Scuffed brand new Ti Cylinder

[parastein]

Hey all,

I ordered a new J-frame titanium cylinder from Midway when they were in stock and just got mine. I don't have the J-frame it's going into yet, nor have I ever seen a Ti cylinder, but the front face, which seems to be "darker" due to the coating/treatment I assume, has some scuffs and unevenness I was concerned about.

Anyone who's seen a brand new Ti cylinder able to confirm whether this is normal? I already emailed Midway and S&W but wanted to ask actual owners.

I have seen some people say they had erosion right away with 135gr rounds, cleaning their cylinder with only feathers and rosewater mist, with others saying they clean theirs in a rock tumbler with muriatic acid after 5000 rounds of 357 magnum and have zero erosion. I wonder if the inconsistency in coating quality is the problem?

 

[JimCunn]

I've got 6 of those cylinders. That's not normal.

 

[joebuck]

Not new. Probably used return. Get another one sent out.

 

[parastein]

Thanks all. I got it returned and will order another.

I was under the impression these are manufactured by S&W and simply sold by MidwayUSA. I have seen in some pictures, possibly older, the Ti cylinders didn't used to have a darker face than the sides.

 

[Bosquebass]

That looks used to me. I only have one Ti cylinder, it's old and used but it is dark gray all over. Looks like someone removed the burn rings from that one.

 

[parastein]

Well, I got a second cylinder from Midway after returning that one. This one is even worse. This one had irremovable stains/splatter on the titanium and a scratch, in addition to the same scuffing on the front. I ordered a 3rd and have this one lined up to return. Hopefully 3rd times a charm, or maybe the cylinder face inconsistencies are normal?

 

[MikeR90S]

It looks to me like they are using a wire wheel to brush the radius onto the front edge of the cylinder which rolls some material onto the face. On my 337pd the edge is dead sharp. Not great for reholstering. I would take the radius even if it isn’t perfect.

Also the titanium isn’t really coated it is just uniformly oxidized to creat a layer of titanium oxide on the surface, which is protective to the base metal.

 

[stansdds]

Maybe the cylinders that Midway has obtained are mostly new, but are factory seconds.

 

[parastein]

A 3rd cylinder arrived from Midway - this one was perfect.

 

[Nanuk]

It is gonna look a lot worse than that once you start using it.

 

[parastein]

It is gonna look a lot worse than that once you start using it.

My car is covered in dings and pinstripes but if it came from the dealer that way I would turn it back.

 

[Eagle1*]

Man, I hope mine doesn't look like that when I get it. Should be here the Wednesday. Fingers crossed...