Vertical lines inside SD9VE slide

[Deadshot]

Anyone else have this issue? Or is it a non issue? My weapon fires flawlessly, but I'm wondering if there could be a flaw causing these vertical grooves inside my slide? It's directly next to the firing pin when I lock the slide back. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Non issue. Mine and several members have these tool marks. They don't interfere with function and not noticeable from the outside. American made, lifetime warranty, reliable, high cap and $300.00.

I can overlook a few tool marks. Enjoy your pistol.

 

[Deadshot]

Non issue. Mine and several members have these tool marks. They don't interfere with function and not noticeable from the outside. American made, lifetime warranty, reliable, high cap and $300.00.

I can overlook a few tool marks. Enjoy your pistol.

Thank you sir. This was my first SD9 so I was curious. Good to know it's not just mine. I must say I don't think you can find a better pistol for $300.

 

[scwv67]

Mine has marks there also, but you almost have to look to see mine. Another member posted pics similar to yours awhile back and contacted S&W, but I never saw a post as to the result.

Every one is different, but I was still somewhat disappointed in the faint ones on mine, even if it is only a $300 pistol. If my pistol looked like yours, I'd be calling S&W.

 

[Deadshot]

Mine has marks there also, but you almost have to look to see mine. Another member posted pics similar to yours awhile back and contacted S&W, but I never saw a post as to the result.

Every one is different, but I was still somewhat disappointed in the faint ones on mine, even if it is only a $300 pistol. If my pistol looked like yours, I'd be calling S&W.

I'm not sure if something is somehow grinding within the slide. I do know that I've probably put around 300+ rounds through it, and I take extremly good care of my weapons and clean them regularly. It's impossible not have some wear if you use your guns and I don't mind light wear. But like you, I found the markings a bit odd. Our other guy here says it's on his too and nothing to worry about. I'm curious if this is just a normal marking from S&W possibly? It may be worth contacting them just to see what they say I suppose.

 

[ou1954]

Those marks don't exist on my SD9 but I do see that they are in an area cut out in the slide. Must be a clearance for loading or ejection, but in any case that area doesn't contact any part of the gun during cycling.

I think this is a second round on this subject.

 

[GreyOwl]

I remember the first round of posts on this also but never looked at mine until now. I also have them and am in the consensus that they are part of the machining process during manufacturing and are no problem.

 

[Deadshot]

My apologies if this was a subject posted before. I'm new to the forum. Thank you for all of the info guys.

 

[ou1954]

My apologies if this was a subject posted before. I'm new to the forum. Thank you for all of the info guys.

Just to clean this thread up, can you verify that the vertical lines are machining artifacts in a relief cut there?

 

[GreyOwl]

I don't know if anyone here can provide verification, but the only thing I can see that area machined out for is clearance for the shell rim during ejection. It doesn't have to be finely machined to accomplish that.

 

[captcook]

Mine as well.

 

[Deadshot]

@ ou1954, I honestly didn't notice the lines until after I cleaned my weapon really well the first time. When I first purchased it and was checking everything it didn't seem to be there. However when you're cleaning a weapon thoroughly, you seem to notice things you didn't before. I feel much better however knowing that this isn't an isolated issue. I may still bring it up to S&W to see what they say.

 

[ou1954]

@ ou1954, I honestly didn't notice the lines until after I cleaned my weapon really well the first time. When I first purchased it and was checking everything it didn't seem to be there. However when you're cleaning a weapon thoroughly, you seem to notice things you didn't before. I feel much better however knowing that this isn't an isolated issue. I may still bring it up to S&W to see what they say.

Interesting- My new SD9VE came with vertical scratches on the barrel that cannot possibly have been caused by use of the gun since that area does not contact anything at any time, and in particular there is no vertical motion of that flat part of the barrel that could cause the scratches.

They are only cosmetic but I would like to be the first one to make the first scratch in a new gun or a new car. S&W says they are caused by firing the gun but that is impossible. I asked them to simply agree that it came that way from the factory and I will forget it. I cannot agree that using the gun could cause those scratches.

I will try to attach a picture. It doesn't show the scratches as well as natural light would. In any case all I want is for S&W to say they are a manufacturing artifact.

[In normal light they show up as lighter areas. In this flash picture they look darker.]

 

[Deadshot]

Interesting- My new SD9VE came with vertical scratches on the barrel that cannot possibly have been caused by use of the gun since that area does not contact anything at any time, and in particular there is no vertical motion of that flat part of the barrel that could cause the scratches.

They are only cosmetic but I would like to be the first one to make the first scratch in a new gun or a new car. S&W says they are caused by firing the gun but that is impossible. I asked them to simply agree that it came that way from the factory and I will forget it. I cannot agree that using the gun could cause those scratches.

I will try to attach a picture. It doesn't show the scratches as well as natural light would. In any case all I want is for S&W to say they are a manufacturing artifact.

[In normal light they show up as lighter areas. In this flash picture they look darker.]

It's obviously no coincidence that the majority of us seem to have these scratches or lines. While the SD is an outstanding weapon for the money, it's obviously got some manufacturing flaws. As long as it fires well with no issues in that regard these other issues can be overlooked. As you said, it would be nice for someone at S&W to address though.

 

[ou1954]

Let me clarify a bit. The original post was, I think, about machined lines in a relief area in the slide, which don't show on my SD9VE.

I then transitioned to comment about actual vertical "scratches" on the barrel and included a picture.

The machined grooves are seen on the slide with the barrel down. The scratches I mentioned are on the barrel up in firing position.

Sorry if my post caused any confusion. There are now two separate issues in this thread.

 

[Deadshot]

Let me clarify a bit. The original post was, I think, about machined lines in a relief area in the slide, which don't show on my SD9VE.

I then transitioned to comment about actual vertical "scratches" on the barrel and included a picture.

The machined grooves are seen on the slide with the barrel down. The scratches I mentioned are on the barrel up in firing position.

Sorry if my post caused any confusion. There are now two separate issues in this thread.

Gotcha. I'd be interested to see more pics from everyone to compare both issues.

 

[3hounds]

The marks on the ejection port look like factory machine marks, if the casing was hitting it, it would be brass colored.

I hogged my ejection port out some, then polished it.

I didn't have these marks though but brass was hitting ejection port.

The 2nd pic. is normal wear from barrel sliding under slide when fired. I also polished that area and took burrs off from underneath slide where it contacts this area.

 

[ou1954]

The marks on the ejection port look like factory machine marks, if the casing was hitting it, it would be brass colored.

I hogged my ejection port out some, then polished it.

The 2nd pic. is normal
I didn't have these marks though but brass was hitting ejection port.
wear from barrel sliding under slide when fired. I also polished that area and took burrs off from underneath slide where it contacts this area.

3hounds - Regarding the barrel sliding under the slide, have a look at my last post in the thread "Scratches on Barrel", post #15. I did the full exercise using a black sharpie and convinced myself that that flat part of the barrel does not contact anything during cycling. Maybe my gun is unusual but I just can't find any place where that part of the barrel touches the slide in a vertical direction. I can see that the clearance is minimal and there could be some rubbing in some instances because the positioning of the barrel is sort of arbitrary.*

What I did observe, the thing of interest to me, is that once the barrel moves down about 1/8", all relative movement is fore and aft, which doesn't account for the vertical scratches on my barrel.

I know those scratches were on the gun when I got it. I noticed it right out of the box, but it was a special order by Bass Pro in Oklahoma. They had to custom order a CA gun for me and since I assumed the scratches were related to normal operation I didn't concern myself with them. Only later did I find that they were not caused by firing the gun and by then it was too late to ask Bass to replace the gun. As I said before, if S&W will simply admit that that sometimes happens during manufacturing I will simply forget it.

I just wanted to be the first person to put the first scratch in my new car.
===============================
*I have to retract my statement that the position of the barrel in battery is somewhat arbitrary. It is indeed positioned in 3 directions. Only when in takedown is it loosely positioned. Sorry. . . .