Yup...I branded the SA Trophy Match tonight...it now has an "idiot scratch". No excuse but now I am wondering how I can avoid doing it again. I've not done anything to the slide but the flat on the frame under the notch got dinged. Anyone got a good way to avoid this? Do I need to file down that slide stop somewhere to make it easier to snap into place? I'm at a loss. I've never done this before and am not sure how to keep from doing it again. Any suggestions, insight, links, etc...will be very welcome! aaaaaarrrrggggghhhhhhh....
What you gotta do is hold (pinching the frame and slide between finger and thumb ) the slide aligning it over the hole with your left hand while placing then pressing the slide stop down with your right... It comes with practice...and everyone does it...believe me. I was lucky enough to sell the one 1911 I did it to in order to buy another 1911...so I practiced on it to find what worked best for me before I got rid of it. Now...depending on how deep it is...try either Flitz or Rejuvinate for a remedy.
Found this on the 1911 forum and applied it on mine, works like a champ. It's just a little mod that only takes a jewelers file and a little time, something that Springfield should consider. https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=214653 Steve
I'm not really sure what log man did in that post. Did he file in the notch on the back side of the slide stop?
Sa_Shooter, Take a look at the second pic in that link, it is from the side and shows the relieved area for the detent to line up with. It's a very simple mod that can be done with some jewelers files and a little patients. If you need another pic I could post one here. Just let me know. Steve
Thanks, Steve. What I am trying to determine is the before and after difference. I'm not sure where to start or how far to go with the file. The slide stop engagement on this Trophy Match is STIFF!!!
I started with a triangular file and after a couple of strokes I went to a round file. Go slow and fit often, you will see after a little bit of filing how it captures the detent in the slot you are creating. Steve
Thanks, Steve. I guess I'll go pull one out and check it against that ^^^ pic so I can tell where to start and where to end.
I haven't given it a go yet, Steve. I've been out of town on business and my weekends have been all mucked up by the Mrs. and things she wants us to "do together". aaargghhhh...
"do together" usually involves spending money on new window treatments or some other beautification project around the house, at least for me it does. A new set of grips is more my idea of beautification.
For us it's a benefit dinner, a trip to the coast, concerts or other such stuff. I talked with Springfield about products and process for buffing out the scratch. Basically, if I go with what they described - and they did let me know this - instead of a scratch there I would have a "patch" a bit larger in area that the finish won't match with the rest of the frame. I can, however, strip the frame and do the whole thing. Then it would all match. But then...the slide finish won't match the frame finish...so I would do the slide as well. Holy he**. Gonna have to think on that a bit.
Understand how you feel about the scratch and it can become an obsession but a pretty smart guy told me this years ago and I try to follow it. He said scratches add character to the gun and prove that it is not a "Drawer Queen". Therefore I try not to scratch one but if I do I add it to the "character" marks list.
And that's exactly where I am headed with this. I've decided that it won't affect the weapon's performance or mine. Now all I have to do is get past the "idiot" moniker...
