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January 5, 2015
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I just received a new Stainless Specialist 1911 and it already had small rust spots on nearly every portion of the weapon. It also has some tool marks in the accessory rail area. Otherwise I can tell it is a quality pistol. I don't know what to do other than send it to Robar or someone else to clean it up and refinish with NP3 or something truly stainless. Any suggestion, other than returning it? Thanks.
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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Call Kieth at Dan Wesson and tell him what you have. If the gun is new, it will be under warranty and they will take care of it. Start there and see what happens. Let us know.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
August 29, 2009
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The gun needs to go back to the factory for replacement, period. New $1,400 handguns shouldn't be having rust spots and tool marks on them straight from the factory. Send it back using the warranty channels either through CZ or the DW factory, whichever is correct. You deserve better than what you received, and CZ/DW needs to receive the message that the customer will not accept or settle for anything less than a perfect firearm.
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Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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I'd like to suggest that instead of calling him, email Keith Lawton at keith@cz-usa.com. He's a very busy man, but he will take care of you. Ask him to send you a pick-up label. He will do that and send instructions as to how he wants the gun packaged.
He's really great to deal with.
-Mike
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I just want to add that DW in Norwich will definitely stand behind their guns. I follow the "new" DW on several forums, mostly 1911 related and I have NEVER seen Norwich not make something right.
You can expect to be treated right on this
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
January 5, 2015
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These are the photos of the problems with my Specialist.
December 19, 2014
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I've never had a stainless gun with that much of a mat of a finish, so I have no experience per se but those spots don't look like rust to me, but rather spots on top of the finish (they're too perfectly round, like paint splatter). Have you tried wiping the finish with a CLP or even Rem oil to see if they lift off? I can definitely see the marks on the rail, looks like someone mounted something on it and dragged it off, but before the matt finish was applied??? Good luck with resolution.
January 5, 2015
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They are clearly rust, and most obvious on the inside of the plug. Won't come off with Gibbs, fingernails, etc. The scratches in the rail grooves are in the steel. They almost have to be from the machining process. No optic would do that and it was still wrapped in the plastic, NIB from osagecountyguns, a major gunbroker dealer.
The surface of the two troughs do not look alike either. Maybe cutting 1913 rails into steel is not something they have a lot of experience with, at least not on a 1911 frame.
August 29, 2009
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It's rust. Iron on the surface of stainless will show up as tiny rust spots and will pit the metal. The line in the rail slots are from the mill cutter - they won't be coming out. Here's the link to the Warranty Service at DW
January 5, 2015
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First that is really a sweet 1911
The rust spots to me are odd and appear superficial as if something adhered to the finish rather than within the finish if that makes sense? In the car business we frequently have people complain about little rust dots on their white cars, actually they are rust dots but not from the finish but from the suspended metallic brake dust particles that adhere to the finish and corrode. Yours look a lot like that to me. In now way am I suggesting that it can't be from the finish but I wonder if by chance with a closer look you might see a tiny particle on top of the finish rather than imbedded in it?? The gun is stainless is the coating/finish stainless or like a Cerakote?
I wonder if there was any metallic dust in the packing or foam case your gun was in from the factory?
I can relate to your irritation on the finish work showing the machining marks on the slide rail mount. Likely if they happened after the fact they likely may have showed corrosion? I too had similar issues with my S&W E Series 1911 and had to send it back, not the rust issue but finish blems on the slide.
Their is a cloth I have used to wipe everything imaginable off of my stainless guns, perhaps you can try it on an inconspicuous area first.........Birchwood Casey Lead Remover and Polishing Cloth is the product. DON'T use it on blued guns!
Good luck with your warranty service, the worst part of it all is the wait but you will feel great and be proud of it when it comes back like it should have been when it left originally.
I hope it all goes well and quickly and to your satisfaction......
Karl
January 5, 2015
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harly said
It's rust. Iron on the surface of stainless will show up as tiny rust spots and will pit the metal. The line in the rail slots are from the mill cutter - they won't be coming out. Here's the link to the Warranty Service at DW
Keith at DW says "There is really no way for us to totally eliminate machine marks in this area. We may be able to soften them for you." I think they are clearly blemishes but may have to send to a real custom shop to be cleaned up to my satisfaction. I will probably end up sending to Robar for minor work and NP3+ because I have never had a stainless pistol that rusted. I have an 18 year old Kimber stainless with zero corrosion of any kind. I can't wrap my head around the problems with this new pistol. I will never do a Form 4473 on a transfer again before an in-depth inspection. Lesson learned.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Are you saying that they are not fixing the rust spots as well?
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
August 29, 2009
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It seems that you are content on sending it to Robar to have it plated. Remember this though, if you ever have any other issues with the gun DW won't even talk to you about warranty coverage because you'll have voided the warranty. And what if you're still not satisfied with it after Robar plates it? Personally, I'd send it back to DW first and ask for another gun first.
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Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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harly said
It seems that you are content on sending it to Robar to have it plated. Remember this though, if you ever have any other issues with the gun DW won't even talk to you about warranty coverage because you'll have voided the warranty. And what if you're still not satisfied with it after Robar plates it? Personally, I'd send it back to DW first and ask for another gun first.
Absolutely the right action.
-Mike
January 5, 2015
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Steve CT said
Are you saying that they are not fixing the rust spots as well?
They say no problem with the rust. Will re-blast it. Apparently glass medium dirty with steel or iron particles can leave rust if left on the surface. It sounds like the gun was not thoroughly cleaned of metal particles after the glass-blasting.
I am getting mixed messages on the machine marks on the rail. I will send it back for repair and see if they can restore my faith in them. I just wish they would replace it or at least say "it will be perfect when it comes back, no worries mate." I am missing out on a great deal on a Nighthawk I love because I bought this Dan Wesson.
A warranty should never need to be invoked on day 1. They should really just replace it with a clean example, or refund my purchase. I'm not happy with Osage County Guns either for not inspecting it before sale. I will never again do a Form 4473 before a full inspection, function check, field strip, etc.
January 5, 2015
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Osage said they never even opened the gun case to inspect or verify. They just scan barcodes when they came come in and take on faith that the right gun is in the case, and in saleable condition. They will not exchange after the Form 4473 is done at the receiving FFL, even if the gun never leaves the store.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I'm relieved to hear that DW is willing to resolve the rust spots. When you send it out, include a note about the machining marks you are seeing, perhaps they can touch that up as well.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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