Beagles, are you sure that's a wear mark? I have a V-12 thats 2 years old, and with over 5000 rounds thru it, and I don't have any marks on the frame, that weren't put there by my kids putting it down on the shootin' bench. (Polished stainless scratches very easily!) WARNING!!! You will absolutely LOVE this pistol. I have had,(and still do), several 1911 variations, and will eat anything from factory 230gr. hardball,to 155gr.SWC handloads without a hiccup. I shoot alot of lead, and I do notice some minor leading around the ports, but I de-lead my barrel every thousand rounds, or every other cleaning.(Which ever comes first.) The V-12, being a bushingless design,(There isn't a barrel bushing, the barrel locks up into the slide) is a little harder to get back together than a standard 1911, but it only takes a few seconds more. No, you didn't hurt it by releasing the slide without a round, just don't make a habit of it. I like my V-12 as much as my Gold Cup series 70. It's as accurate and more reliable than my Kimber Gold Match, which can be finicky with wadcutters.