M&P Finish

[NightCat]

Alright everyone,

I'm debating contacting Smith and Wesson over some issues with the finish on my M&P 9, I'm not sure if it would be under my warranty or if I'm just SOL and should send it off to get Cerakoted.

Regardless, In area's that dont see any contact (no holster wear) I have seen area's of Rust on my Melonite Finish on the slide of the pistol.

Does anybody know if this is something that S&W would Warranty?

The rust is on the scalping on the slide.

[Irving]

They just gave me a whole new slide.
ETA: Do a search for "rust" and you should find my thread. Can't find on my phone due to laziness.

[NightCat]

Irving, did you have the same issue?

It would require disassembly for me to send my slide... I'd have to remove my APEX internal goodies and my Trijicon sights..

Did you have to send your old one in? or did they just send you a new slide?

[Irving]

I sent the whole gun in and it came back with a new slide.

[NightCat]

Any thoughts on if I send them a modified gun causing issues?

[J]

Usually, they can only deny warranty if your modification did, or had possibly contributed to the malfunction. With Rust, I can't imagine they can claim your mods caused the slide to rust.

[spqrzilla]

I'd pull off my own parts before sending a gun in for warranty service and replace the original parts. Just incase they decided to "fix" it by restoring the factory parts.

[NightCat]

I'd pull off my own parts before sending a gun in for warranty service and replace the original parts. Just incase they decided to "fix" it by restoring the factory parts.
That's partially my concern..However I don't have the tooling to remove my front sight.



Usually, they can only deny warranty if your modification did, or had possibly contributed to the malfunction. With Rust, I can't imagine they can claim your mods caused the slide to rust.
That's what I'm hoping. I just shot them an e-mail concerning the issue.

I also have rusting on my serial plate on my slide... and I doubt they'll send me a new slide. considering that's the actual "firearm" part per the ATF

[Irving]

How'd you get the rust do you think?

[NightCat]

I'm really not sure, the location of it is rather bizarre..

38933


Here is another issue...

I understand that the frame is the actual "Firearm" and is the controlled part, thus why they can replace slides without any issues..

However....Check this out.... My serial plate is rusting too..in the numbers.
38935

[J]

Where was the firearm stored? What was the wear?

I've made the mistake of leaving some reloading press parts in the truck, and with the heat and cool each day in the winter, water condensates, and rust forms.

I have more M&Ps than I care to admit, with no signs of any such damage, I have to imagine something contributed to the rusting.

Is it just surface rust? Will a copper or brass brush take it off?

[blacklabel]

I'm curious as to what the cause could be as well. I've carried my M&P daily for 2 years with no rust issues what so ever.

[NightCat]

Where was the firearm stored? What was the wear?

I've made the mistake of leaving some reloading press parts in the truck, and with the heat and cool each day in the winter, water condensates, and rust forms.

I have more M&Ps than I care to admit, with no signs of any such damage, I have to imagine something contributed to the rusting.

Is it just surface rust? Will a copper or brass brush take it off?

Firearm has always been stored inside in my basement in a gun safe.

It appears as though earlier model M&P's are more prone to this issue.

Im not sure if it is just surface rust or not. I'm not going to attempt to repair it unless I hear that S&W won't warranty it.

If it is surface rust, it will continue to rust in that location because clearly the finish is no longer there.

[Irving]

Mine rusts from sweat from carrying everyday.

[NightCat]

Today i received a fairly generic RMA E-mail from S&W to send me a prepaid shipping label...

So far it looks like no one actually ready my e-mail and just an automatic response system replied to me.

I'll provide updates as they roll in.

[cysoto]

I have had to deal with Smith & Wesson's repair department in the past and it was a smooth transaction. I wouldn't even worry about removing the aftermarket parts. If they have to replace the slide, they will take your sights off and return them with the pistols (though most probably not installed). Same thing with the Apex trigger kit.

Corrosion issues were very common on early model M&P's. Outside of these "first gen" guns, most other pistols that I have seen suffering from corrosion are due to insufficient re-lubrication after degreasing the metal parts while cleaning.

[NightCat]

Any idea of what serial numbers are considered first gen or early production??

My M&P is a DXU Serial.

[Irving]

My second slide has rusted as well, just not as much.

[ChunkyMonkey]

My second slide has rusted as well, just not as much.

Gotta be something in your routine? I have MP9 that I carry once awhile.. and MP9c that she carries often. No issues here.

[NightCat]

My second slide has rusted as well, just not as much.

So what you're telling me is.......just Cerakote it. lol

[Irving]

I think it's just me. I wouldn't worry about it for a normal person. I'm the only person I know who has rusted an M&P and the only person who has received a terrible welding job from Bud's Muffler.

[CareyH]

My friend owns a full size M&P9 it has the same issue, rust on the left side of the slide. It would be nice to know what serial numbers are considered 1st gen. I have never had a problem with mine.

[CHA-LEE]

The "Stainless" claim etched into the side of the slide is a bunch of crap. I sand blasted the standard black finish off of a couple M&P slides and they both started rusting almost immediately. I ended up having to sand blast them again then drench them in WD-40 to get them over to the Hard Chrome coating place without rusting.

The good thing is that S&W has SOLID customer service and will bend over backwards to make things right.

[68Charger]

My EDC is rusting as well- same place as OP... trying to figure out if I send it to S&W, or put cerakote (or other finish) on it.

[Irving]

My replaced slide is rusting again now. I'm not going to do anything about it.

[vossman]

What about one of those lubes like Eezox or that mint smelling one that is supposed the lube and stay put once wiped off? Maybe wrap it in a silicone cloth for storage?
Just some ideas in case you do get it replaced. If it were me I would send it back,

[Irving]

Only rusts when I wear it, which is all the time.

[68Charger]

yeah, went to Nebraska for 4 days... sweat stuck around a lot longer in that humidity.
I may get a quote to Cerakote it and put night sights on it at the same time... or clean it up with scotch bright and oil it... but will have to make a habit of lubing constantly, and I'll smell like the lube when I carry.

[Irving]

Remoil wipes every night usually works, along with placing into dry nylon holster in/on night stand. Let main holster dry out. Becomes a problem when camping and stuff. My rust really picked up when driving through the desert for 10 hours, then hiking in 100 degree weather for a few days.

[nisils14]

I would use this as an excuse to have it coated in a nice finish.

[Doc45]

Sorry to hear of all these problems with the M&P finish. I picked up an unfired but used full size not too long ago, been using a Raven owb holster for carry/classes, no issues or wear at this point.