I'm not quite sure (the first Gif you linked to is too non-single-image-y for me to tell), but I believe that the DMX import of the Demoman looks just like I remember it shading-wise.

Edit: Also, as for the SMD problem, does this apply to having "Preserve SMD Polygons & Normals" checked, un-checked, or both?

Preserve Polygon and normals are unchecked in both the SMD and DMX imports

Originally posted by Pte Jack:

Preserve Polygon and normals are unchecked in both the SMD and DMX imports

It won't matter for DMX. Though I wasn't asking "do you have it enabled or disabled", but rather "does it happen when it's disabled, and does it happen when it's enabled".

http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1317240086&fileuploadsuccess=1

Originally posted by Pte Jack:

-Image-

In that case, it seems to have something to do with the "remove doubles" thing the non-"Preserve SMD Polygons & Normals" SMD import mode does. Which is probably helpful for Artfunkel to know, but also means it might not be quite as easily fixable as any of us might like.

You can roll the Steam version back to 2.79 using the Betas tab. That option wasn't available to me earlier.

Or, you can just update BleST. https://github.com/Artfunkel/BlenderSourceTools

Originally posted by Yagira:

Or, you can just update BleST. https://github.com/Artfunkel/BlenderSourceTools

Good suggestion, but...

I thought that was what the Check For Update button was suppose to do in the BleST add-on.

And what the http://steamreview.org/BlenderSourceTools/ were for. (Which currently has 2.9.1 posted as the stable (and is the version I currently have))

Normal users would not go looking for Artfunkel's gitHub files. Most would get lost in trying to figure out just what to download.

And as 2.79a has just been released and the problem just reported, I wouldn't go there anyway.
I doubt Artfunkel has had a chance to even look at this yet. The last commit to his gitHub was a month ago and looking at the notes, those changes won't be released until 2.10 is baked.

Updating the addon from Github like Yagira suggested worked for me, thanks a lot.

Have fun with all those doubles and separated triangles then.

Originally posted by Pte Jack:

Have fun with all those doubles and separated triangles then.

Why? The latest version of the Blender Source Tools uses a modifier to apply the custom normals to a doubles-removed mesh, as far as I'm aware judging by some recent-ish discussions on the Blender Source Tools Steam forum, I think. (Unless that hasn't been released yet.)

<< stands back and takes his other foot out of mouth... YET AGAIN! The taste of leather still fresh in his mouth from the last time..>>

I could have sworn the last time I tried 2.10 in 2.79a the custom normals were there AND there were doubles. I must have grabbed it (or his master) as he was still testing and installed that one instead of this one.

Thanks Zappy... One thing though, I'm not use to seeing Valve SMD model import this sharp. Guess it's something I'll have to get use to. But, there must be some reason why he hasn't released 2.10 to the public yet. Both the official Blender Source Tools website and the Check for Update Button still reveal 2.9.1 as the official release.

Read this topic to understand why he has not released it: http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/groups/BlenderSourceTools/discussions/0/1692659135924611851

Oh, Pte Jack, you even posted in there. Maybe you are not aware of hard edges and smoothing groups / custom normals?

2.10 is out and this problem is not part of it. :)

Excellent, Thanks Artfunkle!