So I'm the proud owner of a new shield 9mm. I've put 400 rounds through it over the last four weeks and have been very happy with my decision to purchase this handgun to replace my Taurus CIA .357 snubby as my EDC. There were only two things I felt I needed to add to the gun for it to suit my needs. I put Talon grips on it last week (love them) and today I took it to a gunsmith to swap out the stock sights for XS Big Dot's.

My question is this. I've never had the occasion to use a gunsmith before so not sure of what are reasonable expectations with regards to the finished project. When I received my pistol back I noticed some marring on the finish on both sides of the rear sight. It's fairly noticeable. I presume this is from using some sort of tool to tap the sights into place...I understand they fit very tight. I know my gun is essentially a tool and I wouldn't lose a moments sleep if this was my hammer. I also understand it won't affect performance, but I don't know...it's less than a month old and just a bit disappointing getting it back with some of the finished scratched off. There was also a bit of a mark on the slide itself...I'm guessing from the vice. I can live with it and suspect it might even come off with a good wipe down.

I'd love to hear some feedback from more experienced gun owners who have had more dealings with gunsmiths. Am I being whiney or do I have a reason to complain?

IMHO, the sort of "gunsmith" that will change sights without using the proper equipment to protect the finish is not going to show any interest in your complaint. Caveat emptor, lesson learned.
I put a Dawson FO front sight on my M&P 22 (installed it myself using a Dawson aluminum punch; see video), and it looks like it came from the factory with it. I'm not a gunsmith, and I take the hard jobs to a friend, who is a truly professional gunsmith, and pay him full price.

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Science plus Art

Yeah, that's what I was hoping for...that it would come back looking factory installed. The guys website touts 30 years experience, but that of course could mean "screwing customers for 30 years" or "doing shotty work for 30 years ".

At the end of the day I guess it's not a huge deal as the sights will function as designed. If they aren't perfectly aligned however I think I'll take them to someone else to fix. Maybe I should have been suspicious when he was able to get new in right away and only charged $40. Other gunsmith had a wait and received quotes as high as $100. Live and learn. I did check out reviews and others were happy with his work. Plus he's a veteran (marine) as I am (air force) and I like to support vets. Too bad.

The marks you see maybe brass from a brass punch which he should have used if he didn't have a sight pusher. If it is brass it's easily removed with toothpaste (not gel) or fine cutting compound.

Find a different smith! I've replaced sights on 4 M&P's with the correct MGW sight pusher without a scratch!! He's too cheap to buy the right tools!! They are a little expensive.

NC

Thanks! I hadn't thought about the possibility of it being brass. I can't tell for sure, but might try what you suggested with the toothpaste. Here are a couple of pics if it helps to see what I'm talking about. Maybe you can tell by looking.

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Forget the toothpaste that's a hatchet job. Looks like he used a chisel

Look in the notable for threads at the top of the page. Pictorial on Shield sight installation.

Okay, I think you guys are right. Simply put, bad quality work. I think this fellow is just sort of old-school and sees a weapon as a tool and isn't concerned with it winning a beauty award. That said, it's brand new and the finished result is very disappointing.

Curious how you guys would handle this. I suspect he won't be terribly responsive to my complaint, and so wondering if it's even worth it or if I should just get over it à la first scratch on a new car or if I should at least let him know what I think of his work.

Also curious if there's anything I can do to help clean up the damage. I'm not inclined to drop another $100+ on new sights and install. Thoughts?

You're just going to have to suck it up. Next time do your own work. It's the price of an education. Mostly I will use a brass punch to change sights but buying a sight pusher may seem expensive but two sight changes will pay for it and you can rent it out too. Changing sights with a pusher is only a 10 min job. Sorry about your experience but not all the clowns are at the circus

Update: So I called the shop and talked to one of his other guys that works there. He assured me they would make it right and agreed that means eating the cost of the rear sight and installing it without leaving damage to it. The cost is only $30 for the rear sight, so I'm not asking much by having them replace it and being more attentive to the quality of the job. Hopefully will be a good outcome and I'm not making a further mistake by giving him my gun again. I spoke with another local gunsmith...actually took it for him to look at it and he agreed it was a poor job, but thought I should allow the shop to make it right. I tend to agree. Thanks everyone for your informed feedback...much appreciated. Glad to be a part of this community.

Update when done please

I have called myself a "gunsmith" for over 30yrs. I have a good reputation for my revolver work and recently acquired a Shield for personal carry. Through the years I have amassed a large collection of the tools of the trade, including a B & J MACHINE - P500 UNIVERSAL SIGHT TOOL. I have lost count of how many sights I have installed. Experience has taught me the value of Kroil and I ALWAYS apply liberally to all sights I have to remove, allowing it to do its magic overnight if possible. I recently replaced the sights on my Shield with a set of Ameriglo I-dot O/g sights. I was able to remove the rear with the sight tool encountering firm resistance. The front sight refused to yield to the tool and deformed the brass tip of the tool. Clamped the slide in my heavy vise (with leather jaw pads) and went to work with my Brownell's Brass Dovetail punch and Brownell's Dead blow hammer with zero movement. Switched to a medium ball-peen hammer figuring the synthetic hammer was not transferring the energy well enough and all I accomplished was deforming the tip of this punch. Grabbed a steel punch that I had made and after hammering way harder than I like was able to remove that rascal. That is the MOST STUBBORN BAS^&*D I have encountered. I have attached pics of tools used and also one of the front of my shop apron to show that I don't let my ego get in the way. I will add that if I had damaged/marred a set of sights like that the customer would never know because I would have replaced them as needed until I got it right. If a sight is fitted correctly that kind of damage should never occur.

Apron_sm.jpg

Brass Dovetail Punch.jpg

B & J MACHINE - P500 UNIVERSAL SIGHT TOOL.jpg

I've done several sets of Shield sights with my JMT pusher. Never had a problem. Doesn't mean the next one won't be a bitch. If you look at my post in the notable threads at the top of the page, there is a picture of the dovetail on a front Shield sight. Rough as a cob. That's not helping any. I don't think the factory does any fitting at all. Big hydraulic press is all the fitting they need. It's not just the M&P's. Many 3rd Gen guns Ive changed sights on were incredibly tight. Sounded like a .22 going off when they broke loose.

epj, the front cut on mine had a two level cut with the area in the middle where the sight is centered being the high point. It shows significant tool marks and on either side where the bottom of the dovetail shows on either side of the sight it looks like they lowered the tool about a half thou and slowed the feed and ran the cutter in from either side giving a beautiful finish. And you nailed the sound. When it broke loose I just knew something had broken. It really doesn't have to be that way, if they are using CNC stations they had to program it to get it cut that way.

I've had the sights changed on both of my Shield 9's. The first gunsmith caused a very slight (You have to really look hard) mar
of one sight. I'd asked if he had a sight pusher and was told he did. Well, he didn't use one if he did.
I found a real gunsmith at a gun shop and he obviously uses a quality sight pusher.
I changed out the Big Dot sights on one and had the second gunsmith install Amerigo sights on both. Like the Amerigo ones
much better.
In short___ Any one who says they're a gunsmith and does such a job as you got___ isn't a qualified gunsmith no matter how hard
it is to change out Shield sights.

A "gunsmith" without a site pusher tool is like a "mechanic" reassembling an engine without a torque wrench.
I had to grind polymer on my gun to get a new style SHB to drop in.
I sure as hell wouldn't call myself a gunsmith...

Right tool for the job.
For a few hundred dollars, you can buy a universal pusher tool and plates to fit any gun.
Silly for most individuals? Sure... but for a gunsmith, must have.

This tool is amazing, and different shoes are $20 per gun.

Ameriglo Universal Pistol Sight Installation Tool UTSP1000

So, I took my shield back to the gunsmith who did the less than quality work on installing my xs big dot sights. He replaced the rear sight flawlessly, with no marring. He also refunded me my $41 which was the cost of the new rear sight and the shipping. Actually he handed me $45...I presume the extra $3 bucks was for my time and trouble.

Additionally, and to his credit, he absolutely owned the mistake. I noticed when i dropped the gun off with him that his arm was in a sling. Well, apparently he had had shoulder surgery the day before and was on pain meds. He told me that he "should never have been working that day". I respect his honesty and taking responsibility for his poor quality work. I would now feel comfortable recommending him and will.

I have attached a couple of pics of the new very good quality xs big dot sight install.

Also, with regards to sight pushers being used on these sights...I spoke with a rep at xs when I ordered my replacement rear sight and he said they actually do not recommend using a sight pusher to install their sights. He suggested that it could cause damage. Their instructions that ship with the new sights also recommend not using a sight pusher, but rather a nylon or brass punch. He said some filing may be necessary to get them in. Just an FYI for anyone who might be looking to install these as a number of folks on here have mentioned using a pusher.

Dave

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I've used my Sight Pro pusher on every pistol I own with no damage to sights or guns. Works great on TFO's, XS, Trijicon, and any others I've installed

I'm sure you and others on here have used sight pushers on all sorts of brands and types of sights. I was just offering up what I was told by the manufacturer as it relates to their specific product. XS recommends not using a sight pusher, but rather a nylon or brass punch. Everyone is free to do as they like, but it would seem prudent to at least consider the recommendations from the manufacturer of the product you plan to install.

Dkin,

Glad it worked out for you.

FWIW, I had two M&P .45s whichever needed new rear sights (10-8' "U" type). Looked around and decided to get a MGW sight pusher and did both myself, along with an Apex Carry kit. Cost was about the same as having a smith do them, but I learned a lot and can easily adjust the sights in the future and let a buddy use it when he finally decides to take the plung on his M&P 9.

Enjoy your Shield

I used my new sight pusher today to put the rear sight back on my 40 CORE. It is one cords cords33sold by one of our site members and it is a very well made tool. The price is right also. Don

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USN Retired/VN VET
M&P X5