I picked up my new pistol yesterday, after waiting over a month for the gun to arrive. I was in a hurry and only visually examined the gun. The finish looked good. The gun is the Scandium, Bobtail, with SS slide. Today, when I handled the gun, I discovered that after drawing the slide to the rear the release button was very tight and it was hard to release the slide. After locking the slide to the rear the second time, I discovered that the Take down pin/slide release had gouged the frame of my pistol to the point that I have two scratches down to the bare metal approximately 1/16th of an inch long on the left side of my gun. Most of the scratch is hidden when the slide is not locked backpush, but it is clearly visible with the slide forward. I have not fired the gun or attempted to field strip.

I immediately called S&W, and they are sending a return authorization and shipping instructions. I will see what they have to say after examining the pistol. Frankly, I want the gun to be replaced, as I take excellent care of my guns, and I especially don't want cosmetic or functional issues on a NIB pistol. Will let you know the outcome once I hear from S&W.

After a rigorous examination of the two E series our rep let us demo neither seemed to have any finishing flaws or obvious gouges.
That would lead me to believe it's an isolated issue and hopefully your gun will get fixed up.

Hard to tell without seeing where it is, but it might be an idiot mark left by the assembler at the factory. Could also be a bur on the underside of the slide lock that scratched the frame when you locked the slide back. Hope they take care of you.

These were my first thoughts as well. Tell us what they wind up doing.

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NRA Certified Instructor

Wow..... a whole 1/16th of an inch huh ?

Next time you buy a new gun take it and chuck it hard against a brick
or concrete wall.

I guarantee you'll never worry about it having cosmetic flaws again...

Replace the entire gun? I'm sorry, but that is ridiculous and unrealistic. This thread reminds me of the ones where people ask about holsters that will never, ever scratch their gun. It's a tool. Use it accordingly.

Some people take care of their tools.

I didn't say 'don't take care of it', I said to use it accordingly. Honest wear will happen.

Hey, give the OP a break. It's like he has a new car - and a Cadillac at that. "Pre-scratched" from the factory doesn't get it. It's not an M&P9, folks. It's a $1400 pistol. If there's a burr or an interference in the fit it needs to be corrected.
Send it back and I'm sure they'll make it right.

had a quality problem with any purchase. This is my first 1911 and all I ask is for the gun to function as designed and advertised. S&W certainly didn't design the slide release to scratch or gouge the frame when operated. IMO, it is not too much to ask that a ~$1400 gun function as designed, or, if it does not, to ask the manufacturer to make the owner whole. If this was merely a scratch on the finish repair would be acceptable, but the frame is gouged and refinishing will not completely corredt the defect. My 2 cents.

Will let you know what S&W says once I return the gun.

Let me ask this -- did the booboo happen at the factory, or did someone at the dealer's decide to field strip it and bungle the reassembly before you picked it up? Who knows? But S&W is evidently being kind enough to address the issue for you without complaint, so I wouldn't be upset with them yet.

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Pisgah

It should not come “pre-scratched” from the factory.

I’d like to know more about the E Series.

1) Any internal drop safety? Or are they “Series 70” type guns?

2) Are the frames and slides forged?

3) Are there any MIM parts?

4) Does it have a conventional 1911 extractor?

Emory

Are you attempting to release a drawn slide with your strong hand while griping the gun? Even if you succeed, the slide will slam forward and prematurely wear out the internal components unnecessarily.

I have a SW1911PC and, frankly, I cannot release a drawn slide with one hand. I need 2 hands to release it. Mine is also pretty new.

I agree. He paid full freight for the pistol, NIB. He did NOT buy it at a "scratch and dent" sale. To imply that he is overreacting, or that he should settle for that weapon is ludicrous. "Honest wear" is wear that is incurred on a weapon through use BY IT'S OWNER. We are not talking about a pair of "distressed" Levis here. Sending it back was the right thing to do.......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

The gun was NIB when I purchased it. No one at the LGS had handled the gun. In fact they had identical gun on display and retrieved my gun from stock in an unopened case. The gun's finish was visually perfect until the slide was operated.

I would demand a new one from S&W, and THOROUGHLY examine it @ your FFL's shop, before taking possession of it........

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Go ahead, send it back and be patient. They will make it good.
Most manufacturers are now pushing their stuff out the door fast, with only minimal inspections. I have received several guns with issues, from companies good enough to know better. A rusted SAA from US Firearms. Rust on a 45 auto from Kimber. Gouged gripframe on a Ruger. Mismatched gripframe/mainframe on a Ruger Blackhawk. Just to name a few.
In each case, I had to go through the process you are going through now. At least they paid for shipping. And in the end, the gun came back 100%.
But the Kahr that I owned for a few months was a total piece of junk, in spite of efforts by the factory to make it right. I ended up trading it off.
Relax and be patient. Nothing else you can do.

Yes- I think most people are commenting on the "extremely disappointed in my new e series 1911" comment.

Things happen. even though this appeared to be in an unopened box (was it sealed and you had to cut through tape or just shut?) then who knows who all might have decided to check it out? Or it could have been done by someone at the factory.

Either way, see what S&W will do and then post if you're not happy.

I think you should send it back...not so much for the cosmetic issue, but for the functioning issue.
crofoot629...don't take this to the bank, but there was a shooting show on last night that I watched. It had a review of the E series. From what I heard, was reading at the same time, it is the "series 70" system, it does have the external extractor.

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Have Canon, Will Travel

This was with the empty magazine removed from the pistol?

An inserted empty mag will cause extra upward presure on the slide release lever. Drop the mag first. My .02 cents.
Fear not S&W CS will take care of you.

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2nd Admen.-Right to bear AR 's

This is the issue...I had a S&W SW1911 Compact ES which has the scandium alloy frame. When I first bought it, I was trying to release the slide with the magazine inserted...I was pressing down very hard on the slide stop, trying to get it to release, and ended up with a scratch down to bare metal. I found out that I had to drop the magazine a little in order to operate the slide stop and release the slide. (I am talking about an empty magazine.) Since then, I have made it a habit to drop the magazine a little ways (again, when the magazine is empty) before pressing down on the slide stop. (I also don't let the slide slam home on an empty chamber.)

I have a number of 1911s, and most are difficult to release the slide on an empty magazine...some will, most won't, with an empty magazine fully inserted. So, as I said above, I drop the magazine on all of them, just a little, release the slide, and then push the magazine back in.

Here is my concern about the gorgeous 2-tone Bobtail 1911 E-Series....

I REALLY love the looks of it, but am holding-off for now because I am very concerned about the durability of the black finish on the scandium frame. I have watched a few youtube videos and read some threads on various sites where owners found scratches developed quickly and early. These scratches were visible all of the way to the frame. A good example is the video by Jeff at Gunblast at 2:20. Take a look at the slide release. Jeff doesn't mention it, but such scratches stick out like a sore thumb on such a pretty gun.

Gunblast.com - Smith & Wesson "E Series" SW1911 Pistols - YouTube

Another Youtube video with a chip is by the user weaponseducation at 10:50 into his E-series review.

SMITH 1911 "E" SERIES REVIEW - YouTube

I would be purchasing for carry, and I would be pretty upset it the finish were scratched to plain ugly in a matter of months.

Do any current owners who carry their 2-tone E-series care to comment on durability of the black finish?

I would have smoothed the slide stop (along with all of the internals) prior to doing anything else with the gun.
This is part of my new gun routine. Before anyone starts, no you shouldn't have to do it, but it is real easy and may just pick up some minor issues BEFORE they happen.

Now for the OP, I would hve smoothed out the slide stop and used a sharpie on the frame. That's pretty much all Smith will do.

Bob

Please let us know how you come out with S&W.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

I disagree, they are expensive and I take care of my stuff too. For that kind of money I would want a NIB gun and a few more spare mags thrown in. Other companies will do it, why not S&W?

Thats where I come out.

I hear ya, baccusboy. In Jeff's video, the frame is even more scratched up around the safety than it is at the slide release. I seriously doubt that his particular pistol has been in his possession for long, been carried much, or had very many rounds through it. Judging by that I would conclude that after a few years of EDC and use, this frame will look pretty beat up. The answer might be to bead blast the black finish off (destroying the beautiful 2 tone appearance) or consider hard chroming the frame and black parts (maybe they can even be done in black). In any event, I would be pretty pi$$ed, just like you..........

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I have pretty much decided to put a deposit down on the SW1911SC two-tone but I am going to ask the shop owner to polish the slide stop and the ambi-safeties before I take delivery of the gun. That should take care of most of the problem, don't you think? It's such a beautiful gun but I probably won't see one for 6 months since they are not in stock and probably heavily back-ordered.

These "it's a tool" comments really bother me... Someone telling someone else how they ought to use and think about their own property.

It also sounds like something a "professional gunslinger" would have said back in the Wild West or an Operator in the Green Zone... or more likely, a line from a Stalone movie.

I actually do, BUT I thought that I saw some wear already on the sharp edges of the Ed Brown style grip safety in the Gunblast video. As that will be a hard use area, perhaps you should consider having that area polished also, or just swap it out for a stainless one (unless that's a light weight Scandium part). Also, I'm at a loss to explain the scratches on the frame below the safety on the left side of the weapon. That couldn't be caused by a fingernail, IMHO. If they were, that finish has VERY LITTLE durability. Whatever you do, DO NOT CARRY THIS WEAPON IN A KYDEX HOLSTER ! ! ! ! .....

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

MAYBE, just luck on my part, but I have never experienced a condition like this with any of the Colt 1911s that I have owned......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I have the previous model, an SW1911PD Commander with a scandium frame. The frame is scratched through the finish where the end of the slide stop lever touches the frame. The same on my full-sized SW1911 SS. In both cases, it only shows when the slide is locked back. Otherwise, the scratches are completely covered by the lever.

The same thing happens with the frame under the thumb safety.

The slide stop is going to touch the frame somewhere, and will scratch the finish sooner or later. It is not an indicator of abuse, and there is no obvious burr on the lever. I'm not going to get my shorts in a knot over some minor cosmetic defect in a gun I shoot regularly. Chances are the bluing is wearing off the rifling lands too

If a pistol is to be enshrined like an holy relic, that's another matter.

I have the SC in the black melonite finish and also have the scratch under the slidestop. I was disappointed at first and contacted S&W, they said thaey would take care of it if I sent it in and I trust that they would but after carrying the gun for a while and shooting it some at the range, I have worked the newness out of her and the scratch doesn't bother me so much. I did replace the slidestop with an Ed Brown unit and used a blue pen to touch it up. As far as the softness of the Scandium frame goes, Its' a soft metal designed for a purpose, to obtain a lightweight carry gun for concealment. I have carried full steel guns of all sizes and also own a New Agent wich is smaller and lighter than the E-Series SC but none carry as well this one. I wake up the gun comes out of the safe, into the holester, carry all day, get home, and back in the safe. Who's going to see the scratch? I also think that a steel framed SC with the polished slide (like the full sized E-Series) would be a nice addition to their line and appeal to the cosmeticly hard to please. Love the gun!!!

Would this issue be a little less prevalent on a stainless model??

Less obvious and easily polished out of stainless............

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Thanks, that was kind of what I was thinking. Been drooling over the Stainless ES, with tac rail for months now. Hopefully will be ordering in early january. Just not looking forward to that loooooooooonnngggg wait after placing the order! lol!

agree; mine did the same thing with the 1/16" scratch; plus the nice brushed aluminum like trigger was scratched on one side beyond belief from the factory. Plus the black scadium slide had a large permanent scuff mark on it where a store employee apparently let it hit or rub extensively on the clip i guess, but there is no way that finish should scratch like that on a $1400 gun. This is my second one, had to take the first one back for the EXACT same issues save the trigger issue. I am soooo let down by this issue with this firearm. I want to buy another brand but nothing is as sweet

for that much $; i want to be the one to scratch the piss out of it , not someone else

Do you mean the scratches look like this? I also just picked up my E-series last night from my gun dealer and this is what I found. The date code on the fired round is 5/24/12

I realize that it may just be a tool but when I spend that kind of cash on a weapon, I expect it to well finished and taken care of BEFORE it gets to me.

It is not from careless handling since the weapon had never had its slide pulled back and the release locked in place before it reached me. That is the only way that the marks are obvious.

You can bet that I am going to be on the phone to S&W and let them deal with this.

Also, mine has no name magazines with it....one 7-round that has no markings on it and an 8-round that at least has 45 ACP on its side but has a cheap floorplate/bumper on its bottom made out of plastic.

I have been looking at the 1911sc as I really like the look of the dual tone. I guess after reading all this I will probably look to the Ruger as it has gotten good reviews.
Russ

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US Veteran 1970-1974

I had an E-series commander-sized pistol, and kept it for all of three magazines worth of shooting. I am happy to know that it is in the hands of someone who has other choices for CCW, because it was poorly built, and it made THREE trips to S&W before I sold it.
Go and find a 4563, and move on with your life.

I like the way that this weapon is built and feels in my hand but am just disappointed that the Q/C let this one pass. I realize that it isn't much but if an obvious thing (and obviously a repeatable flaw) is able to pass, it really makes you question whether the inspector missed it or deliberately passed it on hoping that the end purchaser would not hold them accountable.

I would suspect that the Q/C is slipping. Back in the summer I purchased a .40 Shield and it was missing a magazine. That took almost 3 months of complaining/whining/etc. to get them to send me what should have been with the weapon to begin with. And when I pointed out that they were obviously in stock enough to include with the new weapons they were manufacturing, I was politely told that those were reserved for production, not customer service.

I purchased a S&W 1911SC Bi-tone about two months ago and it is without a doubt one of my most favorite guns. When the slide is locked does it have some minor scratches under the slide stop yes. When the safety is engaged is there some minor scratching on the slide yes. Did I buy this gun to sit around and admire it no. I bought it to shoot it. Dose it shoot as good as if not better than any other 1911 I have owned yes. So my advice to those of you worried about some minor scratches, it to shoot the damn gun and enjoy it for the purpose it was built. Just my two cents.

This gun has been perfect in every aspect, and NO it's not leaving to go anywhere.

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Sure you did

How would you keep a slide-stop from rubbing the frame on any 1911. I have three smith 1911's and all are great guns.

I also have the two tone bobtail E series and think it is the most beautiful gun I have ever seen. It also shoots very well and have had no problems or scratches with it yet. I do agree that it should not have scratches out of the box and I would be very unhappy if mine did but I bought it to use it and am a realist. It eventually will get scratched or dinged at some point, I just hope it happens years from now and not tomorrow.

idiot response

The mags sound more like a dealer issue then a Smith and Wesson issue. I know when I got my Ar the dealer put a brand new magpul mag in the box instead of the factory mag. I have read and heard that's not a completely uncommon practice.

Mine also came with one 7 round magazine with no name on it and one 8 round magazine with 45 on it and I can assure you that my dealer did not change the magazines. These are the ones that came from the factory and, frankly, I see nothing wrong with them. It never ceases to amaze me how much people like to complain on these internet forums but by the same token its a free country ( or at least it use to be ) and you can say what ever you want.

I am really happy with mine!!!

I prefer it to my Nighthawk!!!

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Twogunnes
John 3:16

1) Series 70 type action with titanium firing pin and supposedly stiffer firing pin spring. It passes the drop testing.

2) Forged.

3) Yes, but I am not sure which parts.

4) No. Large S&W external, which does not worry me as S&W learned these extractors decades ago.

Be sure to post what smith and wesson have to say paints-cows. Hope its all works out for you. I've had to use them twice in the past twenty years with the last being about three years. Great service both times.