Scratches on M&P Slide

[Repr650]

Hey guys,

I purchased a new M&P .40. It appears that S&W has chosen to go with a more delicate easier to scratch finish on their slides, JUST LIKE GLOCK. I have an older M&P 9, the finish on that slide is very impressive and very difficult to scratch but this one is different.

The slide on my new M&P .40 has some over the surface scratches that look like pencil marks. Does anyone know if this is removable? These marks aren't something I would sell the gun over or go through the hassle of having the gun re-finished. The scratches don't bother me that much, I'm just pissed off that brand new guns have arrived scratched. I have this same issue with my new Glocks, old finish was great and nearly indestructible but these new finishes being applied on both Glocks and M&P's are disappointing since they arrive factory scratched.

If I can't have these scratches removed no big deal but if there's a solution I'd like to know.

Thanks

 

[Bkreutz]

(hard to comment on appearance questions without pics)

 

[buzzkillbob]

Do we buy guns to look at them? Or shoot them? I just don't get it...

 

[ginzo]

Welcome to the forum, as Bkruetz has stated pictures are helpful.

Other than you have received a brand new product with some scratches, and my guess is they are superficial. it's not likely this will be a flaw that will effect anything with the gun. It should be the standard SS slide with the melonite Rockwell 68HRC finish I believe.



Chuck

Chuck

 

[MichiganScott]

The Melonite on the M&P is rough and hard enough to be an efficient abrasive. What you perceive to be scratches are probably from rubbing on something and picking up a bit of the material.

Melonite is not a finish. It is a metal treatment and actually part of the metal itself. It certainly is harder than the anodizing of the 3rd generation guns.

 

[Willydog]

Silly question, but did you try cleaning it with a paper towel and some clp or hoppes?

A couple of weeks ago, I went into work on the weekend by myself to apply some pesticides while the staff was gone. It's a bad part of town and I decided to carry my shield in an open bottom belt slide.

I ended up working my butt off, soaked with sweat, nasty. When I got home, I noticed the tip of my slide was discolored. Then I looked at my Wrangler blue jeans and saw the gun had been rubbing against the brass rivet on the back pocket all day. The rivet was scratched up and shiny.

I thought the gun was ruined cosmetically till I realized the discoloration was actually brass that had rubbed off on the gun. I sprayed a little CLP on it and I wiped it off with a paper towel. Cleaned the brass right off the gun and it looks good as new. I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[Stratajema]

Do we buy guns to look at them? Or shoot them? I just don't get it...

Both. I'm stumped as to why the finish Glock puts on top of the melonite treatment is still being used when it is well known that it is inferior to that used on their Gen 3 guns.

 

[Venenoindy]

The only guns I have is the ones I shoot and while I take care of them the finish is not what I'm really worried about, a few years ago I realized that in order to become a proficient shooter I would have to practice a lot so after thousands of presentation out of my holster the finish doesn't look so good.

 

[MyDads38]

Were the scratches there when you bought the gun, or something that has happened since the purchase? I too, try to keep all my firearms in as pristine condition as I can; but all of them get shot/range time and carried so there will be some wear issues through the years.

 

[cracker57]

Do we buy cars to drive or look at. If you purchased a new car with scratches would you say I didn't buy it to look at I bought it to drive. I would not be happy with a new gun that arrived with scratches.

 

[GetRekt]

Do we buy cars to drive or look at. If you purchased a new car with scratches would you say I didn't buy it to look at I bought it to drive. I would not be happy with a new gun that arrived with scratches.

I tend to agree with this. I don't mind my gun having scratches, but I want to be the one that put them there. Odd I know, but that's how I feel.


On a side note, every m&p I've ever seen has had a scratch (or something) running along the middle of the top of the slide. Anyone else ever noticed that?

 

[RalphMP9FS]

I just took a pic (630 rounds fired) of my M&P9 with a shell case date of 9-13.

 

[buzzkillbob]

Do we buy cars to drive or look at. If you purchased a new car with scratches would you say I didn't buy it to look at I bought it to drive. I would not be happy with a new gun that arrived with scratches.

When the dealer handed me the keys to my new truck, I took them and put a scratch on the tailgate. When the stunned salesman asked "Why did you do that?", I responded "The first one always hurts the most." So yeah, I buy a vehicle to drive it. They are tools. They are meant to get used. If I wanted a museum piece, I would have purchased one.

 

[Rastoff]

You guys need to ease up with that "It's a tool" garbage. Yes, it's a tool, but it's his tool. He's asking if the finish has changed on new M&Ps, not if you care what his gun looks like or how he uses it. If he wants to keep it clean and scratch free, fine. That's his choice.

To actually answer the question in the OP, no, S&W has not changed their process. They no longer call it Melonite because that is a trade marked name. It is still a similar process and is a metal treatment.

And we still need pics to ascertain if we can help with the scratches or not.

 

[Repr650]

I'm under a waiting period. I pick up Tuesday, I will take pics and post them.

Do we buy guns to look at them? Or shoot them? I just don't get it...

I buy guns to shoot them, they are tools but there are two things that bother me.

1. Gun arrives scratched, I prefer to do the scratches myself.
2. Why did Glock and M&P switch to a finish that is more easily scratched? I have a Glock with the old finish, holster wear near the front but after years not a single scratch on it. My newer Glocks are easily scratched, just rubbing the brush against the finish will get you shinny gold colored scratches.

 

[MichiganScott]

Three things come to mind here.

1) You haven't picked up the pistol yet. What makes you so sure that the scratches are permanent?

2) You haven't picked up the pistol yet. What makes you so sure that S&W is using a different metal treatment?

3) Comparing a S&W to a Glock; come on. Really?

If the pistol is actually scratched, you should refuse delivery. You have every right to expect a pristine specimen so you can put your own scratches on it.