Glock slide finish question

[jhc77]

Picked up a 26 last year. Monday I picked up a 23.  Both Gen 3's, the 26 was born early last year and the 23 was born 4/12 this year.  Noticed the 23 slide is more of a flat, smooth black, where as the 26 has some texture (not RTF) to it.  Any answer to this riddle, or is that one of those "That's how Glock does it" type situations? Best picture I could get also.

[xRUSTYx]

I don't remember the exact reason.  check glocktalk.com

 

I have (4) Gen 4's.  (3) of them have the textured finish, (1) has the gloss finish.

 

Hopefully, both types of finishes will get well used, and I'll forget which is which :)  I love me some old worn slides with battle wounds/scars :)

[glock55]

Glock has stopped using the shiny black finish and gone to a gray matte finish. There may be some of the black finish guns left out there. All gen 3 and gen 4 guns now come with the gray matte finish. The tenifer heat treatment of the slide has not changed.

[RED333]

Well you asked,

the 9mm is for week handed cockers.

The 40S&W is for strong handed cockers.

I dont have a clue.

[jhc77]

Well you asked,

the 9mm is for week handed cockers.

The 40S&W is for strong handed cockers.

I dont have a clue.

Seems the other way around on these two Red.  The 26 recoil spring is still a bit tougher than the plastic one on the 23. Might replace that.

[xRUSTYx]

Glock has stopped using the shiny black finish and gone to a gray matte finish. There may be some of the black finish guns left out there. All gen 3 and gen 4 guns now come with the gray matte finish. The tenifer heat treatment of the slide has not changed.

 

This doesn't make sense.  My latest Glock 26 with a born date of March 15th I believe, has the shiny black finish.  My older Gen 4's have the textured grayish (not a shiny) finish.

[glock55]

How are you determining dob on your guns. Glock went to the matte finish because "The matte surface minimizes light reflection—an advantage in tactical circumstances." ( glock )

[jhc77]

How are you determining dob on your guns. Glock went to the matte finish because "The matte surface minimizes light reflection—an advantage in tactical circumstances." ( glock )

The test fire brass in the case.
Edit: maybe not a born date, but ship date. Which probably is close to manufactured date. Edited April 24, 2013 by JHC77

[glock55]

I heard some talk that glock was going back to a black finish due to the gray matte causing some cycling issues. I am off Friday so will call glock and get the low down on this issue. If you don't get a definite answer before then I will post what I find out. If you could post dob on both guns I will ask about them specifically.

[jhc77]

I heard some talk that glock was going back to a black finish due to the gray matte causing some cycling issues. I am off Friday so will call glock and get the low down on this issue. If you don't get a definite answer before then I will post what I find out. If you could post dob on both guns I will ask about them specifically.

23 is 4/12/13
26 is 3/23/12

[xRUSTYx]

glock55 ... I was going off the fired casing date.  Unless my Glock26 just has an old slide on it .... I figured manufacture date vs fired casing date was relatively close.

[glock55]

glock55 ... I was going off the fired casing date.  Unless my Glock26 just has an old slide on it .... I figured manufacture date vs fired casing date was relatively close.

I will also find out Friday how the casing date relates to manufacture date and post

[jhc77]

Called this morning. Pretty much got a "that's just how they wanted it". So no real answer. Maybe glock55 will get someone that's more interested in answering the question instead of passing out a cheap answer.

[glock55]

Called this morning. Pretty much got a "that's just how they wanted it". So no real answer. Maybe glock55 will get someone that's more interested in answering the question instead of passing out a cheap answer.

I called glock when I got home today and here is what I found out:
1) manufacture date: a) the date on the fired brass packet is the date it was made
b) serial number you must call glock and they will look it up for you. There is no way you can tell when it was
made by serial number
2) slide finish: the original glocks had a more gray matte finish that by the late gen2/gen3 was changed to the shiny black that I think
most of us a familiar with. There was then a change to the gray matte finish which he said he could not really explain a
reason for. He gave me the impression that it was what someone up the chain of command wanted but he personally had
never been given a reason for the change. Lastly the slide finish has been changed to a black matte finish. When I asked
the reason for the change he said it would not reflect light as well. I asked if it had anything to do with cycling issues or
the fact that people in general didn't seem to like the color and he said he couldn't address those issues. Sounded like a
guy trying to keep his job. He advised that the tenifer finish, the treatment that accutualy protects the metal, has not
changed.
3) glock rep: jhc77 sorry that you did not get the help you were looking on your call. Perhaps the person you spoke with was busy or just
having a bad day. I would say the the guy I spoke with was very helpful and did not seemed put out by my call. He offered
really more info on the early glocks than I could digest but I could also tell there were some things he could not discuss. I
told him we were not looking for trade secrets but were just a bunch of gun guys trying to learn more about our guns. He
seemed cool with that and I invited him to check out the tgo forum. Who knows if he likes ,glock discounts in the future?
4) personal reflection: while I will say the matte gray is not my favorite color,my g26 is gray, I will also say if I was looking for a pretty
gun I would still have my s&w e version. While a glock may not be the prettest gun out there I don't think anyone
will argue to its reliabilty,combat accuracy or ease of maintaince. I would never say thats&w,Springfield,beretta,ect
don't make great guns but if I ever have to defended myself or others I want a glock. This is just my personal
opinion and if anyone disagrees that's ok. After all that's what makes the forum so interesting.

[jhc77]

Thanks for the info.

[TNcitizen22]

Most of my Glocks are the flat finish, though my first ever Gen 3 17 was super shiney black.  Just figured it was differences in methods.

[smithra89]

Glocks are made to last....that's all I care about in the long run

 

Having said that....I like the shiny black the most ;)