1911 Owners: how do I fix the "idiot mark" ?

[tankerman]

Get Birchwood Casey Cold Blue at any store.
Use a Q-tip and apply a dab on the scratch mark.
It will be like new again.

Until you touch it and the Cold Blue comes right off.

[JohanD]

Refinish the frame?

[1911Luvr]

More important is how to not do it again.

+1 on this.

To aid in avoiding the scratch without making such a concerted effort, my gunsmith adds a simple weld to the back of the slide release catch and then cuts a line relief in the now thicker metal catch. Now with the newly cut notch lined up directly over the pin, pressing down firmly will force the slide stop back into place without the pin wanting to force the slide stop down toward the trigger. The slide stop has nowhere to go but straight in. A very simple mod but worth it's weight in gold for the headache it saves and the easy re-installation of the slide stop that it allows.

[psango]

OXPHO Blue is one of the best cold blues around. Follow up with a little Rem oil and it will be much less noticeable, not invisible but much harder to see. That's a nice 45 and it's worth this little bit of effort to make it and you feel better. We have all done it. There is a thread here on how to re-assemble and not make an idiot mark, it works.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1072/Product/OXPHO_BLUE_reg_

[Verci0013]

Grip safety really that bad? My father was the one who installed it before he passed it down to me lol

[Citadelonline]

Live with it or re-blue it. There are more 1911s with take down scratches than not - most people just don't post pictures of them.

Honest wear might add character, but an idiot mark on a 1911 just shows that someone field striped it without knowing what they were doing.

Then how did they field strip it?
Field striped is what happens when you scratch the frame.
Only when you own a 1911 for 20 years and never put a take down scratch on it, or know someone who scratches theirs multiple times, do you then earn the right to call someone else's prized weapon as being "idiot scratched" Till then it's a take down scratch.
Probably coming from someone who's never owned a 1911, or even field stripped one.

[Munk]

there are "blue" pens that are basically sharpies loaded with a blueing compound. Comes in conventional blued finish and black (although for all I know, it could be an actual sharpie that they labeled "black" finish).

They're cheap and can be used to disguise this, and every other ding you get in your gun.

also, listen to the 1911 fanatics when they tell you the grip safety is off, to me as a non-1911 guy, it looked like it was already compressed or something, maybe your dad forgot a spring in there... (which kinda makes it dangerous to carry if you holster it loaded).

eta: I have no doubt that i'd eventually "idiot" scratch mine once I get one...

[psango]

fitting grips safety

Grip safety really that bad? My father was the one who installed it before he passed it down to me lol

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=348615&highlight=caspian+build

This thread illustrates the work that is required to fit a custom grip safety. If you have the old or buy a stock colt one it is easy to re-install. Otherwise someone with gun smithing skill would need to install it and the frame would require re-blueing anyway.

[elsolo]

It will only be an issue when you pose it for pictures likes the ones in magazines.

[wrdavis]

Billy Mays sells just what you need for scratches. Hurry order now and get second one free, just pay extra shipping & handling.

https://www.fixitpropens.com/?mid=723872&a=55977&s=&ClickID=11_200856010_0c78e4b1-4b8d-4ab5-9bf8-973abc0e1950

[JSolie]

psst..... clone brush/healing brush will make that scratch go away completely

Just don't do that if you posting pics if you ever plan to sell it, otherwise any future buyers could be rather ticked.

[Mstnpete]

Until you touch it and the Cold Blue comes right off.

if the pistol were mine, I will have checkering done, beaver tale, low mount Bomar sights placed and S&A Magwell & ambi-safety & DK hammer Installed. It will be a 2 tone. Frame will be hard chromed and slide will remain the same.

[hkdad]

if the pistol were mine, I will have checkering done, beaver tale, low mount Bomar sights placed and S&A Magwell & ambi-safety & DK hammer Installed. It will be a 2 tone. Frame will be hard chromed and slide will remain the same.

show off!!!







nice gun!

[trashman]

Just buy another gun. That gun just became your "beater."

I also agree with the "guns get used and scratched, don't worry about ." school of thought.

^^^These.

Everybody scratches their first 1911..

--Neill

[Chill_Bebop]

Almost every Military service 1911 I've seen has had a huge idiot mark, and for whatever reason most Series 70s have one too. Just live with it, still a very pretty Colt.