Glock Finishes Gen 3 and Gen 4

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Zaydok Allen

Zaydok Allen

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I apologize if this has been asked a million times. I did a search and I didn't see anything terribly pertinent.

I may be picking up a G29, G20, or a G40. I have handled gen 3s and 4s and overall liked the feel of the Gen 4 better. However I could get used to the Gen 3 and I've read about the lack luster performance of the Gen 4 slide finish.

Please share your thoughts and experience on the matter. The G20 or 40 would be open carried in a leather holster on the hip. the G 29 would possibly be carried IWB. Finish durability is important to me, and I don't want something that's going to wear off quickly.
 
I'm not much of a Glock guy, but since the Gen 3 and Gen 4 a both currently in production, don't they get the same finish? I understand Gen 3 guns in previous years (before the introduction of the Gen 4 guns) may have been different, but I think they are the same now.

I also think the underlying finish is very durable with whatever Glock you choose and the dark (or whatever color you choose) finish is really just cosmetic. I'd not be concerned about rust or corrosion with any Glock under most normal carry conditions.
 
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There have been some reports of glocks rusting due to bad finish. I have had a Gen 3 23, Gen 3 17, Gen 4 26, Gen 4 19, and Gen 4 21. I did have rust issues with the Gen 4 26, but not the others. After every outing and usually once a week I cleaned,lubricated and wiped with an older rag that has been used with oil that I use on every firearm I own and still developed rust on the right side of the slide in the serrations and near the rear sights, generally the area I would grip when racking the slide using an overhand method. With that said I am planning on picking up another Gen 4 21 and either a Gen 4 or 5 17. If there is an issue you can call or email glock and they will take care of it.
 
mdThanatos said:
There have been some reports of glocks rusting due to bad finish. I have had a Gen 3 23, Gen 3 17, Gen 4 26, Gen 4 19, and Gen 4 21. I did have rust issues with the Gen 4 26, but not the others. After every outing and usually once a week I cleaned,lubricated and wiped with an older rag that has been used with oil that I use on every firearm I own and still developed rust on the right side of the slide in the serrations and near the rear sights, generally the area I would grip when racking the slide using an overhand method. With that said I am planning on picking up another Gen 4 21 and either a Gen 4 or 5 17. If there is an issue you can call or email glock and they will take care of it.
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Curious if you live in a really humid environment?
 
Here is a pic of the two different Glock finishes. The one on the right is the older Tenifer finish. The one on the left is the newer Nitrite finish. If I remember right the Tinnifer finish process is not allowed in the US doe to EPA regulation. You need to thank a tree hugging hippie for that. The Nitrite
9D83A254-2A96-440F-A5B0-6A4FC4031502.jpeg
 
As others have said, the older Gen 3 pistols prior to the introduction of the Gen 4 had a different Tennifer finish that was, for lack of a better comparison, like the non-stick coating on some cookware. The current finish on Gen 3 and Gen 4 Glocks is a nitride finish. It has a slightly different appearance and definitely doesn't feel as slick as the old Tennifer. That being said, Glock's old Tennifer finish is also different than the Tennifer finish you find on Walther Pistols.
 
Tennifer is not the finish, it is the metal treatment.

But yes, older Gen 3s have a better, more durable finish over gen 4. Mine all started showing holster wear almost instantly with the matte "frying pan" finish and the slicker one.

My 19x finish is much better (and more textured for easy slide manipulation even when wet) and still looks perfect after 3 months in Kydex and several hundred draws between dryfire and drills. I hear the Gen 5 finish is pretty tough too.
 
This tennifer thing is always misunderstood. It’s not a finish, but an underlying metal treatment. The older Gen3s definitely have a slicker, shineyer, what seems like a more durable finish than current productions. However, even though the current finish seems duller and less durable, I’ve had no issues with any of mine other than some holster wear, but it doesn’t really bother me. The new Gen5 finish is more like the older Gen3, time will tell how durable it is.
 
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Captains1911 said:
This tennifer thing is always misunderstood. It’s not a finish, but an underlying metal treatment. The older Gen3s definitely have a slicker, shineyer, what seems like a more durable finish than current productions. However, even though the current finish seems duller and less durable, I’ve had no issues with any of mine other than some holster wear, but it doesn’t really bother me. The new Gen5 finish is more like the older Gen3, time will tell how durable it is.
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The question remains the same regardless of how you want to label it.
its not humid where I live but it is warm enough in summer to make you sweat. I prefer a very durable finish/treatment on my guns like HK's nitrocarborizing and SA's melonite.

Unfortunately they don't make a 10mm that can compete with Glock for capacity or compact size.
 
Allegedly Glocks current treatment is close to S&E's melonite, at least I read once.

My Gen 4 21 has been my go to field gun for more than a few humid summers and rainy falls and I never had an issue, for what it is worth.

255 grain Underwood +Ps is what I usually carry, though I'd love to slap a 10mm barrel in it and run my 200 grain XTPs.
 
When I heard that the Gen 5 finish was more akin to the old durable finishni got excited and figured I'd wait for the Gen 5 G20. Unfortunately I learned on Glocktalk that the don't plan to release anything other than 9mm gen 5 guns.
 
I have 2 gen 3 and a gentl 4. I routinely carry the gen 3’s fishing on my kayak in saltwater, they get a little wet

The gen 4 is a competition gun and get thrown on tables and in buckets

No issues with rust or wear and tear yet, I’ve had one for 8 years gen 3 g23

A Little cleaning and wipe down occasionally is all I do
 
460Shooter said:
When I heard that the Gen 5 finish was more akin to the old durable finishni got excited and figured I'd wait for the Gen 5 G20. Unfortunately I learned on Glocktalk that the don't plan to release anything other than 9mm gen 5 guns.
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I doubt this as they have already made gen 5 22s for... Brazil? I think. I've seen the pictures. When they'll add more here, especially for the 10mm is anybodies guess and I doubt it'll be soon.

I wish they would give everything the 19x finish, it's great. Durable and tacky, I can use a front of slide rack or press check even when wet/oiled without serrations.

Shocked myself when I broke out the Gen 4 26 after carrying the 19X for a few months with how slick the slide is, and mine is the more textured of the Gen 4 finishes.
 
Apparently it has something to do with using a 2pin system rather than a 3 pin in the construction and mounting of metal to polymer. I can't remember all the details though.

The conjecture was that the gen 5 wouldn't handle anything more than 9mm.

I may email Glock and see if they can share anything. Doubt they will though.
 
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Melonite, Tuftride and Tennifer are different trade names of identical processes according to the HEF Group of which is the one that developed the controlled liquid ionic nitrocarburizing process some 60+ years ago.
 
danez71 said:
Melonite, Tuftride and Tennifer are different trade names of identical processes according to the HEF Group of which is the one that developed the controlled liquid ionic nitrocarburizing process some 60+ years ago.
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You are correct, but not everyone cooks an egg the same way. :)
 
Unfortunately I learned on Glocktalk that the don't plan to release anything other than 9mm gen 5 guns.
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The original Glock (9mm) design was a 2 pin design. When the 10mm and .45ACP pistols came out, they had a 3rd pin (locking block pin) at the forward part of the frame.

When Glock added .40S&W pistols to the lineup, they initially shared the 9mm 2 pin design. Because of durability concerns, Glock later added the locking block pin in the .40S&W and .357SIG pistols, and although the locking block pin is not required in the 9mm pistols, Glock did an across the board change for parts commonality.

It's very unlikely that Glock will go back to making 2 pin guns in anything other than 9mm as they already tried that experiment and found the outcome unacceptable. So no true Gen 5 pistols in anything other than 9mm--lthough some of the Gen 5 features (other than the ambi slide stop which precludes the use of the third pin) may eventually show up in other calibers.

However, the 2 pin design is just fine for 9mm and that makes the Gen 5 design possible in the 9mm pistols without compromising durability.
 
JohnKSa said:
The original Glock (9mm) design was a 2 pin design. When the 10mm and .45ACP pistols came out, they had a 3rd pin (locking block pin) at the forward part of the frame.

When Glock added .40S&W pistols to the lineup, they initially shared the 9mm 2 pin design. Because of durability concerns, Glock later added the locking block pin in the .40S&W and .357SIG pistols, and although the locking block pin is not required in the 9mm pistols, Glock did an across the board change for parts commonality.

It's very unlikely that Glock will go back to making 2 pin guns in anything other than 9mm as they already tried that experiment and found the outcome unacceptable. So no true Gen 5 pistols in anything other than 9mm--lthough some of the Gen 5 features (other than the ambi slide stop which precludes the use of the third pin) may eventually show up in other calibers.

However, the 2 pin design is just fine for 9mm and that makes the Gen 5 design possible in the 9mm pistols without compromising durability.
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Thank you for articulating that issue. That's pretty much the issue I read about.

I guess I'm going to look at a Gen 4 since it felt better in the hand than the Gen3 and if it wears poorly, I'll get it hard chromed or some other option.
 
My gen4 g35 was used when I got it.
It’s a competion gun, I practice draw and holster weekly. I live in VT so we shoot in rain and snow frequently.
The g35 gen 4 shows less wear (almost none )than my carry gun which is a police trade in g23 gen 3 with some obvious marks on the top of the slide from a retention device.
Neither have any rust.
 
The new nDLC finish seems excellent on the gen 5 glocks, except for on the barrel. It seems a lot of range rental gen 5 barrels I’ve seen are down to the bare metal pretty quickly. My older gen 3 from like 2004 or so in my opinion has the best finish, but that (frying pan) finish and tenifer process is apparently no longer in production. I can’t complain about my g30S and g19X finishes though because they both have been excellent so far. The g30S and all current gen 3’s sport the same finish as the gen 4’s and the g19X uses the new special nPVD finish/coating that I suspect Glock may eventually go to for all their guns. As for the G40, I was pretty close to buying one the other day because I’m after a 10mm to add to my collection as well. However, after handling it for a while it’s just too big of a gun for my liking. For an outside the waistband bear country gun or hunting gun I get it, but when people say it’s a soft shooter there’s a reason for that I tell you. That gun is long, heavy, chunky, and wide. The slide has to be the biggest chunk of metal on any polymer handgun I’ve ever seen. I much prefer the g41 over the g40 for just wielding purposes. But hey it’s a 15+1 longlside 10mm so what can I say.
 
danez71 said:
Melonite, Tuftride and Tennifer are different trade names of identical processes according to the HEF Group of which is the one that developed the controlled liquid ionic nitrocarburizing process some 60+ years ago.
GunnyUSMC said:
You are correct, but not everyone cooks an egg the same way. :)
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The point that most seem to miss when this topic is discussed is that the "finish" that gets worn and shows holster wear is a cosmetic covering or coating. The real trade-named finish (such as Melonite or Tennifer) that gets applied to the underlying metal is a surface hardening treatment that is later given a colored covering (a different type of finish.) The hardening process reduces wear and resists corrosion on the treated metal, but isn't perfect. The colored covering/finish is what you can see.

As Danez71 noted, (and I found the same info on sites that deal with the topic) the differences in most of the various underlying metal "finishes" or treatments are almost trivial, and just different enough to let the gun makers claim they have their own "proprietary" finish, which they give a trade-name that no other firm can use.

The fact that Glock's underlying surface hardening treatment has changed doesn't explain why an apparently somewhat different outside "colored" coating doesn't seem to hold up as well now as was the case with Glock's from some earlier generations. .

Some suggest that the colored "finish", which often matches the polymer frame, is something like a well-done (professionally applied, baked, etc.) Duracoat finish.. Whatever it is, THAT is where the differences are most obvious.
 
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i will take pics when i get home, but i have a older G3 22, G3 usa made 23 and a new G4 26. not one if the finishes looks like the frying pan in the pics gunny posted. Honestly the g4 looks a little different. But i can not tell the difference between the usa made vs the austria made one.
 
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