A bit of an odd issue and I can't imagine what caused it.
I purchased this XIX desert eagle on here for a steal of a price about 4 months ago. I knew the gun was not pristine or close to it and was and am fine with that. It's accurate, demands hotter loads than my other eagles but still reliable, and fun to shoot.
However after my first outing with it I noticed a crack on the slide. I thought it might be a scratch at first, but it is definitely a crack (after shooting some oil will seep through it). I am not sure how a crack formed here, to be honest. My assumption was that overused springs let the gun batter itself to the point of damage. There is no other visible wear and aside from finish damage (finish is not original) the gun otherwise is in good shape.
I replaced the springs, and everything else in the tuneup kit. I shot the gun enough to be satisfied with the reliability, but have sort of shelved it a bit due to fears of durability.
The crack does not appear to be growing. I have probably put a bit under 400 rounds through it since getting it and the crack is the same now as it was when I saw it.
I have emailed magnum research several times with no response. I have tried calling with... also no response, even when I leave a message.
I want to refinish the gun, but I am not going to do it if the slide might break and require replacement. I can just buy a new slide ($200ish at numrich) but if MR says it will not spread, or of I can drill a small hole in the crack to stop the spread, then cool.
Shipping it to MR outside of warranty is pointless as I can get a new slide for about what it would cost for shipping, their minimum billing and return shipping, even with no new parts.
Buying a slide is the smartest thing and probably what I will do. I would be very mad if i were to refinish the gun then have the slide break. However I can't imagine why the slide would crack there, in that manner. It seems like the slide might have been dropped, because that is a bizarre point to fracture from and it doesn't appear to be spreading from additional shooting.
Searching for "cracked desert eagle slide" just returns bunches of airsofters. I have yet to hear about a desert eagle slide actually doing this through normal use.