Author Topic: Early G17 Slide lock problem (Read 1887 times)

Capnscorch · « **on:** August 08, 2008, 01:17:46 PM »

I have a 1st generation G17 that I purchased back in 1986 or so. My life changed a bit and I put it away for quite a while. Recently I've taken to shooting again. I have experinced a very disturbing condition. When the last round in the magazine has been launched and the empty ejected, sometimes the slide wil stay bac, and sometimes it won't. When it does stay back, frequent inserting a magazine will cause the slide to go forward without my touching the release. At other times just picking up the weapon, with the slide locked open, will cause the slide to go forward. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what was the cure?

Savage · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2008, 04:13:18 PM »

Check to see if the slide lock is properly installed. The leg of the slide lock spring should be under the top locking block pin. I'm sure that's the problem.
Good shooting!
Savage

Capnscorch · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2008, 03:34:46 PM »

Savage,
Thanks for the tip. I checked the slide lock spring, and it appears to be in the proper location. Any further ideas? Sorry it took me so long to get back, but business got in the way.
Capnscorch

Savage · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2008, 04:02:02 PM »

Yeah, I hate it when business gets in the way of fun!!!
With the slide removed, lift up on the slide lock and release it. Spring tension should snap it back in the down position. If you are sure it is properly installed, the leg of the spring could be broken or fatigued. If you have another Glock try the part form it on your problem pistol to see if it fixes it. Otherwise I'd replace it with a new one. It's inexpensive, and most likely has never been replaced. The spring is the only thing holding the slide lock in engagement with the slide in the open position. The part is either broken or improperly installed. That's all it could be. Let us know how it turns out. Good shooting!!
Savage

Capnscorch · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2008, 07:08:39 AM »

Well, I finally managed to get out and shoot the Glock. I had the local gunsmith look at it and he couldn't find anything wrong with it. Anyway, I tried it out and the slide will still go forward without warning.

Capnscorch · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2008, 01:27:04 PM »

Follow-up to my previous post. I contacted Glock and they said to send it in to them, and they would look at it and install any upgrades that have not been installed. When I gave him the serial number (AH2xxUS), the tech said I might want to consider keeping it in a safe place, as it is a collectible. It is one of the first 2000 Glocks imported into the US. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Do I "collect" it, or do I have it repaired and upgraded? This would devalue it, I'm told. I'm not really thrilled with it, as a shooting tool, at the present.

Savage · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2008, 03:07:39 PM »

Hummmm, a first gen Glock collectable! Can't see the value of one of the first 2000 being worth more than $100 or so more than any other one, if that. Might want to check out the value with someone who collects Glocks, if there is such a person. If it were mine, I'd put a slide stop in it and shoot the devil out of it.
Savage

Capnscorch · « **Reply #7 on:** October 03, 2008, 10:38:37 AM »

I think I'll box it up, send it off to Glock, and let them attack the problem. I'll also send along a magazine that insisted on disassembling itself during slide lock reloads. It's really embarassing to have your ammo scattered all over the firing line, as well as a handful of magazine parts.

fz4vgq · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2008, 03:24:52 AM »

Capnscorch,

I would take the Glock guys advice and keep that Glock "as is". I know it is hard for most to consider any Glock "collectible" but yours IS ! If you haven't already..... DO NOT throw out the original tupperware box your Glock came with either as they were very specific to the 1st Gen pistols.

Chad

Savage · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2008, 03:49:20 AM »

Very little interest in "Collectable" Glocks, other than the commemorative models. A first gen Glock 17 is worth maybe 350 of my dollars, and is not worthy of mention on the "Rare and Collectable" Glock page: http://www.glockfaq.com/rare.htm
It can be made into a decent shooter by changing a few parts. Glocks are the "Mr Potato Head" of pistols. Anyone with a driver's license should be able to replace any and all parts in a Glock in 20 minutes. If it were mine that's exactly what I would do, aftermarket parts of course !

You could save all the original parts to return the pistol to stock should you ever want to.

Savage

shootingbuff · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2008, 08:36:10 AM »

Quote from: Capnscorch on August 08, 2008, 01:17:46 PM

I have a 1st generation G17 that I purchased back in 1986 or so. My life changed a bit and I put it away for quite a while. Recently I've taken to shooting again. I have experinced a very disturbing condition. When the last round in the magazine has been launched and the empty ejected, sometimes the slide wil stay bac, and sometimes it won't. When it does stay back, frequent inserting a magazine will cause the slide to go forward without my touching the release. At other times just picking up the weapon, with the slide locked open, will cause the slide to go forward. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what was the cure?

if it is not your slide stop it might be a weak mag spring. Inserting a mag especially at an angle will allow the slide to go fwd. Many like doing it to save time on their reload.

sb

Capnscorch · « **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2008, 04:55:34 AM »

I sent it off to Glock, just the gun, no accessories. I haven't had the opportunity to take it out and shoot it yet, though. They replaced most of the internals, according to the work sheet that came back with it. So now it's an updated Gen 1 glock 17. I'll try and get out as soon as possible and see how it works.
The slide going forward had nothing to do with a magazine being inserted.
According to that worksheet, the slide stop notch was worn. If it gets that worn with as little use as this gun has had, I wonder how these thousand round plus gins keep running. Do they not worry about the slide locking back?

the great orator · « **Reply #12 on:** November 09, 2008, 06:29:10 AM »

Sorry I looked at this topic so late. You may (MAY) encounter some problems with a new slide lock lever, if they installed one. The difference with the older levers and new levers is the old lever used to have a little triangular vertical protrusion off the top of the lever, which would limit the amount of travel upwards the lever would go. That won't be your problem. What may be your problem is that the protrusion that sticks out into the magazine well area (that engages the follower on the magazine) was longer than the current protrusions on the new lever. This shorter protrusion has resulted (at least in my early gen.2 glock (two pin)) in the magazine failing to engage the slide stop lever approx. 50% of the time. Gun still shoots just fine, you just might not know when the gun will be shot empty.

Oh, if you have a Gen 1 glock, definitely go out and buy as many new magazines to use to shoot. The older mags are not fully metal lined and I have had a couple that split the plastic up the rear of the magazine after repeated uses. Additionally, you will probably want to pick up as many as possible due the the new regime going into office...