1911 "Idiot Marks."

[responsiblefreedom69]

I was just wondering...

How is it that a large percentage of the 1911s listed for sale here have "Idiot Marks," and yet they are never placed there by the current owner? Hmmm...

[darkest2000]

Because people hang on to 1911s that have yet to acquire the "idiot mark"?

[Q619]

Because they're embarrassed to admit they put it there it's carelessness that causes it.

[Can't buy anything here]

For first time 1911ers, a playing card with a slit in it, under the slide stop, is a good fix until you get the hang of it....

[Peter W Bush]

"My friend did it"

[furfam4]

What r idiot marks

[nickvig]

Because they bought them used......

[Legasat]

I did it, first time I cleaned it. I'm not proud of it, but there it is...

[responsiblefreedom69]

Q619 nailed it on the head!!

[JaMail]

i did mine, it has the double idiot mark, slide and frame. first 1911 i owned, id only shot one before. i got it top and bottom and it looks horrible, big half circle.

[Cokebottle]

What r idiot marks

A scratch in the shape on an arc on the frame of a 1911 just under the rear of the slide stop.

During reassembly, apparently some people have a problem with the thing swinging down when they pull the slide back into position to seat the stop and the pin on the stop scratches the frame.

My RIA has no idiot mark, but the blueing under the slide stop is scarred from the lever operation.

[Blackhawk556]

I've never owned a 1911 so cut me some slack. How does the mark appear? What is the correct way of doing it without getting the idiot mark?

[WW2Buff]

I bought mine used with a small one on it. I will admit that when I was younger I made it a bit bigger... Live and learn I guess

[Can't buy anything here]

I've never owned a 1911 so cut me some slack. How does the mark appear? What is the correct way of doing it without getting the idiot mark?

It's kind of like letting the force guide you...if you push straight down, it usually slides off the pin...you need to go slow and feel where it engages the pin and give it a little push upwards....like I said above, take an old playing card, slit it down the middle and slide it under the slide stop until you get the hang of it...

Or you can be a real idiot and buy one of these...

http://1911-ispt.com/

[CSACANNONEER]

Because, I'm not going to sell my favorite 1911 even though I scratched it once.