Report of S&W MP Corrosion Problem

[mark056]

Ladies and Gentlemen of this August Forum:

In another thread, a question was raised about the efficacy of removing the protective coating from a Smith and Wesson Military and Police Pistol barrel. Some questions were raised as to the wisdom of this practice and the rust inhibiting properties of bare stainless steel and as usual a number of opinions were offered up.

I can only relate my own experience with Smith and Wesson stainless handguns and the rust resistant properties which somewhat pains me as I am a Smith and Wesson stockholder so I don't like to report anything that casts dispersions on the fine products made by that venerable firm.

However, since the general topic of corrosion resistance has come up, and there is tremendous interest in the new S&W MP line I will share the following written by Massad Ayoob in the Winter, 2007 issue of Tactical Gear Magazine I know that he has both his detractors and advocates but love him or hate him, he provides the following infomation:

...S&W finishes it with MeloniteTM, which has been called an American analog to Tenifer. This claim has not been definitely established. I know one purchaser of a 40 M&P who wore his new Smith next to his bare skin in an inside the waistband holster that did not shield the rear of the slide from body contact, and in one day of hot Southern summer produced rust in the slide grooves..(p.11) A black and white photograph accompanies the article which shows the rust.

My question to you that own this pistol is: have any of you experienced something similar?

Thank you for any insight or input you might have.

Respectfully,

Mark L.

 

[Len-2A Training]

As a member of the MP-Pistols forum, I have seen it reported that S&W did have a batch of bad slides wrt the finish. When notified, S&W fixed the problem. Only a handful of reports of said problem were reported on that forum (and I think that it included Mas' example).

I am also aware that a small number of people have some characteristics of their skin that causes a galvanic action with metals and can cause rust/corrosion. That's the limit of my knowledge on this subject since I am not a mechanical or chemical engineer.

I have two M&Ps, but only for a short time now, and notice no problems with the finish. A non-scientific sample of one. NOTE: I buy holsters with a "sweat shield" to keep the gun off my skin/shirt.

 

[wolf223]

zero rust for me...

i carry IWB with a Done Hume Holster (H715M-WC)

 

[Chris]

I've had my 40c for almost as long as it's been available and I'm not even seeing holster wear on the finish. I have wear on the slide and barrel where parts rub and lock up, but not on places that just rub on me.

I know that the finishes were one of the key testing points when S&W were designing the M&P 45 as they would love to snag the next US military sidearm contract. I can't speak to details as I've been asked not to, but suffice it to say that the testing done of the M&P has been extensive and they did find issues and they have been resolved.

Errors will be made, but I think for the most part it will be random and limited.

 

[Scrivener]

I have owned the following stainless S&W products:

686

4006

625

625 PC

NONE ever had rust that I saw. That said, I never carried them; they were range or HD guns exclusively.

I still own the PC, which has been shot in the rain. No rust yet.

Of course, even minimal maintenance prevents most rust anyway.

 

[vellnueve]

Stainless steel doesn't make a gun idiot-proof. If you are dumb enough, you can make it rust.