Idiot scratch dollar value

[beetle]

At least we all agree that IDIOT Scratch is the correct description for it!

I was once STRONGLY corrected by a couple of older gentlemen that the correct term on military 1911s is

"take down lever scratch" or
"GI scratch"


their reasoning was that calling it an "idiot scratch" was disrespectful to the soldier who might have been trying to reassemble the gun in the field, in a foxhole, etc.

I can see their reasoning. I still call it an idiot scratch though

[vintagearms]

That being said, for COLLECTOR's guns, it's at least 20% of the overall value, as noted by the $16,000 Colt.

.

There are a lot of variables with auctions. It could be there was a bidding war with the first auction and it got out of hand, meaning the buyer paid too much. When it went to auction the second time, it went for a more reasonable amount. Condition does play a part, but I have my doubts the 5k price difference was because of scratches alone.

[RedFord150]

I suspect the idiot scratch is a function of how (some) people were taught how to reassemble a 1911. ....

Nobody taught me. I just followed the owner's manual.
I bought my Double Eagle used. The idiot scratch was already on it.
My DW PM7 has the scratch I put on it. Luckily, I like shooting the gun much more than I like looking at it.
Do you think the idiot scratch makes it less accurate? Yeah, that's what I thought...

[Lead Waster]

I put one on my Ria. I was installing it straight down to avoid the scratch and
As
I was pushing it on ... I spazzed out and scratched it. I cared for about five
Minutes then stopped
Giving a crap.

[liljhonsmith]

I would pass on one especially if it were a $1-2k gun. Unless it was such a good deal that I could do a few mods and re finish it.

[Manolito]

I am total odd man out. I watch on here about concealed carry then see a holster that may have been on a belt twice not a sweat stain on it. Then the gun has no wear at all. My gun rides a tractor goes fishing crawls under a baler to set a needle and the holsters have little finish on them and are all sweat stained.

My PU has scratches and I paid 50K for it. Then again I don't live downtown LA and wash and wax it between trips to the store.

What I call idiot is the crap I see on a M4 owned by some guy in Burbank. Guns have one function for me not for you or any one else but for me they are no different than the wrenches in my box or the three point swather I tow behind my tractor. Just a tool.

So I am the idiot Oh did I mention the holster has worn all the bluing off around the holster contact points.

I own a Colt gold cup National Match built in 1980 and I can't even tell you if it has a mark or not just not important to me. I can tell you it sees a lot of carry.

[jonzer77]

I am total odd man out. I watch on here about concealed carry then see a holster that may have been on a belt twice not a sweat stain on it. Then the gun has no wear at all. My gun rides a tractor goes fishing crawls under a baler to set a needle and the holsters have little finish on them and are all sweat stained.



My PU has scratches and I paid 50K for it. Then again I don't live downtown LA and wash and wax it between trips to the store.



What I call idiot is the crap I see on a M4 owned by some guy in Burbank. Guns have one function for me not for you or any one else but for me they are no different than the wrenches in my box or the three point swather I tow behind my tractor. Just a tool.



So I am the idiot Oh did I mention the holster has worn all the bluing off around the holster contact points.



I own a Colt gold cup National Match built in 1980 and I can't even tell you if it has a mark or not just not important to me. I can tell you it sees a lot of carry.

Holster wear and such actually looks good on a pistol in my opinion as it shows the gun is actually used as it's intended.

A idiot scratch from improperly putting the gun back together isn't the same thing, hence the term idiot scratch.

[johnthomas]

If you are talking about a new modern high dollar weapon and you are keeping it, then none. If you are selling it, then it will cost you whatever the cost of a refinish. I have a 1911 combat Commander with a factory nickle finish, 70 series. The gun was stored under an old mans bed, not in a case for years. A refinish would cost about 350 from colt. If I were to sell it, it wouldn't be worth it to have it finished. That idiot move would cost me about 250 dollars in value.

[Killer Bee]

oh yes one more thing -- on war collectibles (i.e. 1911s from WWI, WWII, etc) the idiot scratch is to be expected. Finding a war collectible without a scratch is very rare.

So in this case you should almost expect the scratch to be there, and then pay a premium of it isn't.

just thinking the very same thing..

thousands of field stripping of guns they don't own.. many war period guns may have even been cleared and cleaned in haste on the two-way range and should be expected..

[ijustdontknow]

I put one on my Ria. I was installing it straight down to avoid the scratch and
As
I was pushing it on ... I spazzed out and scratched it. I cared for about five
Minutes then stopped
Giving a crap.

Have one on my RIA and to be honest I dislike the white RIA rollmark 1000 times more than the GI scratch.

To each is own. When I bought a high end 1911 I went with Les Baer Custom Carry because it is built like a tank and had everything I wanted. Sure it looks nice, but I did not buy it to look at it. A few character marks would increase its appeal but I can't bring myself to adding any intentionally. Same thing with my CZ SP01. I rented a CZ 75B at the range before I bought the SP01 and to be honest the worn and scratched range rental gun looked better to me.

Others like their guns to look nice and many of them have shared their disdain for the GI scratch on this thread.

I'm thinking of having my RIA cerakoted in some desert sand anyway. Then the idiot scratch might bother me.

[thomashoward]

Some people like to look at guns. Others like to actually use them. I sure can't see idiot scratches while I'm using a 1911.

Right? some people worry about the dumbest stuff. Safe queens are not real shooters
a scratch is a sign of use . Rust and "other" is a sign of mis-use and neglect.

[rromeo]

I put one on my Ria. I was installing it straight down to avoid the scratch and
As
I was pushing it on ... I spazzed out and scratched it. I cared for about five
Minutes then stopped
Giving a crap.

That's exactly what happened with my Ruger, and exactly how I feel about it. I carry it daily, so it's going to get marks.

[customiiguy]

if im gonna spend $800+ on a gun it better look new

[hatidua]

If I was eyeing a $1700 Springfield Armory Professional with a slight scratch on it, and the guy offered to pay for the refinishing, he gets all my $1700. Because I am going to use it anyway, and brand new will cost me about $2600 out the door.

Anyone letting an SA Pro go for $1,700 doesn't have to offer to refinish as there will be ten guys in line behind you willing to take it for $1,700, scratch & all.

[jonzer77]

if im gonna spend $800+ on a gun it better look new