I purchased a first generation M&P Shield 9MM in 2014. The magazines that came with that model have a welded seam at the back of the magazine. In fact, a 1/8" top and bottom portion of that seam is, by design, left unwelded.

Fast forward to today where Shield 7-round magazines are sold out in all local gun stores. So I purchased a first generation magazine off of Ebay, in new condition, in its original sealed packaging, and marked with the S&W logo. I noticed that this newer Shield 7-round mag does not have any visible welded seam like the ones that originally came with my gun.

So my question is, when did S&W change the welded design of the first gen magazine? Or perhaps I bought a China imitation product? ...Cause there is certainly a lot of that forgery going on in the knife world.

My 9mm Shield 1.0 is dated early 2019. I just checked 9 magazines - 2 were 7 rounds: all magazine are welded. A few of the weld seams are very good, but all of my magazines are welded.

Well, to answer my own question, newly manufactured Shield magazines, regardless of Gen 1, 2 or 3, are now being made with a new process that eliminates the seam at the back of the magazine. This is quite evident from looking at the new Shield Plus (Gen 3) magazines.

And slightly off-topic, the new Shield Plus has a gloss black color to its polymer body because it has been supposedly cerakoted. I'm a fan of the new model design but not the color.

Wait. . . S&W cerakoted the polymer frame? Why?

I do not know why but it was mentioned in a highly reliable review that the shiny look to the polymer frame was ceracote. In any case, I am not a fan of the color. It does have a painted look to it as seen here if you magnify this picture:

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...313_131531.jpg

This is what the review said, followed by a link to the write-up:

"If you were to take a strong look at the standard Shield or Shield 2.0 and compare it side by side with the Shield Plus, you’d notice that the sheen of the frame is slightly different. This is because Smith & Wesson opted to have the frame coated in matte black Cerakote in order to more evenly blend the color of the Armornite finished slide with the rest of the frame."

Here is the link:
TFB Review: Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus 13+1 Round Micro-Compact PistolThe Firearm Blog

My understanding is that, unlike the 1.0 and 2.0, the Shield Plus mags are now made by Mec-Gar instead of S&W. Mec-Gar makes fantastic magazines (I own many for other guns). I have every confidence they'll be at least as good (if not better) than the earlier S&W mags.

Most Mec-Gar mags these days have a very slick black finish that, I believe, is a form of nitride finish.

BTW my 2-month old Shield 2.0 has a visible but well made seam on the back that appears to be welded.

I have one 1.0 Shield magazine & the two 2.0s that came with the pistol.
Both are welded except for at the very top & the weld finished down..
Only difference I can tell is the sleeve of the 1.0 has less texture..
Here's a few pics one with flash that shows the welds differently..

Attached Images

	M&P Shield Magazines I.jpg (117.0 KB, 20 views)
	M&P Shield Magazines II.jpg (95.4 KB, 16 views)

__________________
MightShowYouHisSmith&Wesson