I just received a new FS M&P 40. It has night sights and kinda of a different (strange to me) finish. My other M&P and the ones I've looked at in gun stores have a finish that is not shiny, but somewhat smooth and with a little bit of reflectivity. The one I received has a rougher, mat surface, and absolutely no reflectivity. It is definitely different than any other M&P I've seen.

The SKU number is 151243 and that is not listed on the S&W site and in fact there are no M&Ps that have 15 as the starting digits of the SKU number.

I've attached a pic of the 40 next to my M&P 9c to show the difference. The new 40 is on top and the 9c at the bottom. Notice the difference in the reflectivity of the two. Anyone know anything about this finish or the SKU number?

Attached Images

40FS_9c.jpg (83.9 KB, 1005 views)

I know exactly what you're talking about. I got my Shield 40 about 6-7 months before my wife's Shield 9. Mine is smooth/shiny and her's is rough/matte. To make matters more confusing, I bought a 45c a month or two after the Shield 9 and it had the smooth/shiny finish like the Shield 40.

I like the smooth/shiny finish better. The rough/matte finish has a cheap, toy-like feel to it. It seems to show marks and scratches more too. Maybe it lasts longer or has better anti-rust properties to it. That would be nice since I practice drawing/dry fire drills so much my Shield looks like I've been carrying it for a decade.

Glad to know there's someone out there who's scratching their head like me. I thought somebody at S&W accidentally took her slide out of the oven too early haha.


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Maybe this will help I know a year our 2 ago Glock switched finshes on there guns. They went from a bright shiny black to a dull dark gray with a chalky feel. I know there where a mix match of guns for a while because they make x number of slides, barrel's, etc at a time. What was coming up was some new guns had the new finish and some new guns had the old finish. I guess it just depended on what bin the assembler grabbed when putting together the guns.

I haven't seen any "shiny" finish M&P's (your attached photo doesn't really show up well -- at least, on my tablet). My .40 FS with a fire date in April 2012 has a matte black melonite finish. The nickel boron slide finish is shinier than the melonite, but your pic doesn't seem to be Ni-B. I'm pretty sure the new Shield I will be picking up next week (fire date 11/28/2012) is matte black, too.

Maybe the non-standard SKU designates a special contract run with a limited availibility/special features (like the Spec Ops threaded barrel). I don't know.

__________________
Bob
NRA, MSI, SAF Member

I thought it might be a distributor special they sometimes produce, but the SKU does not fit with any of the ones I can find.

The leading numbers of 15xxxx are what has me confused. The pro models start with 17xxx, regular production starts with 20xxx or 30xxx, but no where can I find anything that starts with 15xxx.

Actually, the 150XXX SKU series covers the FDE (flat dark earth = brown) and Talo (Ni-B) finish pistols, so it would be consistent with a special finish.

Yup...talo finish...got lucky

I too, know exactly what the OP is talking about. I have a full size and a compact from 2012, and they both have the "shiny/smooth" finish. I just picked up a 2013 production full size, it has the "matte/rough" finish.

Tactically, I would think the matte finish is better--it reflects less light. It also matches the polymer frame better. The rough finish also seems to appear more uniform than the shiny finish.

At the same time, I too, like the shiny better for some reason.

I am very curious as to why S&W made this change.

I'm picking up a FS M&P 9mm today with the newer trigger (3-28-2013 test fire date) and it has a shiny finish and deeper roll marks than the older one in the same case with a matte finish and more shallow roll marks. Not sure what that means since it goes against what everyone else here is getting.