4013TSW slide finish

[rosewood]

I have a 4013TSW and the slide finish looks to be a darker gray and almost shiny look. Looks different from all my other 3rd Gen Smith's. Is it a different type of finish than the other 3rd Gens? Maybe some sort of clear coat??

Thanks,

Rosewood

 

[oldman10mm]

A pic of the 4013TSW next to one of your other 3rd gens showing the difference of your concern.

 

[rosewood]

A pic of the 4013TSW next to one of your other 3rd gens showing the difference of your concern.

I will get a picture, but every 4013TSW I have seen has this different finish. The one my buddy bought looks the same. I assumed this was common and others would know what I am talking about.

Rosewood

 

[rosewood]

Hard to see the difference in the picture. And it really isn't darker, but definitely more shiny and uniform shiny all over so it isn't Holster wear. Almost like it is a finer bead blast than the other ones.

Rosewood

 

[4T5GUY]

Looks like a Scotch Brite job to me. Hard to tell without personally seeing it.

I did my LE 4566 trade in because it was way scarfed up. The finish is acceptable to me now but different than the factory.

*** Edit to add another picture ***

Here is the 4566 next to my 4013TSW. It might hard to see the difference in a picture.

Jim

 

[JohnHL]

Hard to see the difference in the picture. And it really isn't darker, but definitely more shiny and uniform shiny all over so it isn't Holster wear. Almost like it is a finer bead blast than the other ones.

Rosewood

In the picture, it looks like most of the laser etched "Billboard" has been wiped away by something (holster, scotchbrite, Flitz?).

John

 

[rosewood]

The picture really doesn't tell the story. In person to me, it looks like a different finish other than polishing. My buddy just bought one and his looks the same. I swear there is something different about the TSW finish.

Rosewood

 

[4T5GUY]

In person to me, it looks like a different finish other than polishing.

Well, as John mentioned “something” wore the factory Billboard off. No TSW left the factory faded that way. Regardless what did it or how it happened it has been altered from stock factory original.

Jim

 

[rosewood]

Here is my buddies gun. Must have the same wear. The slide looks almost like it is clearcoated.

I can't explain it, it just looks different than the other 3rd gens.

 

[JohnHL]

Here is my buddies gun. Must have the same wear. The slide looks almost like it is clearcoated.

I can't explain it, it just looks different than the other 3rd gens.

I think I get where you're coming from in that the TSW "Billboard" slides DO look different than the roll marked slides.

I have never witnessed the process S&W uses to mark the TSW slides, but I think I know enough about the process to possibly offer a little insight.

I have used the terms "laser engraving" and "laser etching", but I was being lazy and should have used the proper terminology which I believe to be "laser bonding".

With "engraving" or "etching", material (in this case stainless steel) is removed from the surface to leave a crater, just like gouging with a tool.

In "laser bonding", a coloring chemical (like "CerMark" or "LaserBond") is applied to the surface to be marked, then thermally activated by the laser to "bond" itself to the surface (in the desired pattern), and then what's left is washed away.

That's why S&W "billboards" stand "proud" above the surface rather than cut below.

And that is also why the markings can be rubbed off.

It is my understanding that S&W stainless steel slides (both base model and TSW) are tumbled with ceramic stones (as opposed to bead blasting) to achieve the metal "finish".

This tumbling is done before the "billboard" is applied.

Just spitballin' here, but possibly the laser coloring chemical slightly "stains" or changes the steel's reflectivity, subtly changing the "look".

John

 

[rosewood]

In "laser bonding", a coloring chemical (like "CerMark" or "LaserBond") is applied to the surface to be marked, then thermally activated by the laser to "bond" itself to the surface (in the desired pattern), and then what's left is washed away.

This may be the explanation, that coloring chemical may leave a slight discoloration of the non-lasered surface even after the washing away.

Rosewood

 

[JohnHL]

Just spitballin' here, but possibly the laser coloring chemical slightly "stains" or changes the steel's reflectivity, subtly changing the "look".

John

This may be the explanation, that coloring chemical may leave a slight discoloration of the non-lasered surface even after the washing away.

Rosewood

I couldn't have said it better myself.

John