Dings on inside of trigger guard?

[os2firefox]

I have seen a couple of brand new revolvers with dings on the inside of the trigger guard. Everything else looked good...

Anyone have an idea what they do at the factory to make these dings?

 

[chief38]

Looks like a handling ding from moving the gun around from station to station while being made, tested and packaged. Unfortunately, I'd bet most of the S&W plant workers are just there for a paycheck and are not collectors or into our hobby. They probably could care less about a little ding like yours - which is pretty common now.

What I'd do is take an extra fine miniature Arkansas Stone and take ONLY a very few strokes (3 - 4) to remove any sharp burrs - this will keep your finger or clothing from catching it. Do NOT try to remove the entire ding or you will round off the area which might be more obvious than the tiny ding itself. ONLY A FEW STROKES - just to break the sharp edges.

Since you state that everything else looks good, I would accept this as the LEAST of all evils and would bet most people would not even notice it after a few Stone strokes. Besides, if you shoot and or carry this gun regularly, it will magically develop a few more dings to keep that one company! It doesn't take much.........

 

[CajunBass]

Looks like normal handling to me. I doubt that would count as a flaw on any mass produced item.

 

[MichiganScott]

Since you state that everything else looks good, I would accept this as the LEAST of all evils and would bet most people would not even notice it after a few Stone strokes. Besides, if you shoot and or carry this gun regularly, it will magically develop a few more dings to keep that one company! It doesn't take much.........

Put me down as one of the people that would not have noticed it before a couple of strokes with a hard Arkansas, let alone after.

We got a lot of posters on this forum that need to spend more time shooting and less time fondling their handguns.

 

[Bob1943]

That's a pretty common type ding. I have been looking for a pristine 2 1/2" 686 for nearly a year. I was at an LGS about 2 months ago that had just received a shipment of 11 of them. They brought out all 11 boxes and said pick the one you like best. Unbelievably, all 11 of them had at least one very noticeable ding/scratch somewhere on the gun. But they all had straight barrels, i.e., no canted ones.

Chances are less than 50/50 that you will get a mass produced production line gun that is free of cosmetic flaws, or a canted barrel in the case of a revolver. I have looked at 23 S&W 686/627s in the past year and have not found one yet.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

.... just received a shipment of 11 ....they all had straight barrels, i.e., no canted ones.

Happenstance? Or could this be a sign the QC inspectors at S&W have awoken from their long slumber?

 

[-db-]

That would bother me on a new blued gun but stainless is a lot more forgiving and the fix is fairly easy, as chief38 describes.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Anyone have an idea what they do at the factory to make these dings?

Careless handling.

 

[os2firefox]

I'm not worried about the scratch and didn't even notice it until my cleaning microfiber tower got stuck on a sharp edge there.

Just remember seeing a whole bunch of revolvers that had similar dings in that area, but no such thing on semi-autos, so got curious.

Anyway, I'll probably send it in to get melonited/FNC'd and then np3+ plated, since my wife got it for my anniversary gift and holds a bit more sentimental value

 

[chief38]

If there are multiple Revolvers having all the same marks in all the same spots then I might think it could be caused by a clamping jig or a specific tool that dings them all in the same spot.

 

[Bob1943]

The ones that I have inspected during the past year have had scratches at random locations, i.e., no trend was appearing.

BTW, I just looked at #24 & 25 (686 + snubs) at two different LGS this afternoon. Again, both had perfectly straight barrels, but what looked like nail point marks in the finish. The first one had 3 pointed dents in the side plate and a shiny scuff mark on the bottom of the trigger guard. The 2nd one had a very deep nail point dent just below the muzzle crown. However, I am happy to see the canted barrel issue has tapered off. One of these days I will stumble onto a pristine one (BTW, I am searching for a 686 for a collection gun, not a daily shooter, hence, the concern about cosmetics and straight barrels.)

 

[dg84s]

I find the casting seams, spatter and burrs on the side of the trigger in the picture much more objectionable than the little ding on the trigger guard. That said, my guns are tools, not jewels.

 

[Camster]

Happenstance? Or could this be a sign the QC inspectors at S&W have awoken from their long slumber?

Are there actually QC inspectors on the floor? I've seen enough flaws to think that Smiths go from station to station,get a few rounds through them,and go straight into the box,without anyone giving them a look over,or pulling them if they were not up to snuff..
I've also bought plenty of new guns of all sorts that were 100% fine,so the argument that all mass produced guns have handling marks or defects,doesn't hold water.

 

[andyo5]

If the gun is otherwise OK and shoots well I would ignore it and move on. Most products made today have some flaws in them. I don't like it, but there it is. That little mark is very minor.

 

[Snallygaster]

I can't believe how many people think this is acceptable. These are premium guns and S&W gets top dollar for them. I don't think it's acceptable at all.

 

[sodacan]

I think you should cut off the trigger guard. Send it back to S&W and have them fix it. It's under warranty, right?