World's ugliest roll marks

[RandyColt]

I've read several posts here and the other forums about Delta Elite's having ugly roll marks on the slides. I looked at the roll marks on the 2 DE's I've had for several years and although not perfect they aren't too bad. Well let me tell ya' yesterday I bought a DE with the ugliest roll marks I've ever seen on any 1911. The words DELTA ELITE are so light at the top that they are almost gone. It appears that they were rolled and then the slide was polished and who ever polished it really laid on the wheel, so bad that they even smeared the front top corner of the cocking serrations. Oh well I got it cheap, it has had a trigger job done on it, and I wanted a shooter and knock around gun to save wear and tear on my good ones. Had originally thought I would use this for a custom build but the ugliness of the slide would always be there. At least I now have a 10mm that I can change parts on and more or less do any modifications I want without hurting the collector value. The only collector that would want this pistola is someone who is building a collection of ugly guns.

[Dr. Dickie]

I've read several posts here and the other forums about Delta Elite's having ugly roll marks on the slides. I looked at the roll marks on the 2 DE's I've had for several years and although not perfect they aren't too bad. Well let me tell ya' yesterday I bought a DE with the ugliest roll marks I've ever seen on any 1911. The words DELTA ELITE are so light at the top that they are almost gone. It appears that they were rolled and then the slide was polished and who ever polished it really laid on the wheel, so bad that they even smeared the front top corner of the cocking serrations. Oh well I got it cheap, it has had a trigger job done on it, and I wanted a shooter and knock around gun to save wear and tear on my good ones. Had originally thought I would use this for a custom build but the ugliness of the slide would always be there. At least I now have a 10mm that I can change parts on and more or less do any modifications I want without hurting the collector value. The only collector that would want this pistola is someone who is building a collection of ugly guns.

Isn't it possible that the pistol was "polished" within an inch of its life by a "dremel commando" after?

[RandyColt]

No Dr. D I don't think it was. The guy I bought it from bought it new in '87 and has shot it off and on over the years. There are none of the usual telltale indications of a polish and re-blue having been done. I have heard that the DE slides are heat treated harder than a typical GM .45 slide, I have heard this from top pistolsmiths that say the DE slides are harder to machine and from engravers that say they do not want to do any extensive engraving on DE's. Other Series 80 slides sometimes don't have the best lettering and polishing, but the DE's just seem to be worse than the others. I asked a professional engraver if he could do a touch-up on the letters and he thinks he could. I would definately have the markings touched up before I had the gun refinished. I just need to decide if I want to go to that trouble and expense or just shoot it as is. Right now it is just a shooter and I can live with it.

[Hunter]

A good looking 1911 is important to be sure but I think function over form.

[Ric4509]

RandyColt - I suggest to just leave the RM the way it is. Why spend some $ that you can use for something else. The looks don't make much difference if it's just a knock around gun. What's important is its performance.