Funflyer
Member
I wouldn't have been too happy either. It's poor workmanship plain and simple. The least that wanna-be gunsmith could have done was own up to his/her mistake and replace the slide with a new one.
Nightmare came in the mail today
- Thread starter Kaps
- Start date
I suppose I would also shrug the damage off.
Howsomever (not a real word, but I like it); I refuse to belittle a fellow forum member just because he didn't want to shrug it off.
It's his gun, maybe his first, and he has a right to be upset.
Howsomever (not a real word, but I like it); I refuse to belittle a fellow forum member just because he didn't want to shrug it off.
It's his gun, maybe his first, and he has a right to be upset.
I can see both sides here.
Obviously, this shouldn't have happened, the gun should've come back in the identical condition it was sent in. No argument, fair enough.
But,that being said, this about as miniscule an issue as I could imagine. In fact, I'm kinda surprised the OP even noticed any of it. I know from experience how modern digital photos grossly exagerate and enlargen the "blemishes". So, up close and in person, I'm sure these are virtually un-noticable (and not within a light-year of being a "nightmare").
Shrug it off, let it go, and move on.
Obviously, this shouldn't have happened, the gun should've come back in the identical condition it was sent in. No argument, fair enough.
But,that being said, this about as miniscule an issue as I could imagine. In fact, I'm kinda surprised the OP even noticed any of it. I know from experience how modern digital photos grossly exagerate and enlargen the "blemishes". So, up close and in person, I'm sure these are virtually un-noticable (and not within a light-year of being a "nightmare").
Shrug it off, let it go, and move on.
ParadiseRoad
Member
...I think I see it!...wait...no...never mind...
ParadiseRoad
Member
...sent my Colt in for warranty work...this is what I got back...
jhnttrpp
Member
I do take issue with the idea that if he sent a rare collectible "Registered Magnum" he would have something to complain about. No, he would no longer have the gun he sent in. It could never be returned to what it was. No repair would make it the same gun. Repolish it, reblue it, nope. In this case it can be corrected. The factory can return it as it was. He has a right to complain. Little nick or big nick it is still careless workmanship.
Watchdog
Member
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Why are forum members poking fun at the OP about this, or making light of his problem and what he perceives as poor workmanship on the part of Smith & Wesson?
If the factory can mess up the outside, they could just as well mess up something on the inside and the gun's owner wouldn't even see it.
Again, the gun type and its price are immaterial here, in my opinion. You send a gun in for repair, you have a reasonable expectation of getting it back with repairs properly done, and done without the factory messing up something else in the process.
Properly executed repairs are a basic tenet of good customer service. What's so hard to understand about this?
If the factory can mess up the outside, they could just as well mess up something on the inside and the gun's owner wouldn't even see it.
Again, the gun type and its price are immaterial here, in my opinion. You send a gun in for repair, you have a reasonable expectation of getting it back with repairs properly done, and done without the factory messing up something else in the process.
Properly executed repairs are a basic tenet of good customer service. What's so hard to understand about this?
sigp220.45
US Veteran
Well, I hope they fix it to your satisfaction but if this is a nightmare to you then you are a lucky man indeed.
Probably shouldn't have happened but once you actually use it a few times, lay it on a work/shooting bench and insert/remove it from a holster a few times it'll look a lot worse. It's a tool, not a pristine work of art.
I'm mainly a Smith defender here, but what's right is right, they need to make amends if they did it.
I sent a Colt SAA in for a poor job on the front sight and they returned it with a ding in the top strap. I sent it back, they replaced the gun.
Another Colt, a repro S70 in stainless came with a few light scratches on the top of the slide. I let that go in that instance.
Colt needs to package their guns better, too many loose objects banging around in their boxes.
I'd see what Smith says.
I sent a Colt SAA in for a poor job on the front sight and they returned it with a ding in the top strap. I sent it back, they replaced the gun.
Another Colt, a repro S70 in stainless came with a few light scratches on the top of the slide. I let that go in that instance.
Colt needs to package their guns better, too many loose objects banging around in their boxes.
I'd see what Smith says.
Maple Trapper
Member
While it's certainly minor, it should have never come back like than. Obviously a mistake at S&W, it either got dropped or bumped against something it shouldn't have. I make similar mistakes, but when the repair shop does it, they should correct it. Major or minor makes little difference. Most likely the employee who did it, knows they had an issue.
On the other hand, what did the package look like when you got it? Was there any damage at all to the box? I ship lots of stuff USPS, and FedEx, damage happens for sure.
On the other hand, what did the package look like when you got it? Was there any damage at all to the box? I ship lots of stuff USPS, and FedEx, damage happens for sure.
No way around it, it was definitely packaged like this. the box was prestine and smith and wesson even put it in another box with some cushion in it.
OLDSTER
Member
DAMAGE-HERE WE GO AGAIN
I agree with those who post in favor of the OP. It may not be "nightmarish", but if S&W damaged the gun, it's on them and it shouldn't have happened. Back to the new car comparison; If your new and pristine car or truck went back to Chevrolet, and came back with a scratch or dent or misaligned drive that wasn't there when they received the vehicle. Would that be OK ?? No way
I agree with those who post in favor of the OP. It may not be "nightmarish", but if S&W damaged the gun, it's on them and it shouldn't have happened. Back to the new car comparison; If your new and pristine car or truck went back to Chevrolet, and came back with a scratch or dent or misaligned drive that wasn't there when they received the vehicle. Would that be OK ?? No way
im getting a lot of backlash for using the word nightmare. Sorry guys just trying to keep things spooky for Halloween xD , it is october after all. If I could rename the thread it'd be oops by s&w
It could have been worse for sure, but that's never a response you should hear! To the people poking fun, it's understandable I'm not mad... I just expected more from a reputable company. I'll let you guys know how/ if smith and wesson makes good on this.
It could have been worse for sure, but that's never a response you should hear! To the people poking fun, it's understandable I'm not mad... I just expected more from a reputable company. I'll let you guys know how/ if smith and wesson makes good on this.
I guess I don't see a nightmare here. I see a very small nick that might have been caused by the slide work, or possibly caused from something in the mail system piercing the shipping box in transit, or caused by the person re-packaging the slide for return to customer. Might very well could have been damaged after it was inspected.
I get it, you aren't happy with the returned slide, I wouldn't be either. But I don't see the need to come to this web site & bad mouth S&W over an accidental nick.
You need to discuss this with S&W not the readers on this web site as WE had nothing to do with your problem & we sure can't change it.
Please call S&W & discuss the issue with them, (my guess is they will bend over backwards to help you out).
S&W is the one to help you on this, not us. We didn't cause it, & truthfully most of us don't care.
I get it, you aren't happy with the returned slide, I wouldn't be either. But I don't see the need to come to this web site & bad mouth S&W over an accidental nick.
You need to discuss this with S&W not the readers on this web site as WE had nothing to do with your problem & we sure can't change it.
Please call S&W & discuss the issue with them, (my guess is they will bend over backwards to help you out).
S&W is the one to help you on this, not us. We didn't cause it, & truthfully most of us don't care.
iPac
Member
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This is why I feel it's so important for gun enthusiasts to be able to service their guns themselves. Or at the very least, be able to disassemble and examine the parts while knowing what correct is.
One won't fully understand it until they make the effort, but the above quote is so true and there gotta be a lot of them out there.
I've found quality issues popping up with frequency dating clear back to the late '60s on Colt revolvers. Read online though and their quality gets portrayed as something mythical. The current prices reflect this flawed assumption too.
Flaws are a part of any mass produced item. However, there are steps one can take to avoid those examples or at least get them corrected quickly. Instead of going about none the wiser until something breaks.
Good luck OP.
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SATX
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To be honest, people can see that little ding in a hi-resolution photo after being told exactly where it is, and I'm sure you inspected it very closely after receiving it back from S&W, but I'm confident that whoever repaired your gun didn't put it under a magnifying glass and normally they don't. Now that you identified the problem, they will most likely replace the slide.
I just wanted some input, i simply wanted to know if this is common and what to expect from smith and wesson. If someone comes across reading this in the future it might help them out, make an informed decision. I'm not going to be the first one to send their gun in for a repair, people should know what to expect. As far as bad mouthing I can see how an accidental nick on the slide could happen, understandable. The sights on the other hand look like they were beat in. That's just bad workmanship. if you don't care then poke fun and carry on but I wish I knew this was a possibility before hand and wish I saw a thread like this. Again if s&w makes good on this I'll let you guys know
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presspics
Member
Is it April 1st???
In principle, I'm with Watchdog, but I am having a heck of a time seeing what the discussion is about. So far, I'm not convinced that it is worth the trouble to find out. I mean, if the government owes you a $1,435.76 tax refund, and somehow sends you $1,435.67 instead, what would YOU do about?
shotguntom
Member
Gotta side with op here. My gun didnt have a ding in the slide when it went to S&W. No reason to have one when its returned.
Simple as that.
I would be pretty annoyed if it were my gun. Price of the gun is irrelevant.
They damaged it they replace the slide. I would accept nothing less.
Simple as that.
I would be pretty annoyed if it were my gun. Price of the gun is irrelevant.
They damaged it they replace the slide. I would accept nothing less.
I guess us old guys are snoobs if its not a clasic gun we do not care. You are right even a hi point is some buddy's babby
bigggbbruce
Member
Go to the OP click "edit".. then select "go advanced" rename title
Americanpatriot
Member
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I'm having trouble enlarging the photos but here's my opinion. The gun should not come back with any finish damages. If I bring my new car into my dealer for.warranty work I don't expect to get back my car with dings dents or scratches no matter how.small. I expect the same from any company servicing a product. If that means they have to refinish the slide that's their problem not mine.
If you sent it in to get the sights installed or adjusted and they pushed the front sight, then yes, they could have done a better job.
It doesn't take much to pad the sight to prevent the sight pusher from marring the finish. A piece of heavy paper, like the back of a match book, or a business card is plenty.
It is however not as easy to avoid removing any blue in the dove tail. You need to file the bottom of the sight enough to get a snug fit in the dove tail, but you do need it to be snug enough not to move. There's a very thin line between not removing any bluing and leaving it too loose for reliable service.
Back in the day when silver solder was to attach sights, it was pretty common to repair any damage to the finish with cold blue and with the right bluing agent and a skilled hand, it could be blended well enough that the repair wasn't detectable. But that took someone who actually cared, and that's what you paid for when you selected the gunsmith.
In this case you can still use cold blue to cover the marred blue. Just degrease it thoroughly with 90% rubbing alcohol and apply cold blue with a Q-tip. Rub it a bit, wipe it off with a clean cotton cloth and repeat until it's as dark as you need it to be. With a matte finish, just don't polish it out like you would for a gloss finish.
As for the ding in the slide. It's interesting that it appears to have finish on it. That suggests it was there when manufactured, and is not in fact damage done during the repair.
It doesn't take much to pad the sight to prevent the sight pusher from marring the finish. A piece of heavy paper, like the back of a match book, or a business card is plenty.
It is however not as easy to avoid removing any blue in the dove tail. You need to file the bottom of the sight enough to get a snug fit in the dove tail, but you do need it to be snug enough not to move. There's a very thin line between not removing any bluing and leaving it too loose for reliable service.
Back in the day when silver solder was to attach sights, it was pretty common to repair any damage to the finish with cold blue and with the right bluing agent and a skilled hand, it could be blended well enough that the repair wasn't detectable. But that took someone who actually cared, and that's what you paid for when you selected the gunsmith.
In this case you can still use cold blue to cover the marred blue. Just degrease it thoroughly with 90% rubbing alcohol and apply cold blue with a Q-tip. Rub it a bit, wipe it off with a clean cotton cloth and repeat until it's as dark as you need it to be. With a matte finish, just don't polish it out like you would for a gloss finish.
As for the ding in the slide. It's interesting that it appears to have finish on it. That suggests it was there when manufactured, and is not in fact damage done during the repair.
Aww thats terrible.... lol
I had a smith put Ameriglo sights on my Shield 45. I noticed afterwards that he kinda nicked up the left side of the front sight on the logo. I just shrugged it off; if I had changed out the sights both front and back would have been dinged, scratched, and who knows what else. I was just glad they did it quick and reasonable priced, AND accurately.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I had a smith put Ameriglo sights on my Shield 45. I noticed afterwards that he kinda nicked up the left side of the front sight on the logo. I just shrugged it off; if I had changed out the sights both front and back would have been dinged, scratched, and who knows what else. I was just glad they did it quick and reasonable priced, AND accurately.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Erich
Member
That makes total sense. I did not understand you were joshing with the thread title. My response (the first in this thread) was written under the misunderstanding that you were actually being melodramatic over something that wasn't much of a big deal at all. I wouldn't have been thrilled that they nicked my gun, but I wouldn't much care, either.
