1911 idiot scratch fix

[viet4lifeOC]

JohnFland makes a great point.

Yes, it's a tool meant to be shot a lot and a beautiful wear as a result. See Black Majik 1911s.

But an idiot mark/scratch does doesn't indicate high volume use or a gun being used. It shows, as Nite Qwill pointed out, a 1911 that's been assembled incorrectly.

What's regrettable, as JohnFland wrote, is it's totally avoid if proper instruction is available to the owner.

Only through careful trial and error did I grasp this, "Push the slide stop into the slide stop hole, . Align the slide stop lug with the disassembly notch. Now push the slide stop up and in against the slide stop plunger until the slide stop is fully inserted."

Who usually puts an idiot scratch on their 1911? Usually someone new to the 1911?
If your gunsmith returns your 1911 after trigger work with a new idiot mark....do you thank him for the "wear" mark?

Wear shows use....idiot mark shows improper assembly. The two are not the same.

If you can't tell the difference between wear in a 1911 and an idiot mark, than let's leave it at that.

[MosinVirus]

I am kind of OCD when it comes to how my guns look. I also fixed my scratch. I think it would be different if the pistol got scratched over use, rather than by my (at the time) inexperienced hands. However, I would probably try to fix it anyway... By the way, I have plenty of older guns with nice wear and tear on them. Some I like to keep in the worn condition, others in closer to new condition.

I also clean my guns after each and every range session. I know there are plenty of people that don't do that, and some that will even discourage it, but hey, like someone else said here, to each their own.

On the slide stop scratch issue... Wanted to point out that I had a similar scratch, fixed it in a similar way, then got G10 golf ball texture grips, and those were a little oversized so now my slide stop rests on the grip before going into its slot when I put it back in. No cards needed, basically no real way to scratch the frame. These grips are awesome by the way. Maybe not for conceal carry, but very grippy.

[Fishslayer]

Kind of curious... how many who have "the scratch" assemble with the "plug out first, back in last" method versus the "plug in first and assemble against the recoil spring" method? I tried the latter & getting that little half moon lined up properly was a real beeyotch, especially with oily hands.

I was taught the "plug out first, back in last" method in the Navy.

.

Wear shows use....idiot mark shows improper assembly. The two are not the same.

If you can't tell the difference between wear in a 1911 and an idiot mark, than let's leave it at that.

^^^This...

[NiteQwill]

Kind of curious... how many who have "the scratch" assemble with the "plug out first, back in last" method versus the "plug in first and assemble against the recoil spring" method? I tried the latter & getting that little half moon lined up properly was a real beeyotch, especially with oily hands.

I was taught the "plug out first, back in last" method in the Navy.



^^^This...

The most efficient way to prevent a scratch and unnecessary plug and bushing wear (especially a fitted plug from EGW) is to assemble against the recoil spring.

Slippery hands can easily be fixed by wiping down the weapon and your hands with a rag and soap and water, respectively.

[Fishslayer]

The most efficient way to prevent a scratch and unnecessary plug and bushing wear (especially a fitted plug from EGW) is to assemble against the recoil spring.

So do you clean while never removing the bushing from the slide? That's the only way that makes sense. Using a wrench you removed spring tension from the bushing so it's not really going to know whether it's off the frame or not when you turn it.

[NiteQwill]

So do you clean while never removing the bushing from the slide? That's the only way that makes sense. Using a wrench you removed spring tension from the bushing so it's not really going to know whether it's off the frame or not when you turn it.

That's the thing. You DO NOT need a bushing wrench to remove or install your bushing or plug.

There is a correct way to dis/assemble a 1911 and an incorrect way. Using a bushing wrench is INCORRECT.

I have several custom 1911's (severns, baer, williams, o'hara, to name a few) and NONE of them have ever seen a bushing wrench and the lockup is extremely tight on the bushing.

[Fishslayer]

That's the thing. You DO NOT need a bushing wrench to remove or install your bushing or plug.

There is a correct way to dis/assemble a 1911 and an incorrect way. Using a bushing wrench is INCORRECT.

I have several custom 1911's (severns, baer, williams, o'hara, to name a few) and NONE of them have ever seen a bushing wrench and the lockup is extremely tight on the bushing.

So you never remove the bushing from the slide?

[nahpungnome]

So you never remove the bushing from the slide?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eJhPari7dpc

[NiteQwill]

So you never remove the bushing from the slide?

Of course I remove the bushing and plug.

See the above video. That is the correct way to disassemble AND reassemble a 1911.

[Fishslayer]

See the above video. That is the correct way to disassemble AND reassemble a 1911.

AHA! Now I see. A video is worth 1K words.

Thanks for that. Ya learn something new every day.

Super tight fitment was never really a problem with our (I believe) Korean war vintage .gov property.

[Kowan]

That's how I removed the bushing I fitted to my P14.

[slainla]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eJhPari7dpc

that method will not work on the springfield 1911 with two piece guide rod that uses an allen wrench to take apart. the reason being is that the recoil guide is too long to be removed. and it's a pain to unscrew the guide rod if it's not securely mounted with the frame attached.

[cannon]

Thanks OP, Great solution to a problem.

[Mark B]

Sarcasm/ For the love of Pete just learn to remove the part correctly.

For those "my gun is like my hammer" guys. Do you show your hammer to your friends while hanging out at the lumber yard? When you let them hammer a nail with it do they handle it, look at it and admire it? Do you sit down and scrub, wipe and oil your hammer after you use it?

If you saw two NEW 1911's in a shop and one had an idiot scratch and the other didn't, would you buy the one with the scratch on it? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't, but I bet you'd buy a hammer with a scratch on it. heck I would...

[cusco19]

1911 idiot scratch fix

that method will not work on the springfield 1911 with two piece guide rod that uses an allen wrench to take apart. the reason being is that the recoil guide is too long to be removed. and it's a pain to unscrew the guide rod if it's not securely mounted with the frame attached.

+1... Also u don't need a wrench to remove the plug on the SA 1911 loaded.

MarkB: I think you hit the nail on its head with that analogy. [emoji41]


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