Glock 26: can this become a serious problem?

I just bought a used G26. It is an old 2.5 generation that seemed to be in perfect condition.

I noticed that sometimes it is difficult to field strip this gun, as the slide does not come forward. I am no new to Glocks, and know well how to take it down - magazine out, trigger pulled, slide block pushed down. At this point the slide comes forward just a bit, enough to clear the slide block, but does not want to easily come forward any more. I have to use force to make it move forward.

Upon detailed inspection I noticed some marks/wear in the frame, right where the recoil spring meets the barrel. It seems that after some “action” (like racking the slide a few times) the edge of the recoil spring assembly does not stay fully seated in the barrel groove, but moves out of it and starts rubbing the frame, which causes the wear/rough spot which in turn does not allow the slide to move freely.

I have tried the frame with a different recoil spring, a different barrel, a different slide (and all possible combination of these parts) with the same results – recoil spring seems to move out of position and rub the frame.

You can see the pics below. Last two were taken to “simulate” what I believe the problem is: “in position” and “out of position”

I am not sure if this could become a major problem.
Any suggestions what to do to fix it?

Thanks for your help.

" David E:
That's not causing the wear. That part of the recoil spring assembly is nowhere near that part of the frame when assembled.

The FRONT part of the assembly is, tho, when the larger diameter section comes back in recoil..."

You are right David E!

I compared it with another G26. I took a pic to show where the large diameter section would be when in full recoil. It clearly shows what you say.

I played around with the RSA, trying to figure out how it can cause the wear.

I am not sure that the front side can do it. There are no sharp edges that can cause that type wear, except for the end of the wire, and that is a tiny spot.

The only other option I can think of is the rear edge (metal) of the RSA. It comes out of position, digs into the frame, and being a sharp edge damages the frame when forcing the slide to come out during field strip. I can not think of any other possible cause.

Well..... I am pretty sure it is the rear edge (metal) of the RSA coming out of place.

If I cicle the slide vigorously a few times and then try to field strip, I get the problem. Then, if I hit my hand with the pistol (slide side), strong enough to get the rear edge of the RSA back in place (thanks to inertia) I can field strip it with no problem.

Now, I tried the other barrel again. No matter how strong I cicle it I can not get the rod edge to dig into the frame, and I can pull out the slide smoothly. I noticed that the rear edge of the slide is almost out of the barrel notch, but somehow I do not get the problem.

Comments?

David E said:

It's already been pointed out that the rear edge of the RSA is nowhere near that part of the frame when it cycles, so cannot be causing the problem when the gun "cicles."
.....

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I agree. At this point I am pretty sure there is no problem when the gun cicles, except that the edge of the RSA comes out of position and digs into the frame - so far no problem. But then the wear is caused when forcing the slide forward during field strip. The RSA edge is forced against the frame and "cuts" it.

nater762 said:

From what is in his pics yes it is! Mine does the same thing if you pull the slide back to far during take down.

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Nater, the problem happens even when pulling the slide back just a short bit enough to clear the lock.

nater762 said:

I would try to grind a small flat to one side to the rear of the RSA and make sure to set it down during reassembly...just a tinny one

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You mean flattening a bit a small part of the edge, and make sure that this flat area faces the grip when reassembly, so that it slides and do not dig?