Ladies and Gentlemen, this does not come with your gun:



I understand that when you purchase a new gun, you expect it to be free of defects. But free of defects does not mean completely spotless or finish work that compares with a Holland & Holland rifle.

There are so many threads in which the posters post pictures of very minor dings or scratches that many people would not even notice. And some of these threads are for guns that are made for carrying. I can't count how many threads there have been regarding the crown of a Shield. I even recall one thread where the poster was upset that that there was a double stamp of the fire-with-magazine-removed warning.

I have a 63-5 that requires some windage adjustment, but it's extremely accurate.

I have a 60-15 that has a raised spot on the muzzle near the crown. It shoots great.

These are production guns, not museum pieces. If you shoot them, then will get wear. When you sit them down during shooting, they will get marks. And if you carry them for a while, the will get holster wear and dings.

When you buy a new computer, do you meticulously go over the housing and look for any dings or scratches?

When you buy a new TV, do you look to see if the backside has any marks?

Buying a gun and discovering a loose yoke, sloppy timing, a failure to feed, an excessively clock barrel - that's one thing. But a minor blemish, such as a tiny scratch on the butt, etc., that's nothing to worry about. You are driving yourselves crazy by these borderline "OCD unboxing examinations."

And, before you send that gun back to S&W to fix the tiny scratch, try shooting it. It may be one of the most accurate guns out of the box! If that's the case, do you really want S&W to replace a barrel because the "crown didn't look right?"

Don't sweat the small stuff.

When I buy anything with a small defect I like to believe a small defect is a deliberate design element that serves as an expression of modesty because nothing in life is perfect. It's a symbol of human imperfection and humility.
It is then protected from further damage and it's always true.

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Back to back World War Champs.

Very Zen of you, Comrad.
I could not agree more.

I spent my career playing guitars and basses that had gone through a wood chipper. The audiences never knew.

All my guns have dings and wear marks as do I.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I don't look at 'em, just shoot 'em.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Contrarian alert!!
As products pricing and demand climbs into the stratosphere, should manufacturers lower their quality control, because they can? As new shooters come into the market do they have to accept less quality? What about the retailers under the demand of increased sales, should they allow their clerks to mishandle firearms or not notice customers mishandling or damaging prospective purchases. Do retailers offer discounts on firearms that have obvious cosmetic issues?
Perhaps firearms purchasers need to do a better inspection, opening the box and actually looking at the firearm. No matter if there are 20 people waiting for the transaction to be completed, the purchaser needs to include checking things out beyond a serial number check and that the paperwork is correct. Perhaps the retailers should check out their stock for quality, before it reaches the floor?
Lots of potential for fault on all sides, manufacturers, retailers, and purchasers!

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Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

...and lo, all the people throughout the land shouted, in unison, Amen!!!

Waaa, there's too much pulp in my orange juice! Waa!:-)

Pef I agree with you but I still get annoyed when I find cracked eggs in the carton at the store.