Original(-ish) Melonite-SD9/40 re-released!

Sittinduck21

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I tried looking through the titles of topics to see if this had been posted, and I didn't immediately see anything. I also tried a search, but when I typed in "SD9" in the forum search, it returned with nothing. So I apologize if this is old news.

Anyway, in between classes, I stopped by the Academy just down the street from my school, and I was shocked to see that they've re-released the original SD9/40 pistol with metal front/rear sights. According to the cleric working the counter, it's an Academy exclusive, so I don't think you'll find any at your local LGS.

A correction from the title, it's not treated with Melonite, but instead Smith and Wesson's new "Armornite" coating. I'm not sure what the difference is.

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It's not the same as the original SD, they've made a few minor changes, but here's a list:

-Black, Armornite®-treated slide (vs original Melonite).
-Metal front/Rear sights with fiber-optics. (Green front, red rear)
-More aggressive stippling on the front and rear backstraps. It's just like the original, but the diamond pattern sticks out farther and is more pointed. Some will love it, other's will probably not, I'm not sure where I fall with it, I didn't get to spend enough time with it. But it is definitely grippier.
-Reduced/eliminated seam-line on the polymer frame. Again, I didn't get to spend much time with it, but it seems like I specifically remember the fact that the un-sightly seam line from the original polymer mold wasn't visible.

They had a trigger lock on it so I didn't get to evaluate the trigger, the biggest complaint from the original. The cleric told me that he believed it was the same trigger. The store page though notes that it has a trademarked "SDT™" trigger, which is not listed on the SDVE page.

The clerk didn't want me taking pictures of the gun, but it's up on their web-store page.
page

Man, I wish I wasn't out of cash right now. :/

Retail at academy was $349 for the SD9/40, $299 for the SDVE.
 
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Nice! I always did like the darker finish on the original SD's. As far as any lock-work difference's in the trigger, I doubt it for that price. "SDT" means "Self Defense Trigger", which was S&W's attempt to describe the kind of trigger the SD series of pistols had. They stopped doing that on the SD9/40VE's(Stainless slide) and let their low price sell them. It worked, IMHO.
The reason the original SD's were so expensive was due to the melonite finish and the large tritium night sight on the front. The "VE" means "Value Enhanced", as in leave the stainless slide in the raw, put plain sights on it and save the cost.
 
There is a thread on this subject. Apparently it is an Academy Sports signature model like a Tall Ruger GP100.
 
I know I shouldn't but I checked & it may be at a store near me ,
if I don't talk myself out of it I am calling first thing in the morning
:confused:.
 
Armonite is a paint or coating it is NOT melonite.

It is basically a rust preventative paint.

Do a google search.

It is as cheap a means to darken a gun as they can come up with.
 
Armonite is a paint or coating it is NOT melonite.

It is basically a rust preventative paint.

Do a google search.

It is as cheap a means to darken a gun as they can come up with.

Yep, just another word for bluing.
 
I don't know where you got your info, but Armornite is not a bluing or other cheap coating, it's a nitriding process like Melonite. After S&W dropped Melonite, since the name is trademarked, they continued to use the nitriding process. They just couldn't call it Melonite. For awhile they called it Durable Corrosion Resistance. Then they trademarked their own name for the process calling it Armornite. I've seen that info straight from the horse's mouth. A S&W rep mentioned it on YouTube and there's also a rep on AR15.com that has mentioned it numerous times.
 
Google under S&W Trademarks for armornite

If you just LOOK you will find it. It is not melonite which is owned by another company.

Also known as Armor Night

International Class002 - Paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust and against deterioration of wood; colorants; mordants; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for painters, decorators, printers and artists. - Paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust and against deterioration of wood; colorants; mordants; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for painters, decorators, printers and artists.
 
And? That's just legalese. Armornite (formerly called Durable Corrosion Resistance) is a nitriding process, stated by S&W themselves. Melonite is just a trademarked name like Tenifer. Armornite is just S&W's name for the same process. Armornite is not a paint as you put it. I don't care what the international class says. I have the M&P15 Sport II with the Armornite finish and I can tell you it is NOT a paint or some other coating like bluing. I also had a Sport I and it was the same.
 
The SD9 (or SD9VE) is a good bargain when it sells for $275-$300. Raise the price to $349, then add tax, and it is more than the M&P9 LE version (with three mags) sold by Bud's Guns (if you include the $50 S&W rebate).

S&W's efforts to up-sell the SD9 by adding fiber optic sights is fine, and you do get more for your money (if you like fiber optic sights), but it nudges the SD9 closer to a bracket with guns with more features.
 
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And? That's just legalese. Armornite (formerly called Durable Corrosion Resistance) is a nitriding process, stated by S&W themselves. Melonite is just a trademarked name like Tenifer. Armornite is just S&W's name for the same process. Armornite is not a paint as you put it. I don't care what the international class says. I have the M&P15 Sport II with the Armornite finish and I can tell you it is NOT a paint or some other coating like bluing. I also had a Sport I and it was the same.

I see it marketed as you say, but I see the registration process say otherwise. I think the 'black' finish is a coating or paint applied over a nitride treated metal or a non-nitride treated metal.
 
Hehe, I was just going to post this. Probably half of my posts on here from when I got my SD9VE three years ago is me whining about wanting a black slide and my useless travails in my search. Now I just have to wait for them to get back into circulation and then for someone to decide to sell their...oh screw it, I'm pathetic.
 
I see it marketed as you say, but I see the registration process say otherwise. I think the 'black' finish is a coating or paint applied over a nitride treated metal or a non-nitride treated metal.

Thanks Practical, that's what I meant when I said it was bluing.
 
I just picked up another standard SD9VE today and the front and back strap grip texture is more aggressive than the original.
 
I like it - I'm putting it on my want list. I bought one of the original Sigma 9mm's back in 97/98 thereabouts. I sold it for chump change but always regretted it since I liked the style and the price. $200-ish less than a Block and it uses (well - they used to be, anyway) high-quality metal mags...
 
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