[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Have a new, unfired 1991A1 (blued). I've had it since November, 2000.

Routine: get the pistol out after work and wipe off the Break-Free CLP on the exterior with a rag I bought (in a bunch) from AutoZone. It's one of those red, government type rags we used in the USAF. Pistol then sits on top of a flattened Zip-Loc which itself is on top of an oak end table where I can reach it. Pistol gets fondled occasionally (only by me and safely unloaded first, of course).

Before pistol goes to sleep it gets wiped down again with CLP on rag (same as above), then put inside of a Zip-Loc (which I take the air out of and seal) and then into its storage spot.

Today, upon very close inspection I noticed a few short, very fine scratches on either side of the slide about 1-2 inches back from the muzzle, on both sides. If you weren't looking really hard you'd never see them at all. How long they've been there I couldn't begin to guess.

In the past I used (only a few times,) a paper towel with CLP on it to wipe the gun down and wipe out any fingerprints. Apart from that, it's only seen flannel rags or the aforementioned AutoZone rags used to wipe it down or wipe it off.

Last week I *did* try sliding it into various nylon holster inserts for a concealment attache case I bought from Galati. One was just too small, another so-so, and third was perfect.

I don't wear rings or anything similar on my hands or fingers, so that couldn't be it.

What do you think could have happened? Does anyone else out there have this symptom on their 1991A1?

As I say, I have no idea how long this has been the case at all. Maybe it came this way from the dealer, who can say? But he got it one day and I bought it the next, so it doesn't seem too likely.

But if I'm doing something to cause this condition, I need to know ASAP so I can knock it off.

Any suggestions or insight?

Thanking you in advance...



------------------
I wonder why we waste our lives here,
when we could run away to paradise.

But I am caught in some invisible vice
and I can't get away.

To live and die in L.A.

 

[LEEMUTLEE]

I'll assume you're joking. But if not, I can only tell you that an off the shelf firearm is a tool and tools are likely to become scratched if they are fondled....and even marred if they are used for their intended purpose.

On the other hand, I have heard of a process which encases coins and other paraphenalia in a solid block of clear plastic and people use those items as pieces of decor. Look into that for maximum protection.

 

[Redzone]

I think its trying to say "I don't want to be stored, shoot me shoot me." Don't put that CLP junk on it either. Just keep it dry with a silicon cloth occasionally. If you only store it.

 

[ColtShooter]

I have the same model. I found that it got similar scratching from going in/out of a plastic holster (Fobus).

These aren't exactly pieces of art as guns go; scratches just add character.

 

[Greg G]

Dr. Fever,
Take her to the range and show her a good time. I have a blued 1991A1 which I bought two years or so ago and I have fired it several times with minimal wear on the finish. Try not to let the fine scratches ruin your appreciation of the gun, they may have been there all along and you just noticed. If you get a real bright light and a magnifying glass, you may see more scratches you didn't know you had. Just kidding, don't do that to yourself. Now sounds like a good time to use her for what she was made for.

 

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

o.k., boyz, thanks a lot!

I'm new to pistols in general and Colts in particular, and didn't understand that these things are just part of life. I thought that maybe I was doing something wrong.

Thanks for straightening me out. It's much appreciated, and I mean that sincerely!

------------------
I wonder why we waste our lives here,
when we could run away to paradise.

But I am caught in some invisible vice
and I can't get away.

To live and die in L.A.

 

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

BTW, Redzone, did you get my last e-mail? I never heard back so I wondered if you received it. I wrote on Wednesday or Thursday, I think.

 

[Redzone]

I don't think so, the last one showing on inbox is 3/21 from you. Send again if you can. And I was serious about just keeping external finish dry. Also you can try a gunsock or treat one of your own socks,or cloth with the silicon.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Except for lens paper, most paper towels have phytoliths. Phytoliths are very small crystal growths produced by plants. When plants take up nutrients from the soil, excess minerals are removed via special cells. The expelled minerals result in crystal growth around the cells that do the removal. Thus, if you use a paper towel or tissue to clean your eyeglasses, over time you will find the surface becoming less clear. This is due to the action of the tiny phytolith crystals scraping across the surface of the class.

Chances are that if you can see the scratches that the cause is not from phytoliths because from what you described doesn't fit the profile. Phytoliths have likely impacted the surface of your gun, but probably not to a point you could see it yet given what you have said. Usually when wiping down a gun, you would get long strokes and hence long scratches, not short.

Maybe you have used a towel or rag contaminated with some sort of abrasive such as dirt, bits of metal, or an abrasive polish? Or, maybe if you have been holstering the gun that the holster is contaminated with some abrasive. What about the ziplock bag? Is it clean?

 

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Spy:

Much useful info, many thanks to you, Sir!

To respond to your points, the ZipLock is new, very clean, with only whatever CLP residue rubs off from the gun. My best guess on the scratches is that it's from the holster in the concealment attache case. I'll take your advice as a prompt to check it out, and carefully. Again, may thanks!

Redzone:

I don't know what's up with my e-mail; something's wrong. I'm only receiving (and am able to send) from some addresses and addressees, but I'm not sure why (other than Yahoo is trash).

I'll try and re-send. Until then, I'm following your counsel on wiping the gun off with a silicone cloth (it's a "gun and reel" cloth, I need to find the name of manufacturer, though. I forgot).

------------------
I wonder why we waste our lives here,
when we could run away to paradise.

But I am caught in some invisible vice
and I can't get away.

To live and die in L.A.

 

[topstrap]

At first I thought you might have been kidding us... but I can see that you are serious.... I guess there are those that always want their guns to appear to be new.... I kinda fall into the group that feel they are a tool... not to abuse but to use... I did like the idea about the entombing it in that solid block of plastic... would make a nice paperweight or doorstop.... It's like when I bought my dumptruck... first trip out... dumped a big chunk of concrete in the bed and got that first big dent and scratchs... get it out and use it.. bond with it and create happy memories.

Topstrap

------------------
Bigger is better, further is funner, faster is frustrating... but hitting what you aim at is so satisfying.
Topstrap

 

[Ledbetter]

Aren't you just a little bit curious as to whether you can hit anything with it?

Regards.

 

[dsk]

My black-slide Kahr P9 had some nasty scratches near the front of the slide even when new right out of the oily bag. I had seen the same scratches on the display gun and told them I wanted a new one in the box instead. So they got another one out of the back, and sure enough the same scratches were there. That told me the scratches came from whatever rack the factory put the guns in during assembly/inspection or test-firing.

 

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Topstrap:

I know you're right. You are. I know I sound sort of stupid, too. I'm just a bit slow on the learning curve, I guess. And, it's my first Colt -- sort of like that first new car a person gets. Dings are a bummer at first.

But, I'm trying to see these things just like you do, because that's the correct view (IMHO). Thanks for writing.

Ledbetter:

Any relation to Joe Ledbetter ("Joe Neutrino") from the Garden Grove/Anaheim area? He was a great guy...

------------------
I wonder why we waste our lives here,
when we could run away to paradise.

But I am caught in some invisible vice
and I can't get away.

To live and die in L.A.

 

[Ledbetter]

Dr. Fever,

No, although I lived in Orange County for a while when I went to school. If you're in Calif. and ever get through Santa Barbara, let's go shoot that gun of yours!

Regards,

Mike Ledbetter

 

[Black Pearl 45]

get yourself a real silicone cloth gun rag to wipe the thing down, no need to CLP reapply the stuff after every use

also look into getting a bore stores gun sock for the pistol, its thick and is silicone impregnated, less than $15

 

[hankhan]

Dr. Fever,

Tie that gun to your bumper and drive around the block with it there. You'll get over those scratches...

 

[gyp_c]

Go shoot the crap out of it and you'll forget all about those lil' scratches...

------------------
>>>>>>>>>>g2<<<<<<<<<<

MWLWN LABE!

 

[George]

If you have a gun or anything else with skateboard tape on it, naturally it will scratch anything it touches. But so will the grit that gets loose from the tape and gets in your stuff. G

 

[RUSSEL213]

my new 91A1 has already got marks on the front of the slide, but these were due to limited use in a holster.

i agree thaqt the marks give it a certain "look" my older 91A1 that i carry on duty has a very worn looking slide, and for some odd reason i like it!!! its a combat weapon, and the scratches just say "go ahead try me"

russel the cop