I just received a new 9mm Shield this past week. It came in the box exactly as the OP described his did. When I pulled it down to clean/lube it, it looked pretty much the same as his. I though nothing of it as new guns are test-fired at the factory at least 1-6 times depending on whether it has issues. My other two M&Ps looked about the same. I took it out and rattled just over 200 rounds without any issues. Came back, pulled it down and it didn't look a whole lot worse than it did when it first arrived. I say it's new....just go shoot it and enjoy. It's a sweet gun.