1911 slide rail

[thetruecheese]

Hey guys i was looking at my colt earlier and noticed it had this gouge forming on the right-hand side rail on top. Which i didn't like. I smoothed it out and then went to attacking the slide rail itself, which felt quite rough on the right side and a bit on the left.
It is stainless so i wanted to make sure i snuff it out before i get any excess wear or issues.
Opinions?

best way to smooth the rails out perfectly? I did a quick job with a few fine files and some sandpaper sticks for fingernails or something, then tried to lap it with some toothpaste. The slide -side rails had some pretty significant rough marks/ maybe even some early galling as far as i know so i filed it very very carefully and sanded it lightly, it came out much smoother than before despite the images making it look scratched up. Still, maybe needs more work.
pic 1:
slide rail marring, frame side

pic 2:
slide, machining marks/ cleaned up rail still imperfect but smoother than before

pic 3:
shadow of divot in frame same as pic 1 sorry it's sideways

[MosinVirus]

Is this a new gun?

I would stop now and before you make it super loose.

[thetruecheese]

it's just as loose as i want it to be right now. I just want to find the ebst way to re polish the metal so it stays this loose. Gun isn't new.

[MosinVirus]

it's just as loose as i want it to be right now. I just want to find the ebst way to re polish the metal so it stays this loose. Gun isn't new.

Whst I was saying is that if it was already loose there is nothing to be done there.

[redhemi]

Did it always look that way or is it something that has just started happening. Maybe a light polishing with something Flitz and then use some light grease for more lubrication than oil.

[Milsurp1]

I would stop and contact the manufacturer. If the metal is defective or the initial fitment was off the manufacturer should want to correct it. Being off roster though I would ask them to confirm that they will only repair this frame and not keep it or destroy it.

[Mute]

If your gun is 100% reliable stop messing with it.

[Tarmy]

Is this an aesthetics issue or reliability issue?

If it is a well used gun...and you have tinkered with it so that it functions well...why worry about the looks....or is the future wear of the fix a concern?

[buffybuster]

What lube are you running?
What manufacturer 1911?

[rmnc3r]

I make good use of Eze Lap Diamond hones; I would knock down the high spot with a medium, then smooth it over with a fine or superfine

https://www.amazon.com/EZE-LAP-PAK-Color-Coded-Diamond/dp/B000UVS62S/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1550348458&sr=8-18&keywords=ezelap+hone

[brassburnz]

If your 1911 functions with 100% reliability, I wouldn't do anything to the frame or rails. Those look like machining marks, not wear marks.

Take a permanent marker and cover the marks. Re-assemble the 1911 and rack the slide a couple of times without putting downward pressure on the slide or upward pressure on the frame. Better yet, fire a magazine or two at the range.

If the permanent marker is still there, the frame and slide are not making contact.

[XDJYo]

Don't mess with it.

If your gun is 100% reliable, it won't make any difference.

[thetruecheese]

Well that slide divot doesn't seem normal, you can see that shadow as indicated on the frame. It seems the slide is harder metal than the frame and the sharp edge is riding into the frame. Are the slide cuts rail supposed to be raduised at all along its edges? If this was a carbon 1911 i wouldn't worry at all, but stainless isn't as durable.

[Robert1234]

You're not doing anything that will improve the function or accuracy of that gun. Whether you're "fixing" an aesthetic defect is debatable. If this is a well used gun, that's had no issues to this point, leave it alone.

It's a machine not jewelry. It will get wear marks on bearing surfaces. Grease them and keep them lubed and it will run for a long time.

[heidad01]

If your 1911 functions with 100% reliability, I wouldn't do anything to the frame or rails. Those look like machining marks, not wear marks.

Take a permanent marker and cover the marks. Re-assemble the 1911 and rack the slide a couple of times without putting downward pressure on the slide or upward pressure on the frame. Better yet, fire a magazine or two at the range.

If the permanent marker is still there, the frame and slide are not making contact.

You should really do this.