Should I return my new 1911?

[The Last American Hero]

was it a stock model or a floor model

"new" guns that have been handled a lot from the display case tend to have more wear on them.

that is why I prefer to 'special order' any new guns

I get nightmares of young dumb kid clerk pointing the guns at each other and dry firing like mad after the store closes and they are left to close up without the boss.

[thomashoward]

Since the frame is stainless, you should be able to buff out the (hidden when assembled) scratches-- search this forum for details.

I had some hidden scratching under slide stop and under the ambi safety. real close fitting parts
Mine is stainless so 1500 grit polish job under the slide top and under the safety took care of it.

no bozo is going to be allowed to field strip a new gun at a dealer.

[FeuerFrei]

I can see where the OP is coming from. Caveat emptor my friend.
Here's a scenario that I personally saw during a short visit to a gun shop (will remain nameless). This may have happened to OP's pistol. Who knows.

While standing around waiting for the LGS owner to come back from lunch (late) I observe a customer asking about 1911's and how difficult they were to service. Pretentious/arrogant employee pulls a new Kimber 5" out of the display case and proceeds to disassemble it , (gun tagged "NEW").
Upon reassembly I can see him struggling to get the slide stop into the frame. Sweeping the lever up and down to get it to fit.
Customer was happy for the demo and thanked employee for his time and left.
I could see the scratch on it from where I was standing.
This post brought back a WTF moment for me.
I wonder how many times this happens to brand new guns and the manufacturer gets the blame.
Caveat emptor all day, every day.

[ThighSlapper]

If its polished stainless hit with an old cotton t-shirt and mothers mag and aluminum polish. Scratches will come right out. Beauty of a stainless finish is its not a finish at all.

[Steve_In_29]

Those are the projectiles in cartridges which you shoot at your target. Some are SWC, flat point, round nose, etc...just some projectiles which he painted. Pretty cool.

Are they painted bullets? My first thought was that he had used his molds to make some candy.

[hambam105]

I'd be careful about too many scratches on a SS 1911.

A guy at the gun show told me than his ex brother-in-law knew a guy who heard that some other guy thought that maybe the scratches on his friends's borrowed Colt 1911 caused 230 RN plated reloads to bounce off the cardboard targets on the 7 yard line.

[19K]

worried about scratches that you cannot see when the gun is disassembled? scratches that appear when the gun is cycled? ive had thousands of rounds through mine, and the scratches in that spot are very minor, yours must be a lot less. dont worry about it, just shoot it!

[19K]

that is why I prefer to 'special order' any new guns

I get nightmares of young dumb kid clerk pointing the guns at each other and dry firing like mad after the store closes and they are left to close up without the boss.

whys that? because that is what you would do?

[enegue]

From what I have seen, some Colt 1911s do have some small marks from the factory. My Delta definitely did and had a small mark on my Gold Cup too. They shoot great so I don't care; not even a little bit. Up to you though.

I can totally understand your concern if you wanted it as a collectible that doesn't see much use. Not sure there's anything you can do about it though.

[Bushwack44]

Update from original post:

Returned the 1911 to Colt on April 27. I called today for an update and requested to speak to a gunsmith (or similar expertise) - whoever the person who inspected the gun and determines what needs to be done. He wouldn't be specific answering my questions but acknowledged the frame had excessive wear (behind the slide stop) for a pistol shot less then five times. He implied it was probably (ab)used as a display model not just due to the scratches but that the gun also wouldn't operate correctly (it wouldn't have left quality control in that condition).

Bottom line is they will make the entire gun whole again. Just have to wait another 60 days (on top of the 18 days since it was shipped to them AND the 10 days of DROS) before being returned.

Bud's Gun Shop: Never again.

[penguinofsleep]

OP - i read through both of your threads briefly. the function issue you had sounds very similar to an issue i had although i didn't have all of the minor miscellaneous wear you had. anyways, the culprit for the whole slide being stuck for me was galling on the rails (metal wasn't smoothed out enough). this is per the manufacturer after they repaired it.

[Rhyyke]

I remember this thread, good to hear that Colt is taking care of you!