1911 idiot scratch fix

[cusco19]

maybe a lot of CGers has seen this done or maybe not. when i got my 1911 loaded 9mm, i loved shooting it so much that after every range time, i MUST clean her up.

so, as a newbie.. i put two idiot scratch on her frame and slide.









i was super pissed off and started checking on some 1911 forums and seem most suggestion was to just sent it out to get it cerakote.

i then contacted Springfield CS and asked them about custom job with possibility to remove the scratches on the frame and slide. Patti was kind enough to pass my email to their tech, Brad, whom suggest me to get this:

3M Contour Surface Sanding Sponge, Super Fine and then just sand it and the scratch will go away. was told to just sand it without adding any liquid or anything like that on it.. just use as is.

i figured for $5 it won't break the bank and might just fix the scratch. worse case, i'd probably bubba it even more then just get it cerakote and lesson learned.

got the 3M sanding sponge and followed this video, start watching from 4:13, and sanded it slowly in the same direction as the grain on the frame and slide.







now i'm a happy camper and have learned my lesson on how to properly put the slide stop back in.

Edit: btw.. the youtube vid i posted in my link, the author of the vid said he used 220grit, which i think it's too rough as well. i have 800grit and even higher at home, but decided to use the 3M superfine as suggest by SA tech instead.

just FYI...

[Kowan]

Good job on removing the scratch.

[cusco19]

thanks Kowan... hopefully new 1911 owners can benefit from this or a least try it out before going cerakote.

[killnjoke]

Thanks for sharing.

[aghauler]

maybe a lot of CGers has seen this done or maybe not. when i got my 1911 loaded 9mm, i loved shooting it so much that after every range time, i MUST clean her up.

so, as a newbie.. i put two idiot scratch on her frame and slide.









i was super pissed off and started checking on some 1911 forums and seem most suggestion was to just sent it out to get it Cherokee.

i then contacted Springfield CS and asked them about custom job with possibility to remove the scratches on the frame and slide. Patti was kind enough to pass my email to their tech, Brett, whom suggest me to get this:

3M Contour Surface Sanding Sponge, Super Fine and then just sand it and the scratch will go away. was told to just sand it without adding any liquid or anything like that on it.. just use as is.

i figured for $5 it won't break the bank and might just fix the scratch. worse case, i'd probably bubba it even more then just get it Cherokee and lesson learned.

got the 3M sanding sponge and followed this video, start watching from 4:13, and sanded it slowly in the same direction as the grain on the frame and slide.







now i'm a happy camper and have learned my lesson on how to properly put the slide stop back in.

Guess this only works for Stainless, not parked or blued?

Good job though thanks for the info!

[bsg]

thanks for sharing and glad your project was a success.

[cusco19]

Guess this only works for Stainless, not parked or blued?

Good job though thanks for the info!

i don't have a parker or blued version, but i would think it might take off too much or at least enough where you would notice the repair. so for stainless this method for sure works.

bsg: thanks, i'm hopeful that this will help others that was or is in the same boat as i was with the idiot scratch. fellow CGer has help me a lot from my first P01 to now, so i'm glad to contribute back.

[steel30]

Been there and done that and fortunatley it was on a stainless!

[Sunday]

only idiots worry about a scratch on a shooting gun.

[Kowan]

A thin piece of paper laid over the area that could be scratched during reassembly would help avoid it too.

One of the reasons I love SS guns. I can dehorn the gun of sharp areas and either bead blast, scuff, or polish the finish to my tastes.

[JohnFLand]

See also this mod:

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

[cusco19]

thanks JohnFLand for that link! will do try out that mod next time i clean her up.

[bubbala]

all the mods in all the years ,why doesn't someone just mill a slight groove in the frame?

[cusco19]

bubbala, yea that's what i'm wondering the same thing. should be a easy thing to implement from MFG side, but i guess this way, there's more business for companies doing cerakote coating?

[Mr.Caketown]

You know you can cut a notch in the slide release to help ease the chances that idiot mark right? If not punch a hole in a business card , slip it over the mag release then trip the business card to fit just under slide.

I do it on my TRP full rail all the time , if I scratch that thing I will cry

This isnt my pic but its an idea of how i do it , I tend to let the card sit flush with the bottom of both holes