Idiot Marks on 1911's

OldNascar said:
No different that a person that buys a new car, uses it as everyday transportation but then worries himself sick about a scratch on the car while shopping at Walmart. If you use it as it was designed to be used the scratches are inevitable so why get oneself stressed out about a scratch. All scratches are preventable but to go around casting the idiot card about does nothing but make another class of snobs and my world is already too full of such characters.
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I use both my vehicles and my weapons as tools. But I also take good care of my tools! They are expensive and if I lose one or break one, I replace it so it functions correctly when I need it the next time. I have a new F350 crew cab truck. I take it where I need to go. But I also don’t park it next to the buggy corral at Walmart! If I dent it or scratched it during my use is one thing, letting someone else beat it up because I don’t care that I wanted that parking place up front is quite another. My guns are like that. I don’t baby them, but I don’t inflict damage that is avoidable either.
 
The first M9 that I was issued in Afghanistan was warn smooth on the slide and frame from constantly being carried in a holster that was covered in sand and grit. It was carried by a REMF Officer who didn’t clean it or maintain it. ALL the finish was gone. If it wasn’t maintained on the outside, it wasn’t maintained on the inside either. So I took it over to the FOB small arms guys and they basically replaced it. I mean it would fire but would you want to bet your life on it in a life or death situation. Yes, it was no Idiot Mark but same principle. I cleaned my weapon every day, still do. If I carry it, I maintain it responsibly and correctly. IMs on old 1911s are there because Soldiers had never been around weapons like the 1911 and they jammed it back together when cleaning. They also had the “well, it’s not mine” mentally, and I’ve seen it way more than normal! I’ve got expensive Wilson’s (thanks FG!), Smiths, Springfields, Kimbers and Colts and I’ve got in expensive RIA, Llama and a couple others, and none of them have IMs and not because I’m a gun snob but because I take a couple extra seconds to assemble them correctly.
 
fieldgrade said:
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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good question. they really do make it MUCH easier.
but i suppose if you really want that, you can spend a couple minutes with a rat tail file and a dab of cold blue?
 
DrScaryGuy said:
good question. they really do make it MUCH easier.
but i suppose if you really want that, you can spend a couple minutes with a rat tail file and a dab of cold blue?
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I “smith” on most of my stuff but have found it somewhat of a challenge to make that cut without making a mess
 
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fieldgrade said:
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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Maybe that is what you get for the extra $3-400
 
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Left my Kimber at a local gunsmith years ago to have sights installed, and it had the mark when I picked it up. The gunsmith apologized and didn’t charge me for the work he did. Haven’t thought about that scratch in a while until this thread, now I’ll go stare at it again....
 
303hunter said:
Left my Kimber at a local gunsmith years ago to have sights installed, and it had the mark when I picked it up.
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I’ll put the scratch on your gun while you wait. ;)
 
Hammer21b said:
I use both my vehicles and my weapons as tools. But I also take good care of my tools! They are expensive and if I lose one or break one, I replace it so it functions correctly when I need it the next time. I have a new F350 crew cab truck. I take it where I need to go. But I also don’t park it next to the buggy corral at Walmart! If I dent it or scratched it during my use is one thing, letting someone else beat it up because I don’t care that I wanted that parking place up front is quite another. My guns are like that. I don’t baby them, but I don’t inflict damage that is avoidable either.
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Somehow there are those that think a scratch of the side of a 1911 represents bad maintenance or usage, nope, far from it. Plenty of people that use tools understand the tools are going to get marks through inspections and maintenance procedures and continue on with their usage with the errant markings. Now, a person that does the idiot mark without knowledge of the ‘proper’ way to assemble the weapon is just plain ignorant, not stupid or an idiot. If you live long enough and break the 1911 down enough sooner or later you will get opportunity to make a mistake and scratch the frame. Does that make you an idiot, no, but then if you choose to feel like an idiot that’s your prerogative. Plenty know, like my tired self, that flipping out the idiot word is best kept to one self because those that do so will get to wear the sign in the long run.
 
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was had by magical gunbroker photography hiding this shame scar a couple years ago. kinda nice not feeling the need to baby it now.
 
If my last post didn't generate enough outrage, try this one. :D

If the design of the thing ensures that an untrained user will scratch it performing what appears to be a relatively straightforward task, then the idiot moniker belongs more to the original designer, or those that care about such things.
 
Flashpoint said:
If the design of the thing ensures that an untrained user will scratch it performing what appears to be a relatively straightforward task...
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You mean like if the rivets on your jeans scratch up your fender while you check your oil? that's normal wear and tear right? No big deal...

3...



2...


1...



"But, that's different!"
 
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Flashpoint said:
Which says to me that they are no different than Jeep owners who keep their tires shined. :D
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Those guys on those 1911 forums are some serious phudds, I have to tell you.

One of my neighbors and riding buddies is 32 years Army, Ranger retired. He still contracts to go back to A’ Stan every other 60 days.

He has the prettiest, shiniest, mall crawler Jeep you’ve ever seen. I tell him that if I didn’t know he was a retired professional badass, I would rag on him mercilessly. :D
 
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Flashpoint said:
Which says to me that they are no different than Jeep owners who keep their tires shined. :D
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And you know yer egging those two guys on who only know what an idiot scratch is because we told ‘em.

If this makes it to Friday and folks get banned, I’m ratting you out.
 
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Flashpoint said:
Which says to me that they are no different than Jeep owners who keep their tires shined. :D
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I’d like my tires shiny but I hate having to jack up the car to get at 100% of the tread. :(
 
Flashpoint said:
If my last post didn't generate enough outrage, try this one. :D

If the design of the thing ensures that an untrained user will scratch it performing what appears to be a relatively straightforward task, then the idiot moniker belongs more to the original designer, or those that care about such things.
Click to expand...
shots fired
 
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