Zooming in near the wiper seal the stancion looks piited?

Is this a trick of the light or damage?

It doesn’t look as uniform as the areas higher up tbf.

Difficult to tell from the picture if that’s an in service defect or otherwise. The area under the seal can
often hide a surprise or two depending on use and how often the lowers have been off. Doesn’t look to me like anything of concern, but if your worried drop the lowers off for a better look.

It’s spelt wrong. Hth.

Its on a fork im looking at buying.

It’d have to be cheap for me to consider it second hand; what else is hiding there?

Ask for more photos with different lighting ?

Lots of reflection in that picture. I don’t see anything that would immediately make me run away but would definitely be want other photos from different angles do I could see better what’s going on.

Or if it’s very recently had a service, could just be grease. Quiz the seller.

Looks like light reflection, anyone who has tried to take pics of a stanchion will know.

As above more pics different angles

If it were me buying, I’d ask for a pic with the lowers off.

If I was me selling, I’d have no issue with dropping lowers for a pic.

If someone can’t/won’t drop the lowers then how well has it been cared for?

Rattlecan paint job to hide stantion wear ?

Looks painted

If someone can’t/won’t drop the lowers then how well has it been cared for?

Maybe by a professional in a LBS rather than some amateur spanner monkey who has no idea what they’re doing?

Very possibly, but if you had to book in and pay every time it needed doing, how often would it get done.

Looks painted to me, probably to hide stanchion wear, I’d be avoiding them

Its on a fork im looking at buying.

Link please ?

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3017344/

The light pattern seems to change through those photos, makes me think there’s no scoring and it’s just a spotlight that’s causing it to look odd. The matte look right at the bottom of the stanchions could be a sign of worn bushings or could be nothing. Could ask for photos taken in daylight outside or you’ll have to see them in person to assess if you’re near Eastbourne.

If they have been painted then they have done both stanchions and then screen printed sag levels on the right hand one.

The guy seems to sell a lot of stuff, either a serial flipper or something a little more sinister.

Darn, i was going to take them come pay day if they were still there 😂

looks like the sort of residue left if you clean them with GT85. you can see spots on the lowers too. I’d not worry too much about it.