Depends on the gun. My carry pistols...meh. My rifles...it depends...I have an idiot scratch on my BLR that I'm planning on fixing when the weather warms up a bit. But overall I figure if you are using a gun it's probably going to get some minor scratches.

 

It depends on the gun for me. Most of my collection are guns that I'm very careful not to scratch up.

 

Bac, if you found yourself in possession of a Springfield SS Range officer with about 3 minor scratches, in otherwise perfect condition, a gun you hope to shoot the heck out of and have a blast with, would you attempt a self-fix to buff it out with scotchbrite and possibly fix it (but also might make it worse) would you do it?

 

I have collector class guns. My favorite is a Colt Python Hunter. Not a scratch, blem, etc on it. I also have several doubles which I don't take out of their silicon sleeves except to inspect and wipe down. Again museum quality.

But almost anything the gets carried or used is going to show some wear. Even QD sling swivels can make a mark on the stock.

 

I love buying pristine used guns that the previous owner had no use for. The discount make me feel better about wear and tear.

 

I own a significant count of valuable musical instruments. Many of them, I have purchased "used". I don't mind if an instrument shows "use". I pass on one that shows "misuse" or "abuse".

 

I don't care about scratches at all, as most of my guns were bought used. Some were from normal wear, some from carelessness or just plain moronic behavior.

Now clean is a whole 'nother matter entirely. I clean them all when I come in from the range, and will not tolerate anything I consider important to not be properly maintained.

 

As a 40 year construction guy, I consider my firearms as tools. If they get used, it shows, and all of mine get used. Of course I try to avoid "idiot" marks, and I certainly am not blatantly careless about setting them down or dropping them. I have no "pristine safe queens". If I did, they would be handled with kid gloves. It reminds me of a contractor that I worked for years ago in Austin. He hauled most all of the big tools. Air compressor, nail guns, hoses,etc. He bought a brand new truck and used it the same. First week he was trying to keep everyone cautious of the new truck. Then one day he was carrying a nail gun in each hand and slipped a bit and banged one into the side of the new truck. Big Ding. He just laughed and said "oh well, it is a work truck." Lesson learned.

 

Ok on my guns don't really care. Nothing I own is for pretty. On my upper back or arms its a sign of a job well done.

 

Not at all. You should've seen some of the hate I got when I took a new gen4 31 out of the box and took some scissors the to slide.

 

On brushed stainless I use brown scotchbrite lightly in the same direction as the brush marks. Use a liberal amount of gun oil to lubricate the scotchbrite pad. Will eliminate the scratch and match the brushed finish. Done it many times on a Kimber eclipse pro carry with a very similar brushed stainless finish.

 

While I do take care of my firearms and try not to intentionally damage them, finish scratches happen. Scratches and wear on a carry gun or a range gun don't bother me one bit. I don't collect rare or high end firearms. I shoot what I buy.

I do have one pistol that I take extra care to not scratch: CZ 75B Stainless high polish.

 

I am OCD when it comes to scratches on my guns...I could care less about my truck.....

 

Ive decided after a time to reflect, I wouldnt mind for my entire collection to be basically worn out when my time on earth is past. Worn all to heck, tons of honest day to day wear, but functional, clean and well maintained to the end.

To me that would be a sign of living life and enjoying every firearm to its fullest. Every gun would have a story to tell. Then hand them down to the kids and grandkids as keepsakes, but with the caveat since they have seen better days they might be best to hang over the fireplace mantle or definitely put them on "light duty" when they want to get them out to remember granddads guns and hobbies.

By the way, a good local gunsmith today who specializes in 1911's, an honest and reputable guy of the mom and pop store variety, pronounced the new to me Range Officer in approx 95% condition, virtually like new. I hope to get it out soon and shoot it like there is no tomorrow.

 

I almost never buy a "new" gun so most come to me with some degree of wear and tear. A few have had scratches, and a couple looked like they'd been dragged behind a truck. Didn't bother me.

I'll try to avoid scratching a gun myself, but I'm not going to lose much sleep over one if it happens.

 

I buy used guns mostly and am good at making a sad sad face for negotiating purposes when there is a scratch, but other than that it doesn't bother me really, the guns I love the most are the ones I carried and shot the most.

That said, some brands are really good at holding up. I have a Glock 17 which looks like it was bought yesterday and yet I am -at least- the second owner and I used it in matches for a time. Same for a Steyr M9, no wear at all. A Ruger LC9 which has left a kidex holster only to shoot looks like I bought it yesterday.

Others wear out faster, my PX4 looks like it has been abused intentionally (no effect on functionality at all). I just bought -used- a gun I like a LOT which is full of little scratches. Will write a review soon.

Am watching the Legion with a little more trepidation, but it won't last long, as matches tend to be unforgiving on guns.

 

That said, some brands are really good at holding up. I have a Glock 17 which looks like it was bought yesterday and yet I am -at least- the second owner and I used it in matches for a time.

I'm going to take a guess and say your G17 has the infamous black glossy "frying pan" finish. I have about 50,000 rounds through my G34 G3, and only a couple thousand through my Gen 4. Yet, my Gen 4 looks to have more wear on it.

 

I take great care and respect with my firearms and get pretty bothered when they are scratched. That being said, they are tools and I don't lose sleep over it.

 

Depends on the firearm in question.

Tools be tools. Honest wear is cool.

Queens be queens and stay pristine. (or a reasonable facsimile thereof)

Some of the old timers I have are down to brown patina with character marks aplenty.

 

To me, there is a difference between honest wear and neglect. All of my Glocks get used hard and they all get cleaned thoroughly but some of the wear that has accumulated on them doesn't bother me at all.

It also depends on the firearm...

I have a German mfg .378 Wby Custom that has a few dings and light scratches and it doesn't bother me at all as I know these were true use marks (likely in Africa) and aren't severe.

On Belgian FALs however, slight imperfections drive me crazy. If it has a small amount of ejection port marks I'll pass on it as they are like pebbles in my shoe and I like my Belgian FALs to be safe queens.

S&W revolvers, unless there is actual pitting, I tend not to worry about it as most of my S&Ws are shot regularly.

 

I tolerate the idiot scratch on my Kimber as a testament to my stupidity and carelessness. It haunts me and I deserve it.

I will not do anything to the gun to hide my lack of attention to what I was doing. It is a lesson I regret, but a lesson nonetheless.

Any scratch on any of my guns indicates to me carelessness. Normal wear and tear on my guns is a welcome and noble indicator of their contribution to my interests, and in no way detracts from their importance to me.

It's the way I feel about important tools of mine and how I care for them. I have 100 year old hand tools, and the wear on them is a reflection of their excellent capabilities and work in the past. To me this is value.

My guns are always clean, my tools are always sharp and ready for use. It's important to me.

This is very well stated, pretty much my sentiment.

Out of my entire collection, there only to that I regret. Just as you stated, I remember the one I did and when I pull it out my eyes go right to that spot.

 

It depends on on the firearm. "Working guns" are supposed to have honest wear. So, once I get over the first "ding" I just use it. But I take care of them all.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

Not one iota...

 

A gun with honest wear is a good looking gun, at least to me.
I will not tolerate a 1911 with an idiot mark. That mark is not honest wear, it is negligence on the part of the person that did it. I have removed idiot marks on stainless guns using different grit sandpaper and made the mark disappear. Blued guns and parkerized guns are more difficult but they can be repaired.
Also, now you can but "battle worn" guns. WTF? I guess these are for people that want to present an image of someone that actually uses their guns.

 

So in general, I don't worry over honest wear, but stupid things like idiot marks, those bother me. The other posters are right, you could remove it with some proper polishing. Someone suggested to me a very worn greenie pad, or they make a milder white pad. The other thing you could do is to bead blast the frame completely. That is not too expensive and if you strip the frame down, you could probably do it your self with an inexpensive blast gun from Harbor Freight. (once you own that, you have an eraser for all future scratches)

 

Unless it's a very rare collectible (which a RO is not), It's a tool!
If I see someone's "EDC" and there is no wear or scratches then I assume its NOT an EDC.....

 

Perhaps some thinks it means every day coddle.

 

3 years in a holster and exposed to the elements. Finish on front of slide looks weird.