cosmetic issues with Lipsey's 44 run?

[kpp80202]

I was fondling a 5.5" Lipsey's .44 Special today, and the fit and finish on it were fantastic, except that there was a tiny ding about the size of the head of a flat-head pin on the topstrap like the gun was bonked into some corner of something prior to finishing (given that the bluing was perfect). Anyone have similar issues or see anything similar with this run? The price is right $500 out the door, but the ding just bugs me a bit on a new gun. The funny thing is that I plan to carry the thing, and it will get holster wear and marks on it anyway, but still...

Kevin

 

[BlkHawk73]

If it's a carry gun, knowing wear and tear will be definates, I wouldn't worry at all about sych a itty bitty mark. Were it a $1000 safe queen...

 

[dougader]

If its just cosmetic, like a scratch, it wouldn't bother me too much. I might ask the dealer for a discount, but that's it.

But - if by "ding" - you mean the metal is dented in and the bluing is over the top of it, now that would bug me and I wouldn't buy it.

 

[BlkHawk73]

If its just cosmetic, like a scratch, it wouldn't bother me too much. I might ask the dealer for a discount, but that's it.

But - if by "ding" - you mean the metal is dented in and the bluing is over the top of it, now that would bug me and I wouldn't buy it.

Dealer takes less when it's not his doing and he paid regular price? Even if it were a casting flaw, for it's intended purchase use, I still wouldn't be bothered by it. Want perfection, buy a FA, want a rugged gun that works...Ruger

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Man, I hate the cop-out excuse that, "it'll get like that anyway" (sort of like, "Well, the meal doesn't have to look nice, 'cause it's all gonna end up in the same place"...) almost as much as I hate imperfections in new guns. Yes, we're being retentive to care about it, but hey, it was a $500 purchase, and when you spend that amount of money on something it should be delivered in good condition, even cosmetically.

My 5.5" gun has this little flaw, too. You nailed the description: It looks like the topstrap got dinged before it was blued. Just a small little spot, but noticeable. It's not centered and is irregular, so it doesn't look like a production mark (as what a clamp might make during some operation), just handling.

All my guns end up with marks on them, but I don't like having them delivered that way. This isn't something I'm getting all worked up over, though.

-- Sam

 

[dougader]

My 4-5/8" Lispey 44 is perfect as far as my eyes can tell.

I don't pay a new gun price for one that comes with flaws.

He's paying $500 when other dealers I know have charged as low as $465 for the same gun.

It doesn't hurt to ask. The dealer might give a small discount rather than deal with the hassle of shipping it back to the distributor.

BTW, I've read of problems with FA revolvers as well. From one that would never shoot worth a darn to another that had a broken trigger return spring after only a few rounds were fired.

FA might charge for perfection, but they don't always stand behind it when it comes to making it right.

 

[Ken ONeill]

My 4 5/8" version came with a small ding on the right side of the frame beneath the cylinder in the seam between the gripframe and frame. The ding was blued.

 

[Revolver-Time]

I was fondling a 5.5" Lipsey's .44 Special today, and the fit and finish on it were fantastic, except that there was a tiny ding about the size of the head of a flat-head pin on the topstrap like the gun was bonked into some corner of something prior to finishing (given that the bluing was perfect). Anyone have similar issues or see anything similar with this run? The price is right $500 out the door, but the ding just bugs me a bit on a new gun. The funny thing is that I plan to carry the thing, and it will get holster wear and marks on it anyway, but still...

Kevin

Yes, Mine has a place on the left side of the topstrap that has a ding. I noticed it when I got it home. Sounds exactly as you describe on yours.

 

[contender]

It COULD have gotten a "ding" AFTER it left Ruger,,,????

 

[ChuckS1]

I got my Lipsey's from an out of state dealer and somewhere between the Ruger production floor and me it the ejector rod housing got a nice ding, like it was dropped. Easy to replace, though, with one from Brownell's.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

It COULD have gotten a "ding" AFTER it left Ruger,,,????

That's possible of course, but to my eyes this ding looks like it is under the finish. The metal has a tiny dent in it, and the dent is fully, evenly blued.

It is a tiny, tiny thing, and I'm not worried about it other than the fact that it exists. I would not expect a dealer to care; Only 1 in 100 customers would be anal retentive enough to see it, and considering the margins these guys work under (not to mention the way guns fly off shelves), the dealer is not going to absorb even $20 sending it back; The next customer will likely buy it, and that $20 probably represents the sum total of his profit on the gun.

And before anyone says it, this is nowhere near the same thing as the guns filled with liquid sludge rust that have been reported. Those should go back without question.

-- Sam

 

[pakrat57]

It COULD have gotten a "ding" AFTER it left Ruger,,,????

That's possible of course, but to my eyes this ding looks like it is under the finish. The metal has a tiny dent in it, and the dent is fully, evenly blued.



-- Sam

I work in a small machine shop and it sounds like a tiny chip got between the casting and the clamping surface. We try to avoid it as much as possible at our shop but it still happens from time to time. Putting out the volume that Ruger does, I would imagine that a few dings like this are going to happen and get through QC.

 

[paleocaver]

My last three rugers and a Marlin have all had a blemish to some extent. All on the barrel but none so bad as to turn me away from the purchase. All are carry/use guns and will see a lot worse in their lifetime.

 

[doccash]

Rust was discussed in another thread w/o many comments. My 4-5/8 .44 special was Very rusty and was returned to Ct. for repairs. I was notified as to its arrival, but the gun is still gone. I told them that I did not want a new reblued gun- what do you think the outcome will be ? Dr.C

 

[Dale53]

doccash;
I would suspect that Ruger will replace your revolver. Of course, there IS the matter of serial numbers... I have heard of some reports, where a manufacturer replaced the gun in question and put the same serial number on the new one (that would be legal for a manufacturer if they destroyed the original gun.

Keeps us posted, please.

Dale53

 

[doccash]

Dale: I hope to hear something soon, and 'am anxious to see how the situation is resolved. Gary

 

[kpp80202]

I knew I was being too obsessive about the ding/dent, so I went back, and discovered another one on the cylinder frame at the bottom edge. Again, these are tiny, and shouldn't matter. But like some of the other posters, I feel like things should be totally right when you shell out your hard earned cash. Also, the gun is $500 out the door; the price is $469 plus tax.

 

[Rclark]

I, personally, would worry more about how it shoots.... If it scatters the bullets like buckshot .... then you have a problem . If the gun tends to fire on it's own ... then you have a problem.... etc. A little imperfection (unless a safety issue) that only 'you' would see shouldn't be an issue. The gun will still last several lifetimes . My two cents....

 

[JWhitmore44]

I keep seeing the "I've spent $500 this thing should be perfect" comment. If you wanted that gun to be perfect think about how much more it would cost you if Ruger had some one setting there making sure they polish out all those marks. Think about how much it cost these days for a tank of gas, a night out, or to go to a show/concert. I can remember the day when $500 was a lot of money and a $20 would last you a week or two. I bet you have a hard time getting out of the grocery store for less than $150.

Now I'm not saying I'm rich, cause I'm a cheap you know what. But I can say Ruger still puts out one of the best deals out there. Even with the "casting marks" or dings these guns are well worth the money. You folks start throwing a fit about the little stuff and Ruger fixes those and starts charging closer to $1000 I'm not going to be happy

I wouldn't have put up with the rust in a new gun either. The barrels being clocked incorrectly is a bit silly as there are probably jigs to check that quickly. And there is no excuse to a gun not functioning like it should. But slight, hardly noticeable until you really look it over, fit an finish is excusable.

 

[bisleyfan41]

You folks start throwing a fit about the little stuff and Ruger fixes those and starts charging closer to $1000 I'm not going to be happy.

Amen brother!
And then all you'll have is Taurus guns at the $500 price point and nobody will be happy.