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Old 10-15-2017, 03:28 PM
Big smiff Big smiff is offline
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Yesterday I bought a new Sport II Molon Labe edition and when I got it home, I noticed a deep scuff in the cerakote on the upper that is very noticeable. The gun store has a no return policy after it's transferred to the buyer. Will S&W repair this blemish? I don't know how I missed it when I bought it, but I did.
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Old 10-15-2017, 03:34 PM
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Contact S&W for the right answer
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Old 10-15-2017, 03:43 PM
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Contact S&W for the right answer
I sent S&W an email yesterday, but I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with finish issues and has contacted S&W.
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Old 10-15-2017, 04:08 PM
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Don't know what the "Molon Labe" edition of the Sport II is. I know what "Molon Labe" translates to, but just not what makes that edition of the Sport II unique. I thoroughly inspected both of the Sport IIs I bought.

Frankly, both were being puchased as tools, not pieces of art or something to impress my friends. I didn't pay much attention to the cosmetic aspects of the rifle as it was going to be used in the woods and would be so scuffed up enough by thorns, branches and mud within its first year that a scuff here of there on the new rifle wasn't much of a concern to me.
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Old 10-15-2017, 05:34 PM
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I would call Customer support, I know many people email but I have found that you can get your questions answered direct and correct when speaking with someone whereas a text or email may not properly convey the point or question you are making, asking.

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Old 10-15-2017, 08:07 PM
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Anyone else see the irony here?
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Old 10-15-2017, 08:14 PM
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OK, seriously, is this a S&W model or is it a Sport II that has been painted by someone else? It's not on the S&W website.
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Old 10-15-2017, 08:31 PM
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OK, seriously, is this a S&W model or is it a Sport II that has been painted by someone else? It's not on the S&W website.
A quick google search and their everywhere......
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Old 10-15-2017, 09:03 PM
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They look like they purposely give them a scuffed look.
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Old 10-15-2017, 09:53 PM
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They look like they purposely give them a scuffed look.
They do, but mine has a scuff that is deep enough to see the aluminum. It probably wouldn't bother a lot of people, but my OCD won't have it.
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Old 10-15-2017, 11:15 PM
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They do, but mine has a scuff that is deep enough to see the aluminum. It probably wouldn't bother a lot of people, but my OCD won't have it.
But is that finish done by S&W, or is it put on by a distributor?
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Old 10-16-2017, 06:54 AM
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I agree with hdwhit on cosmetics. My primary S&W AR15 has a couple of spots on the barrel that looks like someone picked it up with a bare hand prior to finishing.

What I don't understand is why we get so many questions on these forums about finish. I always give a new firearm a thorough going over for both function and finish before the dealer puts the serial number on the form. I'm not particularly picky about finish because I realize there will always be some minor cosmetic issues from manufacture. However, what's acceptable on a Sport II would cause an immediate rejection on an AR costing four times as much.

I always thought properly applied Cerakote was just about bullet proof. I can't imagine what sort of impact during the manufacturing process would have gouged it bad enough for the bare metal to show. The OP should definitely chase this one down and try to get it refinished.
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Old 10-16-2017, 07:07 AM
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I always give a new firearm a thorough going over for both function and finish before the dealer puts the serial number on the form.
Without giving TMI, my eyes are currently really bad due to a recent spike in blood sugar. I was relying on the guy at Buds to help look it over for me, but he either missed it too or didn't care. Buds has a no return policy once the weapon has been transferred, but I'm going to call them first thing this morning to see if they might do something for me anyway. It doesn't hurt to try. Anyway, thanks for all of your feedback. I was just curious to see if anyone has had experience with issues like this.
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Old 10-16-2017, 11:13 AM
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If it bothers you that much, buy some aluma-black and be done with it.
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Old 10-16-2017, 12:09 PM
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Without giving TMI, my eyes are currently really bad due to a recent spike in blood sugar. I was relying on the guy at Buds to help look it over for me, but he either missed it too or didn't care. Buds has a no return policy once the weapon has been transferred, but I'm going to call them first thing this morning to see if they might do something for me anyway. It doesn't hurt to try. Anyway, thanks for all of your feedback. I was just curious to see if anyone has had experience with issues like this.
Sorry to hear about your health. When you posted "gun store", I made the mistake of assuming the rifle was ordered from a regular wholesaler and could have been returned by the final retailer.

Hope you get something done about the blemish. Try calling S&W customer service. If they had a run done as a special issue they will warranty cosmetics for one year. If the coating was done aftermarket, maybe they can put you in contact with the company that did the work.

I once sent an AR back on Smith's dime because the upper was wrinkled where it did not fill out when forged. They sent it back with a new upper receiver but using my old parts.
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Old 10-16-2017, 12:53 PM
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That's a tough call on something like that.

Ya send it back.... S&W replaces the upper receiver which isn't well color matched with your lower because it's from a different batch, or it gets touched-up and looks worse than it does now. Good luck.

No matter how good the eyes are, it's difficult to perform an inspection absent a handheld light. My EDC is a Surefire Titan Plus. Fit's easily in the watch pocket of jeans. Works real well for firearm inspections.



This is the rifle-

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Old 10-16-2017, 02:13 PM
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I called them this morning and without question, they took my information, emailed a packing slip and told me they would take care of it once they received it. This is my first using their customer support and I must say that I am very impressed. Thanks for all of the feedback.

Last edited by Big smiff; 10-16-2017 at 02:30 PM.
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Old 10-16-2017, 04:10 PM
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Let us know how it comes out. Good luck!
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Old 10-16-2017, 04:14 PM
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When I bought my S&W Sport II and took it to the range it locked up when a round was chambered. The ammo was factory and worked in my other AR-15's. I called their customer service and was given a shipper. They replaced the upper assembly quickly and I couldn't have been happier.
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Old 10-17-2017, 01:25 AM
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I called them this morning and without question, they took my information, emailed a packing slip and told me they would take care of it once they received it.
I'm glad they're going to fix it up for you.

I asked about the finish because I didn't see it on their site and it could have been a special run by another company. If it was, they wouldn't refinish it for you. Obviously that's not the case and they're going to fix it up.
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Old 10-17-2017, 06:37 PM
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Well...I'm super confused now. S&W had me send it in and today I get an email saying that they can't fix it because it's a Buds Gun Shop exclusive, so I call Buds and they tell me it came from S&W that way, so I call S&W back and another guy tells me S&W didn't make it because the SKU# shows a regular black M&P15. I then tell him that the gun is on the way and if he googles the gun, he'll find it. After googling it, he says okay then, we'll take care of your rifle.

So, I have no idea if it will be taken care of or not since no one seems to know the origin of the rifle. Buds told me that they did some research and that S&W contracted Reno Cerakote & Hydrographics | Quality Finishing to do the cerakote job. So, do you think S&W will send it back to them or will they eventually tell me sorry about my luck.
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Old 10-17-2017, 08:50 PM
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Sounds like it was a special run of Sport II"s for a distributor. I'm guessing that they didn't sell and Buds got them to clear out. Hard to say what S&W will do.
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Old 10-17-2017, 08:51 PM
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Well...I'm super confused now. S&W had me send it in and today I get an email saying that they can't fix it because it's a Buds Gun Shop exclusive,...
This was my original concern. I'm very curious to hear what S&W does. Like I said earlier, it's not on the S&W site so, I have no idea if they'll honor the finish because they didn't do it.

Further, this is not a defect, but damage. S&W is usually really good about stuff like this, but, based on what the warranty says, they wouldn't be required to fix it.
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Old 10-17-2017, 09:20 PM
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This was my original concern. I'm very curious to hear what S&W does. Like I said earlier, it's not on the S&W site so, I have no idea if they'll honor the finish because they didn't do it.

Further, this is not a defect, but damage. S&W is usually really good about stuff like this, but, based on what the warranty says, they wouldn't be required to fix it.
The first guy I talked to on the phone assured me that it would be taken care of, but I'm beginning to be a little skeptical at this point. I'm guessing they will send it back to Reno for a refinish, but we'll see. I'll update when I find something out.
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Old 10-18-2017, 12:20 AM
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I hope they fix it up for you. Just be prepared for them to try to charge you or tell you it's your responsibility because this isn't a defect, it's damage.
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Old 10-19-2017, 08:46 AM
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Sounds like it was a special run of Sport II"s for a distributor. I'm guessing that they didn't sell and Buds got them to clear out. Hard to say what S&W will do.
That's as good an explanation as any. Custom painted Molon Labe Sport II is priced lower at Bud's than the standard Sport II. $513 vs $549.

I think if I was the guy making a warranty claim decision, I'd swap the rifle with a new Molon Labe to make the customer happy and sell the other as a used/blem. If I wasn't in a charitable mood I'd just deny the claim.
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Old 10-19-2017, 08:58 AM
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That's as good an explanation as any. Custom painted Molon Labe Sport II is priced lower at Bud's than the standard Sport II. $513 vs $549.

I think if I was the guy making a warranty claim decision, I'd swap the rifle with a new Molon Labe to make the customer happy and sell the other as a used/blem. If I wasn't in a charitable mood I'd just deny the claim.

I just checked tracking and it will arrive at S&W today, so I'm hoping to hear something soon.
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Old 10-19-2017, 10:50 AM
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Yesterday I sent the company that cerakoted it an email and this morning I received a response from the general manager. He said that all I have to do is send it back to them and they'll refinish it with a one week turnaround, so if S&W doesn't send it to them for the repair, I'll do it and will have my gun fixed. I will definitely use their company for any future cerakote jobs.
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Old 10-19-2017, 02:19 PM
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Yep, S&W has been Johnny on the spot in regards to finish issues for me both times. I'm not even that picky, but my MP15-22 barrel looked like someone took steel wool to it, they took it back no issues and replaced the barrel. (bought from Bud's)

Second time was my MP22c. Breech face was discolored, and the slide finish had scratches down to the aluminum in several places. Again, sent me a shipping label and took it back no questions asked other than to send some pics. (bought from Grab A Gun)

I guess I could stop buying from internet dealers, but when S&W stands behind their stuff so well, it's hard to pass up.

ps. I've also had excellent service with PSA on their finishes. Mind you they are known for iffy QA, but they made it right on my AR upper when it showed up with a gouge in the aluminum.
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Old 10-20-2017, 12:27 AM
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Yesterday I sent the company that cerakoted it...
Who Cerakoted it?
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Old 10-20-2017, 06:14 AM
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Who Cerakoted it?
See post #21.
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Old 10-20-2017, 07:02 AM
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This is what was posted.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rastoff View Post
Who Cerakoted it?
Quote:
S&W contracted Reno Cerakote & Hydrographics | Quality Finishing to do the cerakote job.
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Old 10-24-2017, 02:01 AM
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Without giving TMI, my eyes are currently really bad due to a recent spike in blood sugar. I was relying on the guy at Buds to help look it over for me, but he either missed it too or didn't care. Buds has a no return policy once the weapon has been transferred, but I'm going to call them first thing this morning to see if they might do something for me anyway. It doesn't hurt to try. Anyway, thanks for all of your feedback. I was just curious to see if anyone has had experience with issues like this.
Dispute the charge on your credit card. That always gets their attention.
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Old 12-01-2017, 02:09 AM
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Well...I got my rifle back from Reno Cerakote and Hydrographics and they did a stellar job on my rifle on their dime. I would highly recommend this company for their impeccable customer service alone.
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Old 12-01-2017, 10:31 AM
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That's fine that YOU want your firearms as tools. But, if I'm going to pay $500+ for a rifle with MY OWN money, well I want to be the one to scuff it up, not have it sent to me scuffed up and then make me pay for it!

My thoughts exactly.
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