XDS Slide Finish--Is this normal???

[Jreyes19]

I'm sorry to hear that, I'm sure since it was marketed as brand new he didn't look for those things because it is expected not to be there...
But I guess the lesson is inspect thoroughly no matter what they say

Also can I ask what the bottom right of the slide (in that picture) is, it looks like a blemish/scrape along the bottom, but I an also thinking it just the shadow of the polymer frame from the lighting

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[ricklee4570]

I did inspect it and did notice it when I bought it. The dealer swore it was only in his shop one week and was never in a holster, although it was handled by customers a lot in that week. He let me take the gun apart and I examined the inside and it was obvious that this was a new gun (not some returned gun). My guess was that it left the factory that way.

I used the scratches to talk him down on the price. I used to have a Ruger LC9 that scratched up really easily and it looked worse than this one after a week of carrying it.

It was after I got home and a friend said that the slides are the same as a Glocks (Tennifer and Melonite are basically the same treatment) that got me to wondering why a Melonite treated slide would scratch up so easily, especially after I took a small brass punch and lightly scratched the slide and the scratch didnt buff out. I cleaned the slide really good with Break Free CLP using a nylon brush and when I dry it off all the marks are still there as is the scratch from the brass punch.

I know that on a Glock, they are hard and wont scratch easily. I figure that if the finish scratches easily on the XDS but the Melonite keeps it from rusting easily and otherwise it is durable I wont worry. All is good , it is afterall a work tool!

By the way I got the gun for $499.00 out the door. And I checked the holster and there is no scrape marks, it is new. This either left the factory this way or someone did something to it at the dealer (which the dealer says is about impossible as he stands there while people look at the guns)

[Medic738]

Contact SA they should hook you up with a refinish.

[huklebry]

Gotcha, well, at least you got a discount. You could always send to SA to have it refinished.

[ricklee4570]

Originally Posted by Jreyes19

I'm sorry to hear that, I'm sure since it was marketed as brand new he didn't look for those things because it is expected not to be there...
But I guess the lesson is inspect thoroughly no matter what they say

Also can I ask what the bottom right of the slide (in that picture) is, it looks like a blemish/scrape along the bottom, but I an also thinking it just the shadow of the polymer frame from the lighting

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

That is actually the dark finish you are seeing. Thats what the whole slide should look like.

Im not going to worry about it unless down the road I have any rust issues or wear issues with the slide wearing abnormally in places.

[Stratajema]

Originally Posted by ricklee4570

...It was after I got home and a friend said that the slides are the same as a Glocks (Tennifer and Melonite are basically the same treatment) that got me to wondering why a Melonite treated slide would scratch up so easily, especially after I took a small brass punch and lightly scratched the slide and the scratch didnt buff out...

Some people who own both a XDM and a XDS have said the XDS has a rougher surface finish than their XDM. This might indicate that the XDS slide is getting the lower "tier" Melonite treatment while the XDM is getting the higher "tier" Melonite treatment.

Gun manufacturers are looking to cut costs. For example, in 2012 Ruger switched their slide finish from "Nitrodox Pro" to "Black Nitride", the latter which is allegedly far inferior in salt spray tests: Nitrodox Pro vs. Black Nitride finish - Ruger Forum

[DaveShady45]

That sucks but I bet they would redo it for you if you contact them.

one of the reasons I like the BITone guns, had a black XD once
and I am a bit picky so it bugs me more than it should

[ajamesp51]

Those are brass marks from the brass punch you said you scratched the slide with. It actually looks like some one used a brass gun cleaning toothbrush on the slide. Clean the Slide with a gun cleaner and let it soak in. Melonite is clear the Black has nothing to do with the Melonite. Just like a block you can completely remove the black and you still have the old Glock Tenifer, new American Glock Nitration, and XD Melonite. Oh US Glocks no longer use Tennifer they use Nitration.

[huklebry]

Why did they quit tenifer? I was unaware they had done so.

[ThumperMX113]

Originally Posted by ajamesp51

Those are brass marks from the brass punch you said you scratched the slide with. It actually looks like some one used a brass gun cleaning toothbrush on the slide. Clean the Slide with a gun cleaner and let it soak in. Melonite is clear the Black has nothing to do with the Melonite. Just like a block you can completely remove the black and you still have the old Glock Tenifer, new American Glock Nitration, and XD Melonite. Oh US Glocks no longer use Tennifer they use Nitration.

Wait, what? The OP took a brass punch to his slide?

The scratches do look like someone used a brass brush on it with the amount of scratches.