"The legendary 1911 idiot scratch'

...forgot to mention...there are a few different levels of scratches you can get...and they don't them "scratches" either. I remember one of them is called the "Operator's Mark"...it is a pretty serious scratch... obviously repeated a number of times by someone who is really hardcore. For something less agressive, you can get the "Shooter's Line". I think there is a third one but I can't remember it.

Hope they have the optional ... Cleaning 3 pistols at the same time scratch... JP.
 
In that scenario, it would be a key scratch equating to a scratch on the magwell for not inserting the mag correctly. Both things are done during routine operation, no real skill or knowledge is needed to execute either.

An idiot scratch is done on disassembly and/or reassembly. Not something that happens under normal operation, it was done under maintenance, obviously by someone who is taking something apart and they do not know how to properly do it.

It's just how I feel about it, you can feel however you like

I accidentally dropped a motor on the fender of my car while changing it, is that the same thing?
 
I buy my guns to shoot them and yes scratches suck but wow you would think all the 1911's owned by the owners of this thread are in a beauty pageant haha but hey that just means I get cheaper used guns so " power to the diva's :rockOn: "

To that I somewhat agree.

I bought my Trojan with some wear. No idiot scratch (I don't think, will have to look again), but I knew it would be taken down often, shot hard, and sometimes put away wet. Ok, that's a bit of a extension as I care for my guns well, but its main use will be competition and holster use. Scratches happen. A good running pistol is a good running pistol no matter what it looks like. A small part of me loves wear marks. That takes a lot of good and bad times to get like that. Shows it's use, character, and overall enjoyment. New pistols are boring. Safe queens are paperweights.
 
A scratch on any pistol, when it happen is forgotten 10 seconds after...
Personally dont care much about them, wont do them on purpose but when they occur... Bof... JP.:agree:
 
Some people's reactions make it seem like the firearm will explode if scratched. I take very good care of mine but it doesn't bother me in the least if there is a scuff. I don't buy them with the intention of selling them. I fail to see how this little mark is evidence that the owner "made other errors". A gouge or a dent or failing a function test would be a warning sign to me. I have a CZ 455 that I put a 3mm scratch on the wood stock when I picked it up off the bench at the range. There must have been a small bit of debris on the table top. Whatev. New gun stress is over. I can relax now.
 
I never really understood the big deal about a scratch on a gun. it's not the end of the world....I mean unless you keep putting that same scratch on your gun over and over again.

it's like a cylinder drag line on a revolver. it's gonna happen no matter what

the 1911 scratch doesn't bother me if it's faint. if it's been scratched over and over again.....someone needs to learn to be more careful

there's too many people buying guns and never shooting them, keeping them in pristine condition with the original box and papers in the safe. I guess that's a good thing when you decide to sell it to the next person who's gonna actually shoot the gun and enjoy it.

at least it's better than the guy that gets a new gun and immediately changes everything with aftermarket crap and ditches all the original parts......and keeps it in the safe and never shoots it.
 
I stayed out of this thread for a while, as I love my my 1911's and the take down scratch is easily avoided with care an attention, non of my newer and originally owned 1911's have it. For those of you calling it an idiot scratch you can also thank the "idiots" that fought in two great wars to protect most folks freedom and liberties. They were tools of the trade and used as such with out collectors or your thoughts of calling it and idiot scratch in mind. I took these pics for a different thread but fack it, the original owner of this pistol was the furthest thing from an idiot.




 
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I don't get how this is such a big deal. Someone else said it, but it bears repeating: since apparently so many people care, I would be wary of the idiot scratch if and only if there was a reasonable chance I'd want to sell the gun. If i'm not planning to sell it, I really don't care.

I have a Wilson CQB Elite that I LOVE to shoot. At the moment it's in good shape, but I certainly won't care as it develops scratches, because that thing isn't going anywhere. I'd say the same about my P226.

On the other hand, I have an HK USP stainless that I'm taking pains to maintain in pristine cosmetic order, because I can't seem to shoot it worth a damn so it likely won't be with me long. I'd imagine that I'd feel much the same way about a Glock if I were to ever buy one for some reason ;)
 
I just read in Gun Weekly that starting in 2016, all Les Baer 1911 platform guns will be coming out with pre-scratched frames. This is a very bold move in my opinion but you can bet after they start to become circulated, folks will be scratching their non-scratched guns on purpose, just so that they have the same appearance as a Les Baer. Who would have guessed!


Nighthawk beat them to it with this poseur special :p

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Except, of course, they omitted putting wear on the grips.
 
I've even got one on my Kimber, Mostly comes from field stripping it, I used to baby all my guns but now with leagues and matches scratches and holster wear doesn't bother me in the slightest as long as its still shooting good and straight
 
How to prevent the "idiot scratch"....

If you "need" to...... With some standard hard plastic packaging material, a sharpie, ahole punch, a pair of scissors & a few minutes of time you can make yourself a handy-dandy idiot scratch prevention tool:

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Easily slips on & off for disassembly & reassembly. Prevents the underside of the rear of the slide stop from scoring the frame.

Too late for many of the 'oldies' but worthwhile if you've bought a spankin' new 1911........... ;)

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NAA.
 
Nice.

Thus far taking proper care and sometimes cleaning up the slide stop where it mates with the plunger has kept mine scratch free
 
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