Question for Les Baer owners.

[redhemi]

I picked up a LB Premier II from a fellow Calguner in excellent shape. Well after 600 rounds and with minimal use of the thumb safety it got a nice sized scratch on the frame under the safety. You can only see it when the safety is engaged. I called LB this morning and was told by the CS rep that this does happen due to the tight tolerances of their guns. Well needless to say I am not happy with the answer I got. My question is do any of you LB owners have the same problem?

[adamkdoiron]

What would you prefer? A loose safety? Its a moving part and on any 1911 becomes a spot of finish loss eventually. Id say shoot it and move on, your frame rails will loose finish, the sides of the grip safety will loose finish, the slide if you carry it, etc etc.

[Sentenza]

I have a Custom Carry with a lot of "character". However, the safety does not rub like your PII.

[mitori]

I have a Premier II. I can't tell you whether it has a scratch under the safety because I don't care, so if it's there it never registered in my brain.

Go take a 2 day, 1,000 round count class; you'll care a lot less about how your guns look after.

[redhemi]

Thank you for your input. At one time I did put it up for sale but buyers wanted
me to discount it a couple of hundred just because of the scratch. Even though I don't shoot 45 much anymore because of my bad right thumb I guess I'll just keep it and shoot the heck out of it.

[D.A.V.I.D.]

Thank you for your input. At one time I did put it up for sale but buyers wanted
me to discount it a couple of hundred just because of the scratch. Even though I don't shoot 45 much anymore because of my bad right thumb I guess I'll just keep it and shoot the heck out of it.

[SDDAVE56]

I have a Custom Carry with a lot of "character". However, the safety does not rub like your PII.

Same here.

[naz]

That sucks OP. I have / have had several semi custom guns from other manuf without that wear while enjoying tight tolerances

My $0.02, take a sharpie that matches, discount it a bit less and sell it (since you stated your original plan was to sell)

[SkyHawk]

Is it a scratch or is it finish wear?

If it really is a scratch, then the safety should be removed and the sharp edge broken or the burr removed.

If it is just finish wear, that is par for the course with Baers - they have a very thin finish. You could put a little grease on the back side of the safety along that edge to minimize the effect of the rubbing

[redhemi]

Is it a scratch or is it finish wear?

If it really is a scratch, then the safety should be removed and the sharp edge broken or the burr removed.

If it is just finish wear, that is par for the course with Baers - they have a very thin finish. You could put a little grease on the back side of the safety along that edge to minimize the effect of the rubbing

This is in the plan when I get around to a complete tear down. Like I said I have only 600 through it and have only field stripped and cleaned it once. Baers directions say 500 rounds before field strip and clean and I completely tear down and clean my 1911s at 1k.

[hambam105]

Any real 1911 shooter knows that a minimalist scratch under the thumb safety will decrease external bullet velocity.
Heck, I herd that some guy had a exposed scratch on the slide causing 230 round nose bullets to bounce off thin
cardboard targets at 12 yards if the ambient temperature was less than 70 degrees.

Call me for beach front Arizona home prices before the new price increases take effect.

[D.A.V.I.D.]

Any real 1911 shooter knows that a minimalist scratch under the thumb safety will decrease external bullet velocity.
Heck, I herd that some guy had a exposed scratch on the slide causing 230 round nose bullets to bounce off thin
cardboard targets at 12 yards if the ambient temperature was less than 70 degrees.

I think I read an article discussing this phenomenon.

[hunterb]

That seems like a big scratch for just being “tight fitting.” my Baer concept ii doesn’t have it but i don’t use the safety a lot as it’s a range gun.

[snaggletooth]

To the OP... I've had about 8 Les Baers go through my hands, 3 of them were 1.5" guarantee Premier II guns.. 2 of them had similar wear patterns as yours. It is normal, I never thought much of it.

Also, just a heads up.. when you do a complete break down. Put a cleaning brush in between where the breach face barrel hood come in contact, it allows for easier turning of the barrel bushing. I was taught that trick and it helps keep that bushing tight.. which will (in theory) keep it very accurate for years to come.

[SDDAVE56]

To the OP... I've had about 8 Les Baers go through my hands, 3 of them were 1.5" guarantee Premier II guns.. 2 of them had similar wear patterns as yours. It is normal, I never thought much of it.

Also, just a heads up.. when you do a complete break down. Put a cleaning brush in between where the breach face barrel hood come in contact, it allows for easier turning of the barrel bushing. I was taught that trick and it helps keep that bushing tight.. which will (in theory) keep it very accurate for years to come.

I never knew that. Ill give it a try next time. Although, I wish mine would loosen up a tad. Especially since I have to use the barrel as a slide hammer to knock the bushing out of the slide.