Would this be abandonment?

Yeah I think it used to be a standard option.
They often were problematic though, I had a couple that truck vibration would sometimes cause them to close because they didn't really lock in.

 

Heh it wouldn't have been so bad if he did it before it was at 9000 RPMs for 20 minutes and blowing coolant everywhere.

 

What would be the smart thing to do?

1) Ruin your career, potentially for years to come, giving you nothing but garbage companies to choose from (likely worse than the one you currently work for).

-or-

2) Suck it up, sit it out, do your job, be a professional and leave when you get an opportunity to return their equipment.