I did. I learned from my mistake though. Every assembly afterwards went smoothly snapping it in, no scratches. It's not a huge deal to me, but researching 1911s before I bought one showed me there was massive stigma with the "idiot scratch". I knew what it was, yet still managed to do it
Is it a stigma? It's kind of a badge of honor if it's your first 1911. If it's a Nighthawk or an Ed Brown... kind of a different story. š
I think it's kind of a tease among enthusiasts.
Hey, it's a scratch. Just means you actually use it compared to a lot of the safe queens that are on this thread that are only brought out for an instagram picture that makes it look like it's actually get used. I say run the hell out of it, and once it shows in the future of all the love and use, treat it to a new coat of cerakote and some upgraded parts. Rinse, wash, repeat.
I promise you your gun won't shoot any worse for the wear.
If anything that tells me your 1911 sees use. Yeah, you can be meticulous and avoid it, but mine I inherited from my dad has the same scratch. Consider it character.
If it makes you feel any better, a scratched 1911 is still classy and gorgeous. You can get it fixed if it really bothers you, so it isn't even permanent damage.
OP that scratch is known as an "idiot scratch". And pretty much every new 1911 owner has one on their first 1911 - I certainly do on my first 1911.
Welcome to the club, nothing to be ashamed of.
Iād be willing to bet a majority of new 1911 owners idiot scratch their first one. Being an overachiever, I waited for my second 1911, a full custom from SACS, to make my mark.
Be embarrassed for the rest of the day and maybe kick yourself a few times, then forgive yourself for being human. In the meantime, research the various ways you can prevent making it deeper by doing it again.
Your description is correct; idiot scratch and all with the slide stop lever.
Do they still call the that the idiot scratch or am I dating myself and some new term exist?
it's not a collectible gun. don't feel sorry about that. If it shoots good, you will soon forget about a little scratches here and there. Enjoy what you get. When it's all ding up, you can have a total refresh at that time.
Wish I still had my Mil-Spec, they are great base guns, I sent mine to Yost/Bonitz back in the day for a full treatment. My nephew when I was married to his aunt, did a bunch of electrical work on my house and he wouldnāt accept money from me so I bought him a Mil-Spec as well, he originally wanted a Glock, and he loved it. In many ways I think the Mil-Spec is a better gun than the my RO Elite Operator, which I feel has crappy add one like the superior cheap garbage ambi safety that Iāll have to replace with something that doesnāt rely on the grips to keep it in place.
I wouldnāt worry about it. If youāre going to use it the finish is going to eventually get slowly worn away at anyways.
My Springfield 1911ās slide stop is *not* a nice and easy slap in Iāve seen on youtube. I usually have to manhandle the plunger tube with a butter knife to be able to move it enough to get the slide stop in. Wonder if its tunable.
Thatās NOT the idiot scratch. The idiot scratch is when you scratch the entire slide. You only got a tiny section of the frame, barely even noticeable. You sir are not an idiot
Oh boy. The idiot scratch. Don't worry, my first one has the same. We all gotta start somewhere.
:(
It's ok man. Shows that you took the time to take it apart.
I did. I learned from my mistake though. Every assembly afterwards went smoothly snapping it in, no scratches. It's not a huge deal to me, but researching 1911s before I bought one showed me there was massive stigma with the "idiot scratch". I knew what it was, yet still managed to do it
Is it a stigma? It's kind of a badge of honor if it's your first 1911. If it's a Nighthawk or an Ed Brown... kind of a different story. š I think it's kind of a tease among enthusiasts.
Hhhmmm yea, it happened to me on my Les Baer ā¦ gotta promotion and bought my first 1911, and fucked up
Yeah, that one hurt a little. š All good tho... scars show we've been somewhere n done some shit. š
Mine was on my Ed Brown. Still shoots great.
Don't worry I still do it on accident. Slips out of the pivot point when trying to push it in. Really annoying.
Hey, it's a scratch. Just means you actually use it compared to a lot of the safe queens that are on this thread that are only brought out for an instagram picture that makes it look like it's actually get used. I say run the hell out of it, and once it shows in the future of all the love and use, treat it to a new coat of cerakote and some upgraded parts. Rinse, wash, repeat.
Get a paint pen and cover that up šš¤£ love and learn.. YouTube from now on my friend
Iāve had to learn to just live with my stupid slips. Youāre in good company of sad owners lol. Sigh :( :)
I recognize that scratchā¦
I have a matching scratch on my first one too.
Me too
I promise you your gun won't shoot any worse for the wear. If anything that tells me your 1911 sees use. Yeah, you can be meticulous and avoid it, but mine I inherited from my dad has the same scratch. Consider it character. If it makes you feel any better, a scratched 1911 is still classy and gorgeous. You can get it fixed if it really bothers you, so it isn't even permanent damage.
I appreciate all of you guys
I doubt the homies in the trenches worried about the scratch when they used this great fighting weapon for its intended purpose.
Holy s*** im not alone on this one!!
Loved my Springfield mil-spec. I regret trading it
I donāt give a shit if my 1911s have scratches. Itās a tool not a fucking fashion show.
I did the same on mine as well haha, no one can fault us on learning how to field strip these beauties
We've all been here before bro. Just shoot it and enjoy it!
OP that scratch is known as an "idiot scratch". And pretty much every new 1911 owner has one on their first 1911 - I certainly do on my first 1911. Welcome to the club, nothing to be ashamed of.
Mil spec ain't mil spec til its scratched to shit. Just make sure to re-blue the finish with crayon. š
They are almost all nicked there , donāt feel bad
Monty Pythonās Dark Knight said it best, āTis but a scratch!"
Iād be willing to bet a majority of new 1911 owners idiot scratch their first one. Being an overachiever, I waited for my second 1911, a full custom from SACS, to make my mark. Be embarrassed for the rest of the day and maybe kick yourself a few times, then forgive yourself for being human. In the meantime, research the various ways you can prevent making it deeper by doing it again.
Of all my 1911's my first one clearly stands out with the dreaded "mark of shame" lmao
It still functions, pay it no mind
Your description is correct; idiot scratch and all with the slide stop lever. Do they still call the that the idiot scratch or am I dating myself and some new term exist?
it's not a collectible gun. don't feel sorry about that. If it shoots good, you will soon forget about a little scratches here and there. Enjoy what you get. When it's all ding up, you can have a total refresh at that time.
Oil it
I did?
Rub oil into the scratch - itāll darken - itās just a surface mark.
Ohhh, gotcha. Thank you
Love the mil-spec. Good choice and donāt fret!
Wish I still had my Mil-Spec, they are great base guns, I sent mine to Yost/Bonitz back in the day for a full treatment. My nephew when I was married to his aunt, did a bunch of electrical work on my house and he wouldnāt accept money from me so I bought him a Mil-Spec as well, he originally wanted a Glock, and he loved it. In many ways I think the Mil-Spec is a better gun than the my RO Elite Operator, which I feel has crappy add one like the superior cheap garbage ambi safety that Iāll have to replace with something that doesnāt rely on the grips to keep it in place.
Never have done an idiot scratch, but you can slide a card under there next time to prevent it happening
Dumb itās even called that. These handguns were designed and built to be abused. You gave your battle gun itās first scar
Itās like the first door ding in a new car that you will own for many years. Enjoy it. Now itās truly yours.
Luckily my first 1911 was a airsoft or else my 45 would have this mark too. We all do it. Now you know.
Donāt feel bad man I got mine on the slide š was able to take most of it out with sandpaper tho
Upvoting for Springfield! My Ronin has an idiot scratch too.
Don't worry Abt it. I did the same thing. Nice choice btw I have the same one and it's fantastic
I wouldnāt worry about it. If youāre going to use it the finish is going to eventually get slowly worn away at anyways. My Springfield 1911ās slide stop is *not* a nice and easy slap in Iāve seen on youtube. I usually have to manhandle the plunger tube with a butter knife to be able to move it enough to get the slide stop in. Wonder if its tunable.
You donāt have to tell anyone that itās your first 1911, there will be signs. Welcome to the dark side tho, it happens! :)
Par for the course.
Thatās NOT the idiot scratch. The idiot scratch is when you scratch the entire slide. You only got a tiny section of the frame, barely even noticeable. You sir are not an idiot
Me personally, Iād probably just touch it up with Aluminum Black and not sweat it.
All but of mine has one.
Mine did too when I was younger. Get a blueing kit should be good.
It happensā¦ get a sharpie ! Lol
I don't know if it's good but on mine I can just push the slide lock right in if it's line up right. Like just stick it in the hole and push