I have a 4013 single stack and just got some night sights put on it. The gunsmith scarred the slide up during installation and I really hope they are at least dead accurate. Haven't been to the range yet but am annoyed at the final product. This is my main carry and just finally got to getting the sights replaced. I bought it used, and it already had some cosmetic issues, but was gonna be a carry anyway and I was more worried about how it shot. Still makes me mad about the scratched up slide.

That being said, has anyone ever sent their old 3rd gen to smith and Wesson for an "overhaul"? How did you like the results?

TD

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TD,

Sorry about your troubles.

First off, any gunsmith worth his/her salt would fix the damage they caused. Have you spoken to them about the damage.

Second, one of the great things about a 3gen smith is how nice you can make old trade ins sparkle like new. A scotchbrite, some rem oil, and a couple beers and you can have a slide looking almost NIB.

Third, if its a really deep scratch, send it back to S&W for a refinish. They do an amazing job. Make sure you have the gunsmith pay for it (see the first paragraph)

Good luck!

Gator

If anything he should not have charged you for the sights and the installation.

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Aim small miss small

Hello Noyed. Sorry to hear an incompetent GS marred up your gun. He should have offered to make it good somehow.

Performance center does re-finish work. If you have a minimum of 6 months of turn around time. Quality re-finish at a reasonable price. Just received my 3913 back and probably would shop around if had to do it over again. If its just a ss slide beadblast you're looking for many machine shops in this area can do it.

This is why I bought a sight pusher for my M&Ps. After having had some less than satisfactory experiences with sight installations on previous handguns, I have sworn off gunsmiths. I plan to do all my own sights from now on.

Sorry for the quality of work. Good luck in getting anything out of that gunsmith.

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The one w/ the gun.

Night Sights should only be installed with a pusher. The old hammer and punch method has been known to crack the tritium capsules

If the marks are scuffs, have the gunsmith that cause the damage bead blast the slide for you. If he damage is deep gouges, not much can be done.

What do you want S&W to do in an "overhaul"? That term means different things to different people. Is mechanical work required on your 4013? Or is this just a cosmetic issue?

Slide is scratched deeper in spots. I know he used a hammer and punch, could hear it from his work room. Have heard back from the biz that gives him the space to work and they are on my side, will see what happens .

As far as the overhaul my pistol is mechanically fine, just want them to check it over for anything that may be an issue. I would like the cosmetics freshened up.

Positive, might be a reason to get that shield ..........
TD

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Update 2:

Have been playing a bit of phone tag with the gunsmith over the weekend, after leaving him a few very clear voicemails he called me back and is going to order me a new slide to replace the one he damaged. I am satisfied with this and hope its a "drop in" type fix and won't need any gun smithing. Also hope he remembers to order the slide with night sights since that is the whole reason I took the pistol to him in the first place.

Everyone makes mistakes, I am glad he is taking responsibility for it and hope it all works out from here on out.

TD

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I'm not sure that slides are readily available, I could be wrong. Very well could need some fitting. Here's to hoping they are available though. If so, and he gives you the damaged slide back and you want to sell it, please let me know!

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USS ZELLARS
DD-777

That has to be frustrating. I doubt he can get a slide and it would make more sense just to offer you a damages payment. It would be cheaper for him and better for you. Maybe just a refund for the costs of your sights installation.

Wow, good luck with that. Single stack 4013s have been out of production for years. Last ones manufactured were the double stack TSWs. If you do get another slide, it will almost definitely be a used one.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

man thats a bummer,if i mess up my own stuff its one thing but if someone else does it its different,hope you can get it took care of.

Thanks to a forum member a slide was located, just hope the smith agrees to the order. If not he will pay damages and I will move on with life.

if the slide works out maybe I'll look for an old frame and make another pistol!
TD

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As some of you know from reading my other posts I recently had some sights replaced with night sights on an old 3rd gen S&W pistol. The gunsmith scratched my slide after putting it in a vice and beating the snot out of it. The scratches are to deep to buff out and I've been going around with this guy for a little while now.

He first offered to buff it out, that won't work since the scratches are deep without ruining the finish, then offered to get me a new slide from S&W but after I called S&W they don't have any slides and won't have them for a while. The smith told me he had connections at S&W but when I told him I called it was different. I found him a slide due to a forum member over at the S&W forum and agreed if he bought me the new slide I would be happy, even though I would have to again get the night sights installed. All he had to do was order the slide and have it sent to my address. Well he ordered the slide but had it sent to his address because he wants the old slide. No.......the old slide has my night sights I will need to get reinstalled, and I don't think he needs a slide out of this deal either. I'm not even sure the front night sight can be reused since the smith deformed it pounding it into place. Argh!

My last email, since he won't return my calls and only emails, stated either I get a refund for the cost of the slide or the slide delivered to me.

I am getting quite annoyed with this situation, and have never had to file a claim with small claims court or anything like that. Any of you legal lawyer guys have any advice? At this point I have been very patient and haven't even talked about the cost of the night sights with him that he boogered up. If this ends up going further I will be filing for the slide cost, the sights, and installation cost plus legal fees. The store in which he does his smithing is on my side and has even stated they would testify for me if need be.

I know some of you think I should out this smith, and I am in agreement except for the fact if I do have to get legal I don't want him to be able to use that as a defense.

I just wanted night sights ........... Is that so wrong?

TD

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Hi, TD.

I'm not a lawyer but I worked for one for 40 years.
In circumstances like this, he needs to return you to where you were when you met.
At that point you had one undamaged slide with standard sights, one uninstalled set of night sights, and your money in your pocket.
I'm not on his side but if he buys you a new slide he should get to keep the old one. Of course he still owes for the night sights (which if he pays for new ones, he gets to keep the old ones) and refund of the installation charge.
It's what is fair and what you would be awarded in court.
That's the way I always saw it ruled unless he meant to harm you.
Just my opinion.
Good luck!

John

+1 to John. I'm not a lawyer but I watch court shows all day. The solution that John states is to me the most equitable for you & the so called smith. If you were to get both slides, plus your sights & labor cost, it would be a windfall for you, & the law will not allow that. It will only put you back where you were originally, as if it had never happened. I don't think they will award punitive damages for something like this. Best of luck, I hope you get an offer you can live with.

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

This is one reason why I do my own work, one to learn and if I blow it, it's my fault and I do not feel so bad. I do not trust many modern smiths that have a title Gunsmith with no business working on my piece. Do not get me wrong, there are a many that are qualified individuals. Just that the ones by me never seem to pass the muster or the lobs I throw them prior to doing work. so that is it for me.

I think your Smith will have issues should you take him to court. Either way it sucks and hope you get it worked out.

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DD-777

I just emailed the gunsmith thanks to some of your suggestions, I have asked:

Gunsmith - delivers a new slide and new sights. We meet at the place of business and with the owner as a witness I inspect the new parts to make sure they are correct. If so I trade him the new parts for the damaged parts and will take care of getting the new sights installed on my own.

While I did try to compromise I have read back through my emails and even with the new slide I requested night sights when he ordered the new slide.

I hope this takes care of it, if not I guess I need to take more action. Getting pretty annoyed at this point.

TD

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I recently had a 5903 frame Duracoated in silver. The frame had been scratched to hell over the years. Cost me about $30 and it looks perfect