New Shadow - factory damage? + question

snootworks

snootworks

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Just received my PAL last Friday; purchased the Shadow on Saturday and picked it up yesterday...

I did a field strip to clean the greasy goo off last night, and tonight figured I'd reverse the magazine release since I'm a lefty and this is *my* pistol.

I wasn't super impressed with what I found - the screw which retains the mag release spring and trigger bar spring looks like it might have been installed with a socket of some sort; the screw head looks like it has a serrated construction, which led me to that conclusion. The problem is, there isn't enough room in the frame for a socket, so it chewed up both the frame and the screw. There was also an excess of thread locking compound in there.

Here's what it looks like:

mhm-224821.jpg


And with the screw/springs out:

mhm-223607.jpg


It's not really a BIG deal I suppose, just disappointing. Have any other CZ owners found damage or shoddy assembly work from the factory, or could this have been from someone else messing around with what I thought was a brand new firearm?

I'm not going to go through the hassle of trying get another gun over this or anything - especially considering how much time is involved with the transfer/registration of restricted firearms.

Still excited to get to the range with it - I have my LTATT and am awaiting the #$%^ registration certificate...

Question - in the case was an additional main spring in an unmarked plastic bag. Is this a spare, or possibly a different rating that what's in the gun? Are they identified by colour or anything?
 
they are installed with a screwdriver, that could have done that damage. But since you've removed it now, you're kinda screwed (no pun intended) as there is no way to prove you didn't do the damage during the change.
one tip though, don't overtighten that screw as it will cause the trigger bar spring to walk into the magazine well and impede your mag.
 
snootworks said:
Question - in the case was an additional main spring in an unmarked plastic bag. Is this a spare, or possibly a different rating that what's in the gun? Are they identified by colour or anything?
Click to expand...

It's a spare 18# mainspring. If you do only one thing to your Shadow, swap out the stock 18# spring for a 13# one. You'll be very pleased with the result.
 
Slavex said:
they are installed with a screwdriver, that could have done that damage. But since you've removed it now, you're kinda screwed (no pun intended) as there is no way to prove you didn't do the damage during the change.
one tip though, don't overtighten that screw as it will cause the trigger bar spring to walk into the magazine well and impede your mag.
Click to expand...

A screwdriver could've chewed up the frame, but the head of the screw is munched as well which made me think a socket of some sort was used...

I'm not going to try to prove anything, I was just disappointed with finding the damage on my (first) new pistol.

I appreciate the tip! I reinstalled the screw "snug" with a dab of blue Loctite...
 
The munched screw I can't help you with, but the "damage" to the frame is not really damage. They loctite and stake the screw in place. What you are seeing is from the staking process. They do both 'cause you really don't want a screw coming loose :p and running around the inside of your pistol.

(E) :cool:
 
(((Echo))) said:
The munched screw I can't help you with, but the "damage" to the frame is not really damage. They loctite and stake the screw in place. What you are seeing is from the staking process. They do both 'cause you really don't want a screw coming loose :p and running around the inside of your pistol.

(E) :cool:
Click to expand...

:agree: what he said....What you describe as damage, is actually quite intentional. Should the thread compound fail, the screw has to "ratchet" past this "swedging" in order to loosen.......ie....not bloody likely. Loctite blue will hold it no problem if you cleaned the threading surfaces {read bare metal}.
Plinker out :D
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. :) Once I dig out my pin punches and picks I'll take a crack at stripping it to the frame and then tidy up the messy staking job.
 
now that I am looking at it from my PC and not my phone, yeah that's how it's supposed to look. as well the screw is knurled around the outside
 
Why did you want to switch out the mag catch? If you are left handed, it is way faster and more comfortable to use your trigger finger then your thumb, trust me, been doing it for more that 25 years!!

Scott
 
m39a2 said:
Why did you want to switch out the mag catch? If you are left handed, it is way faster and more comfortable to use your trigger finger then your thumb, trust me, been doing it for more that 25 years!!

Scott
Click to expand...

Three reasons:

1. My left thumb has never operated a magazine release.
2. I like to tinker.
3. I can't take the gun to the range yet; see #2.

I haven't had any real issues using my trigger finger for the mag release on the few pistols I've shot, but I also wasn't shooting them in "competition" either.

Now I can try it both ways!

Sorry... still in an "excited about first handgun" phase. :D
 
Slavex said:
now that I am looking at it from my PC and not my phone, yeah that's how it's supposed to look. as well the screw is knurled around the outside
Click to expand...

That screw is damaged for sure.. I machined for a living for years and that is NOT even close to being knurling!!
 
Oh well... Lesson learned. I suppose it's not unreasonable to field strip a gun and inspect it before making the purchase when dealing locally. It never crossed my mind since my assumption i was buying a new, unmolested gun.
 
I wouldn't be happy with that, I'd let the store know about it... someone has attempted to do something with that screw, whether at the factory or elsewhere. CZ's are well made guns, I'm surprised to see that.
 
the screw in one of my 3 looks almost exactly the same as the OP. it's job is to hold the mag catch in and the springs. Unless it's somehow defective in that operation, it's fine. I'd like to see pics of it cleaned of grease and crap though.
 
To the OP, I would take the gun back to the store, and make them aware of what you discovered. I am confident enough to make a bet that wasn't done at the factory. I have 5 CZ's along with spare slides, barrels, and numerous parts, and the QC on everything I own is very good as I cannot think of anything that is flawed. Someone who didn't have a clue used too broad of a screw driver to tighten the screw, and made a mess. The thread in the frame isn't stripped I hope.
 
I can't even understand how someone could do that much damage to that screw and the area around it. Yours looks like someone tried to use a chisel and a hammer to put it in.
 
To put it in perspective, unless the threads in the frame are damaged it really is a matter of aesthetics. The job of the screw is to hold the springs in place, nothing more. I would just replace the screw and use a little loctite. As Slavex has stated, now that you have already removed the screw, you can't prove you didn't do the damage.
 
Now the sad truth...

snootworks said:
Three reasons:.....Sorry... still in an "excited about first handgun" phase. :D
Click to expand...

Still buzzed eh? Now comes the hard part. You have to figure out How frequently you have to buy a new gun in order to maintain the high. My first year took three guns and three times as many holsters, cleaning kits, grips and such. I've slowed down now but it's still tough. I have one on order and am getting very jittery.....:D

Some night, you will get up at 3 am and polish that screw til it looks like a piece of jewelry. Then you'll know that your apprenticeship in the "club" is complete..
 
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