S&W J-Frame hard anodize failure

[Jules Winnfield]

I purchased this S&W 642-1 in 2018 NIB and have roughly 600 rounds down the bore. It’s one of my favorite shooters & carry guns, especially in the summer months, but that may have been the issue in combination with my choice of holster. I mainly use a “Mission First Tactical” minimalist IWB holster and my sweat over the years in the summer months seemed to have eaten the anodized finish off the aluminum frame…and only on the body contact side and exposed grip. It took a turn for the worse this summer. I’m not over weight or stuffing this pistol under a fat gutt & actually very active. I just recently polished off the remaining anodize finish in the really bad spots of the frame and just covered it w/rubber grip tape. Has anyone else had this issue? If so, how did you deal w/it?

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

My S&W 637 has the same issue with its aluminum frame.

And what about the way I've dealt with it? I just shrug my shoulders and say well "s**t happens." This thing is carried daily, sweated on, sneezed and farted on, and sometimes it bounces around my glove box with various other metal objects that scratch it.

 

[BLIP]

I have had the same issue . I don't plan on selling the pistol. I just polished it and clean it regular with MOTHERS mag wheel finish...

 

[basstracker89]

While we all want our equipment to stay new looking, it's a working gun. Don't sweat it, no pun intended. I have scandium frame pistols that have some of the black rubbed down to the bare material. Of course I don't like it. I think S&W could have used something that would've been more durable. But I still like the pistol a lot.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

I really thought the quality of the finish would’ve matched the standard of the S&W name. But as previously stated, it’s a working gun, a tool like any other. It being reliable and there when I need it is what matters. Thank you for the feedback. It’s good to know I’m not the only gunman w/this issue.