1911 "Idiot Marks."

[MTD]

Obama said Bush did it!

[Beelzy]

Ok, THIS pic shows it all. The mark just below the slide stop is NORMAL, the
nice semi-circle scratch on the scalloped area behind the trigger is the Idiot mark.

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.

[giants_fan24]

I've bought 3 1911's off of fellow Calgunners and 2 of them had idiot marks, lucky for me the one that doesn't have one was my Colt N.M. Gold Cup. I did have a good one on the Colt Xse I just got but I plan to shoot the crap out of that one anyways.

[Andy Taylor]

A friend of mine just picked up a Series '70 Gold Cup, his first 1911. Good place to start. Last night I was teaching him how to disassemble/reassemble etc. Of course the GC already had the idiot mark. I explained how it happens and how to avoid it.
BTW, never heard the playing card trick, I will let him know about that one. Thanks.

[TMC]

My guns are tools so a small mark from the countless times I've put it back together after cleaning doesn't bother me. Similar to worrying about getting marks on the face of a hammer.

[rogervzv]

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

That is how I did mine. ;-).

[chickenfried]

It's good honest wear and tear just like using a screwdriver to pry off the slidestop. Both are Inevitable unless your gun is a safe queen.

[TurboChrisB]

I did it to mine the first time I sat there and field stripped it and figured it out. I was bummed for about a minute. But I don't sell guns....I only buy them so I don't worry about it.

[TMC]

It's good honest wear and tear just like using a screwdriver to pry off the slidestop.

OK, that's just wrong!

[a1c]

I might be buying my first 1911 soon from a Calgunner. It's got a mark. I don't mind so much because: 1. it means a somewhat cheaper gun for me and 2. I don't want to be the one putting a mark on my brand new, first 1911, which I am likely to do considering I never disassembled and cleaned one before. So it will be my learning 1911. Hopefully I learn not to screw it up, and then I can get myself a nice virgin one.

[liketoshoot]

always used painters tape, or on the stainless ones scotchbrite to blend it away if it did happen, not saying it did as you can't see anything there but I heard it works ......

[filetitan]

Good info. This will come in handy when i clean my first 1911

[jonzer77]

It helps the resale value if you can avoid the idiot mark but if you don't plan on selling it then its not a big deal.

[hkfooey]

I have one - just part of life...

[beauregard]

I've managed to idiot mark one 1911, not idiot mark another, and inherit one with an idiot mark; so personally I'm one-for-three.