Kimber 1911 Assembly Question

[ericneth63]

MY DROS for Kimber Custom2 is done tomorrow and I will taking it the range to break her in. This is my first 1911 and as my custom with every new gun, i will give it a once over field strip and quick clean. I have watched a few videos on cleaning a Kimber as well as asked a few buddies on the process. In some videos i hear a few few folks refer to avoiding the "idiot scratch" when installing the slide stop. Can any 1911 experts out there enlighten me on this term and how to avoid it. Thanks in advance to my Calgunners brethren as usual

[Tack]

Don't push down on the slide release as you lift it up into the slot in the slide/frame. Rotate it into position, then push into the hole. Sometimes the spring plunger makes this hard to do.

Mine has the idiot scratch.

[DaveFJ80]

For me, I just use a very small flat-head screw driver and hold in the safety spring that pushes against the slide release on my TLE. The slide release just drops right in with no rotating needed, thus no way of getting the idiot scratch.

[blazing]

i use a snap on pocket screwdriver and it has been working great. con grats on the new kimber, i got my stainless raptor a month or 2 ago and i LOVE it.

[whipkiller]

Would this technique work the same for an SA Loaded? I've also seen pics where people put a piece of blue painters tape over the area, does this work?

[kTC xDEICIDEx]

This is what I do and recommend, I would not recommend using a screwdriver because you run the risk of scratching the slide or frame. Just cut up a square of packaging like I did or anything that's thicker than a piece of paper. Then you can slide in the slide stop easy as pie. 

[rogervzv]

This is what I do and recommend, I would not recommend using a screwdriver because you run the risk of scratching the slide or frame. Just cut up a square of packaging like I did or anything that's thicker than a piece of paper. Then you can slide in the slide stop easy as pie. 

Good idea. My Colt 45 Gold Cup also has the idiot scratch. Only flaw on the gun. Wish I had done the above.

[gbarbo001]

This is what I do and recommend, I would not recommend using a screwdriver because you run the risk of scratching the slide or frame. Just cut up a square of packaging like I did or anything that's thicker than a piece of paper. Then you can slide in the slide stop easy as pie. 

Great solution! Thanks for sharing.

[DannyZRC]

not a kimber owner, just an internet person here, but I seem to recall having read something about the schwartz safety having some particulars during re-assembly.

anyone care to comment, or even know what I'm talking about?

[JanG]

not a kimber owner, just an internet person here, but I seem to recall having read something about the schwartz safety having some particulars during re-assembly.

anyone care to comment, or even know what I'm talking about?

don't press on the grip safety while putting the slide back on the frame. there's a little post on the top of the frame next to the disconnector that protrudes when pressing the grip safety. make sure that is down, i had a scare the first time i put a kimber back together.