I actually fucked up my $9k Zoli this year, twice.
Case got knocked off bench and the rib hit the edge and put a nice dent in it. Now i get to see the dent everytime i bring it up. Would probally cost $2k and the gun would go back to itally to get fixed.
Then a couple months ago i knocked my bushnell spotter lmss that is built like a brick and it missed every other gun and decided to land on the pistol grip of the zoli, putting a nice gouge in the wood. Probally $1500-2k to replace the stock if i cared.
Oh fucking well.
They are tools we shoot, shit happens. Doesnt effect mechanicsl function which IS the reason we pay for them in the first place.
You dont buy a larue becuse its pretty, you dont buy a kac becuase its pretty and i didnt buy they zoli becuase it looked good. Bought them for their mechanical performance.
It is pretty funny saw a dude shooting a brand new kreigoff k80 clash of the titans gun... about $60-80k due to the engraving. Broke a bird and the chip came right in and put a scratch down his barrel. If you can afford to buy these toys then it really is not that big a deal. Dudes wife who was half his age had a set of bolt ons which deserve their own thread.
Couldnt imagine being stressed over getting a ding in a gun. It would be like buying a new truck and never taking it out for fear of a scratch. Who the fuck wants to live life being a scared little bitch like that?
The set of facts you presented have nothing to do with the OP's issue. You and the other guy you spoke of caused the damages on those firearms, they did not come damaged. If those damages were on your 9k Zoli, would you pay 9k for it?
I believe the concern is twofold:
1) if something as insignificant as the lettering has tool marks like the OP's, I'm curious to know how much attention the machinists are paying on the more critical areas of their receivers? I had a lower several years ago where the FCG pins did not line up, so when I swapped triggers, it was a lot of fun trying to get the pins back in.
2) I haven't read anyone carry-on about the tooling marks in regards to how the lower looks. I believe the primary issue is paying full price for an item that is clearly a blem. As I stated, from my perspective, I would be pissed that I would be the one selling it as a blem IF I elected to sell the item in the future.
I shoot. A lot. For fun. For livelihood, possible survival. I still do not treat my firearms like some fucking rag dolls just because I don't want to be a "scared little bitch" with scratches, dents and dings in my hardware. I've got a few firearms with many, many rounds on them and if I didn't say anything about it, some folks would think they were close to new.
A wise man once told me, "take care of your gear, and your gear will take care of you."