We Don't Need No Stinkin' Scratches!

[Bad News Beeman]

This is a bit of a vent, so please excuse the emotion. But do most folks here generally get as irrationally upset as I when you accidently put a scuff, scratch, dent, or ding into your beloved air gun through normal course of use? Its innocent enough, but man it gets my goat when I notice a new bit of "character" that I've bestowed onto one of my guns.

This stems most recently from my toying around with the front sight on my Diana 48. I slid down the sight to the bottom of the ramp as the rifle was shooting high. Once moved back to the original position I noticed a lovely little set screw ring that I marred into the ramp. On the new rifles this ramp is plastic and doesn't show as visibly, but I have the older pot metal ramp and that mark shines up like the North Star every time I look at it.

These are garden party problems to be sure. But I'm curious if the masses feel the same when an oopsie occurs? Or maybe the more seasoned can enlighten us with a little Zen and teach us how to grant ourselves the serenity to accept the things we cannot control.

 

[rsfrid]

Nope. My guns are tools just like my expensive Rick Hinderer knives. Scratches and rubs and dings add character. No safe queens for me!

 

[Phraint]

I am always happy when the first scratch on a new gun, or car, is small (and not extremely visible) Once the first scratch is out of the way you can stop worrying about it start having fun.

 

[Rodeo]

As Forrest Gump said "It happens". Gotta let it go.

 

[Gerry52]

I've always tried to keep my tools in the best shape possible but somehow, with my airguns, it almost physically hurts when something happens to them! Been that way with my drums all my life too.

 

[superchikn]

I do it so much I ought to look forward to it!!!
Yeah I hate it for a few minutes but then as others have said I am relieved that it is over.
My guns are tools not display pieces, so I do my best to be careful but...

 

[superchikn]

Quick fix
Get a black sharpie and hit it.
Where ever you get the ink on the black it will glow sorta red/purple. Then you will miss that little silver sliver.

 

[airgunner1042]

Even though pot metal Brownell's Oxy Pro should make it disappear. Like you, hate to scratch or ding my toys

 

[DonC]

Turn lemonss into lemonade. Find a tiny object you like to look at and crazy glue it over the defect. American Flag, tie tack options, RWS symbol, Bullseye, smiley face, pierce ear ring object, even a hardwood dot or square that matches your stock, your initials carved/engraved in a small plate, engrave the words Think Safe in a plate. Perhaps a simple try to cover up with black sharpie pen with perment ink.

 

[WorriedMan]

Agree, black Sharpie, dab lightly with tip until only you would ever know it was there. Hate that first scratch on a new wood stock so much I only buy synthetics, not as pretty, but more peace of mind. WM

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Could go as far as to buff it and try to polish it out; which could make it worse idk lol but it happens. I see them like scars; they all have a story, ones with less scars seem too pretty sometimes. But I also understand NOT wanting to scratch stuff then again this is life; don't take it too seriously because none of us will get out of this life alive

 

[Bad News Beeman]

Glad to hear I'm not the only "sensitive" fella out there when it comes to dinging his toys. Its equally good to hear from the guys that keep a stiff upper lip with these kinds of things.

I've resolved to touch it up with a little gun blue, and that should hopefully get me to move past this little conniption.

 

[thumper]

I don't buy or keep museum specimens. I buy things to use. So no, I don't get bent outta shape about it.

 

[whyzee]

I can’t stand scarring anything I own either.
I like to use everything I own, for the most part, but keep it looking like it is new if possible.
Same when I repair/take something apart. I like to use proper tools, and if I fix something I want it to look like I was never there.

 

[KWK]

Me too. Some guys gack their guns first 5 minutes they own them. They call it safe marks? All thumbs, I guess.

 

[Beer Nap]

I learned long ago to scratch, ding, dent every new thing that I buy and get it over with. My new dog was confused by it.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

Oh no, I keep my guns as new as I can whether they're powered by air or powder. My OCD will get to me for awhile after a scratch or ding, but it eventually fades lol. Especially if it's my car or motorcycle I get upset. You put time and money into your toys and want them to be nice. Hell, I have beater guns and a work van just to keep the other stuff nice!

The dents and scratches give character thing is a good saying and I use it AFTER I calm down from the initial damage. On a gun, if it happened on a hunt, it gives a story sure. On a car however it's like "how'd you get that dent?" Oh that, some Jack wagon was playing on their phone at Walmart and ran their damn cart in to my car!

 

[MartyMcFly]

Tools are tools, but somethings like toys become jewelry. When that happens the first scratch is the deepest…

When I got a new car I was so paranoid about dents and scratches. Always parking far away from others when shopping… but now after years of use and abuse it’s just a tool to get me there. I still like my car, but I no longer raise it up on a pedestal and worship it like an idol Samething eventually happens to airguns, but boy does the first scratch hurt!

-Marty

 

[rcs9250]

I know exactly how you feel. I treat my guns and a lot of other things like a Rolex watch. Being I never hold on to any hobby related thing I try to keep it as pristine as possible because it helps the resale value. A small set screw mark like that, depending on the value, can lower the resale price easily by a hundred dollars.
Now if it’s something I’m going to keep around for ever I’ll throw out a “dammit” and move on.
When I go to sell my item and there’s a mark or some defect I am very forthcoming on its existence and hope a buyer is coned about it. Especially with shipping costs being so high, if I have to pay return shipping on an item like a rifle, I’ve killed the sale. Recently I sold a chassis for a FX Crown that had a mark that was on it from the factory. No idea why it was there, definitely an oops from the factory, but I took several pictures of it ad noted it in the ad so a potential buyers was aware.

 

[Joekrooz]

Throw it in the trash and never shoot again. Not really, I usually try to cover up scratches with a matching sharpie or something.