1911 ISPT tool

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Sharps '63

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I put the merest mark on my new Remington R1 the last time I inserted the slide stop. It's barely visible with the slide stop installed. But, I felt really annoyed with myself.
I have the "idiot scratch"/"new guy to 1911s scratch"/"Human-induced-semi-circular-slide-stop-on-frame-contact-artifact" on my Series '70 Gold Cup from way back when. It was my 2nd 1911 and it was never a problem to insert the slide stop on my Series '70 Government Model.

Checking out the 1911 forums on the topic, it still seems to be a common problem amongst 1911 owners. Some bright bulb posted a video on a gadget marketed as the "1911 Idiot Scratch Protection Tool" or IPST for short. It's a piece of thin plastic that fits over the mag release button against the frame and allows the slide stop to be pushed in place safely.

Other methods are to use a piece of masking tape or business card, but you run the risk of snagging a bit of material, trapping it under the slide stop. At least I did.
It took me all of ten minutes to cut a couple out of a plastic coffee can lid - one for the R1 and another for the Gold Cup that slides under the larger mag release button.

IMHO, the real idiot is someone who would pay for the "1911 ISPT" tool plus S&H costs.
 
I made my own "idiot guard" for my 1911. I used the thin plastic from those bubble pack packaging. Cut a rectangle long enough to reach just under the notch for the slide lock/plunger tube and just past the magazine release. Marked off where the mag release button was and used a hole punch to cut that area out. Because the plastic is a bit slippery, there's still chance it can slip while trying to insert the slide stop so I stuck a piece of masking tape to the side that touches the frame. Done. Took about 5mins of work. :)
 
Hey, tell ya what .... don't think an ISPT is a good idea? - don't buy or make one! Not a problem.

From what I gathered on several 1911 forums, some guns allow the slide stop to be easily installed while others need some encouragement or depression of the safety plunger to allow passage. Whatever it takes ....

There is also a mod of the slide stop that takes a bit of file work and some makers are considering making it a standard feature, but anyone who thinks marring the finish of his gun is OK wouldn't be interested in that as an option .... ;>)

Putting an unnecessary mark on an expensive gun is truly the mark of an idiot, especially when it can be so easily avoided. We aren't talking holster wear and the other dings and scratches that occur from ordinary useage, but neglectful abuse.

What is your impression of a gun with bubba'd-up screws because the owner was too cheap or stupid to use proper fitting screwdrivers? The function of the gun is unimpaired, but the value has been reduced significantly.
 
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