“Idiot scratch” on 1911...Why?

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Gunner84

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“Idiot scratch” on 1911...Why?

I’ve owned quite a few 1911’s over the past few years. Never put a “idiot scratch” on one. Mainly because I took 5 minutes to watch online how to disassemble/reassemble the pistol correctly. Compared to today’s more modern pistols I guess the 1911 is more complicated to field strip, but I personally have never found it a challenge to take one down, nor put it back together. I only bring this up because I notice a lot of EE 1911 pistols with the infamous “Idiot Scratch” on them.
 
I reckon it's our disposable society, I'm sure someone with a $4000 kimber is going to make sure not to scratch it up but a $400 norinco is fair game
 
wd113 said:
I did it.....oh well..... make fun of me then...... Ive got worse scratches on nicer guns........ sh*t happens....
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I’m not out to make fun of anyone, I’ve simply observed some pretty high end 1911’s with this mark, would have thought if your dropping that kind of cash on a pistol you’d have researched the inner workings of that particular pistol.... AND I AM BY NO MEANS A EXPERT IN THIS MATTER...Just your local weekend Plinker!
 
I bought my stainless colt rail gun used with the idiot scratch ready.....I use a guitar pick when taking down my ruget sr1911.....very easy to achieve
 
Have you reassembled high-end 1911's before? Most of the higher end 1911's aren't forgiving when inserting the slidestop as compared to mid-grade 1911's. Some are but many are not. Tolerances are usually a lot tighter, detent springs seem harder to push aside and generally fit and finish are much tighter making the task a lot more susceptible to damage. It's easier to put an idiot scratch in a high-end 1911 and it hurts way more! In my experience Les Baer's are scratches waiting to happen as well as Springfields. Colts can go either way and DW's are another one that's hard to avoid marking the frame. I've also noticed that once the gun is broken in then it's easier to reinsert slidestops with less chance of the dreaded idiot scratch. Own several long enough and it's bound to happen. The first cut is always the deepest.
 
dannyair said:
Have you reassembled high-end 1911's before? Most of the higher end 1911's aren't forgiving when inserting the slidestop as compared to mid-grade 1911's. Some are but many are not. Tolerances are usually a lot tighter, detent springs seem harder to push aside and generally fit and finish are much tighter making the task a lot more susceptible to damage. It's easier to put an idiot scratch in a high-end 1911 and it hurts way more! In my experience Les Baer's are scratches waiting to happen as well as Springfields. Colts can go either way and DW's are another one that's hard to avoid marking the frame. I've also noticed that once the gun is broken in then it's easier to reinsert slidestops with less chance of the dreaded idiot scratch. Own several long enough and it's bound to happen. The first cut is always the deepest.
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The mag release on my Norinco is stupid tight also, but so far, so good.
 
Gunner84 said:
I’ve owned quite a few 1911’s over the past few years. Never put a “idiot scratch” on one. Mainly because I took 5 minutes to watch online how to disassemble/reassemble the pistol correctly. Compared to today’s more modern pistols I guess the 1911 is more complicated to field strip, but I personally have never found it a challenge to take one down, nor put it back together. I only bring this up because I notice a lot of EE 1911 pistols with the infamous “Idiot Scratch” on them.
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I never found it challenging to take apart or put back together. But I had accidents where I accidentally dropped them off benches. Oh well. Just not super anal retentive about a scratch.
 
Accidents happen. I preven the “scratch” by putting the corner of a business card underneath the slide stop. Just pop it back in and no :headBang:
 
Gunner84 said:
I’m not out to make fun of anyone, I’ve simply observed some pretty high end 1911’s with this mark, would have thought if your dropping that kind of cash on a pistol you’d have researched the inner workings of that particular pistol.... AND I AM BY NO MEANS A EXPERT IN THIS MATTER...Just your local weekend Plinker!
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Ever see a guy drive his Bugatti through the Drive Through?
To each their own.
Why worry about other peoples first world problems.
Now, if it where deemed unsafe because of said improper handling then maybe.........
Nah, I want the Bugatti !
Rob
 
mine came with an idiot scratch on it....... honestly!

i could care less about an idiot scratch.
you don't hear anyone complaining about scuffs in the side of a M&P where the take down lever swings by and marks up.
you don't hear anyone complaining about the marks on old Ruger MK I, II and III from where people have thrown them across the room after a failed reassembly.

they are tools, they will get marks on them, i try not to let it worry me.

i remember putting together my first AR and i watch a couple video's and they all said "be careful when your putting the roll pin in for the bolt release" and what did i do? scratched the AR putting in the roll pin for the bolt release.
after a couple runs at the range you couldn't tell the difference between that mark and the other 100 marks from playing.

its just a OCD thing.
 
I guess I'm OCD and since I have an Ed Brown 1911 I bought the little plastic things that prevent the idiot scratch. To each his own method but I look after my stuff and don't want to scratch anything I buy unnecessarily.
 
I never understood the whole it's a tool thing when it comes to a range pistol that you don't compete with. It's not a tool it's a toy if you compete with it then it's a competition tool or if you carry it for work it's a tool. Personally when people put the idiot scratch on a 1911 and say it dosnt matter because it's a tool are just trying to make them self feel better about it.
Holster wear is going to happen to any gun it unavoidable if you holster it but the idiot scratch is completely avoidable. I don't see guys dragging the gas pump nozzle across the box of their truck when they fill up and say it's a tool so it dosnt matter.
 
I laugh at people saying they are just "tools". If you are a trapper, way up north, and you have an old .22 riding with you on your trap line, OK, it is a tool. But, I think most people who buy firearms take pride in their purchases and spend as much time cleaning and polishing as they do shooting. I would also like to point out that I have several friends who are mechanics (aircraft, automotive and marine) and they treat their tools with care and respect. Many of them have tools passed down from their fathers who were also mechanics and treat them with the respect they deserve.
If you are a slob and don't want to take pride and look after you firearms, that's up to you(your $ loss). I know my resale or trade value will be higher than yours.
 
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