I'm an armorer at my department, and one day, one of my co workers came to me and asked if I would run his 638 through our ultrasonic cleaner. I said, "sure" and in it went. Well, when it came out after its cycle, the finish on the gun was flaking off. The chemical we use in the machine is non toxic, so it can't be that corrosive. What I'm thinking happened, is the ultrasonic action may have shook the finish loose.

I'm no scientist, and I don't claim to be an expert, but I don't think that Smith and Wesson had that machine in mind when it came up with this particular finish for their guns. Not a knock against Smith, it was just an unforeseeable and unfortunate occurrence. By the way, the officer doesn't love the gun any less.