee, I will not call you an idiot as referred by many and thank you for owning up to doing such a offensive act against a 1911.
 
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OldNascar said:
I could carry either one and be happy. The top one with the markings on the slide could make for interesting discussion as well with a little more effort a piece of art.
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How about this one.

74648E33-3E1E-4C4A-81B8-8C8F47878BB9.jpeg
 
I put one on the first 1911 I owned back it n the late 90’s. I own up to it. Still have the gun, too. I blame it on ignorance on my part. Haven’t done it since then, but now I know better. It’s on a Kimber Custom series I. Y’all can start the Kimber bashing.....NOW :) It was a learning experience and, while the gun looks like it may have been drug behind my truck after 10’s of thousands of rounds, it still runs like a top.
 
Me. said:
To be fair, Geezer wasn't saying he's superior, just that marked up guns are inferior.

And I think fieldgrade was just poking fun.



And... my comment wasn't so much about this thread, as the fact that the term is "idiot mark". Anyone who uses that term is likely claiming they are smarter.
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Hell, I put an idiot mark on my Dad's 1911. It's mine now, and I still feel like a heel when I look at it. My point being we're all idiots. But especially when we chime into a thread to gaslight somebody for not wanting an idiot mark on their 1911 under the guise of it being honest wear on a tool. It's called an idiot mark because it is a blemish caused by assembling the firearm incorrectly, whether you like the terminology or not.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with caring about the appearance of your tools. I have excellent condition tools that belonged to my great grandfather because I come from a line of idiots that believe in wiping down their tools, using them for the appropriate use, and doing routine maintenance on them, which is probably why they still work so great 4 generations later.
 
Me. said:
What does “ gaslight “ mean, in the context you used?
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If I may, when someone (the gaslight-er) suggests that someone else's (the gaslight-ee's) perception of reality is inaccurate or flawed in an effort to influence their thinking to the ultimate extent of gaining power over them.

For instance, suggesting it is pointless or even foolish for someone to take pride of ownership in their firearms.
 
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tbafile said:
I put one on the first 1911 I owned back in the late 90’s. I own up to it. Still have the gun, too. I blame it on ignorance on my part. Haven’t done it since then, but now I know better. It’s on a Kimber Custom series I. Y’all can start the Kimber bashing.....NOW :) It was a learning experience and, while the gun looks like it may have been drug behind my truck after 10’s of thousands of rounds, it still runs like a top.
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Bold is my exact experience right down to the make, model and reliability of the firearm. I am embarrassed by it, so much so that when I posted pictures of the firearm in the past I only showed one side of it.

.

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Here’s the real $64,000 question. Why doesn’t every parts manufacturer not machine or MIM their slide stops to have this groove that aids in inserting the slide stop past the plunger?

I think I had a Wilson and a Dan Wesson that had this groove in the slide stop. The rest have not. Multiple Colts, Fusion, Springfield, Rock Island...

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