Anyone ever "cut down" a Glock frame?

Status
Not open for further replies.
FL-NC

FL-NC

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Messages
8,736
Location
Fl panhandle
I ended up with a gen 3 Glock 17 that I totally didn't need that I got REAL cheap. I prefer the 19, I have several 19's and lots of mags. I saw where Bowie tactical does all kinds of custom stuff to frames, and I decided, WTH, it can't be that hard. So I did some careful measuring and some even more careful cutting with a dremel on low speed, some fine work with the needle files, and tested it for fit with G-19 mags. It's awesome! I call it a 19L. So now its compatible mag-wise with all the other HD Glocks. Feels more "right" in the hand, good distance between the trijicon sights, great to shoot. I put a SF200 on it and now its the "bedside gun". Anyone else ever do this?
 
I've got a spare 17 that I'd like to ruin, I'd only ruin it to G19 instead of totaling it out but I bet it would conceal nice.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Its not unknown by any means. I see posts about it elsewhere fairly regularly.

I believe its done for carry use reasons, not resale. Ive cut barrels and drilled holes in Winchesters and Brownings, so the concept isn't really foreign to me. Some end up denying themselves the enjoyment and best potential use of some guns due to fear of reducing the value. The value seems reduced to me if the gun doesn't perform or do what I want of it, so the greater value for me is modifying it to suit me. I certainly regret selling several guns that were "too nice to use", and ended up not having one that I would have had tremendous value and enjoyment out of using. Whats the difference in value of a gun in pristine condition you are afraid to use or doesn't do what you want of it, and one you've had 20 years of pure enjoyment of use?

Ive had tremendous enjoyment wearing the finish off my 4" 29 over the past 35 years. The book value means nothing. Whoever ends up with it after I'm gone can agonize over it.

I really wish Id had the chance to wear the finish of several Smith 27's, and several Colt SAA's I foolishly sold. The value of the guns is certainly upheld, but I can only feel my personal sense of value in relation to them is much diminished.
 
Last edited:
Ruin the resale value, but improve the gun.
Click to expand...

Bingo....

The 19's finger grooves are spaced differently than a 17's... I cannot stand a 19 because of that.. So this would be an option ifffff I wanted a smaller grip. (I have no issues concealing a 17 though)

As for ruining resale value.. Its a Glock not a one of a kind heirloom :)

(except the one example above, where they ruined a sought after Gilled RTF2)

Ive taken a dremmel to NIB Glocks before ever putting a round through em.. All because I know how I like them.
 
Last edited:
Elkins45 said:
Ruin the resale value, but improve the gun.
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not. Many used Glocks are a bit like many used (original) VW Beetles used to be... they'd all go for about the same price -- often around $400. The old VW Bettles are now a bit pricier.

If it isn't a hack job -- and some of the guns pictured above look like they were well done -- a G-17 slide mounted on a G-19-like frame would be a more concealable Glock 17, or a slightly better performing Glock-19. :)

.
 
Last edited:
It appears the 5-2-7 and myself somehow "Forest Gumped" our way through the process without ruining these guns that routinely sell for less than $400 on the used market. Not ruined in the sense they turned out how we wanted them and they surprisingly still function as advertised.
 
Looking back, I wish I had bought a G17 and cut the grip down to G19 dimensions. Using my pocket knife, I cut about 3/16” off of my 19 to make the (stuck) magazine easier to get ahold of.

Cutting on a new pistol doesn't bother me. Within about five minutes of getting home, I had my NIB G19 clamped in the bench vise sanding the finger grooves off of it. I think I stippled it within a month or two.

Doesn't matter what it is, I buy it to use it, I'll modify it how I see fit. If I cared about resale I would have bought something other than a new Glock.
 
I know people may do what they want to their own firearms, but seriously. Let's just say they had a problem with their Glock and had to send it back to Glock. It would be within Glock's right to not service the gun as it had been modified by the end user.

If one does not like the way a certain firearm feels in their hand, buy a different one, there is a plethora of firearms to choose from. There is nothing magical about a Glock.
 
stchman said:
There is nothing magical about a Glock.
Click to expand...
Exactly one of the reasons to cut-to-suit an old, outa warranty, limited trade-in value Glock.

I think this thing of modifying these plasti-wonders deserves a whole thread of its own.

Taking an older pistol and modifying it to take smaller mags for either CCW and/or legality reasons sounds like a fun and rewarding activity to me.



Todd.
 
Somehow I ended up with far more 19&23 mags in my possession so maybe I'll ruin a G22 as well. Take down the grips on the 19&23 and sell off the 26&27.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
stchman- I have another Glock 17 that I put >60,000 high pressure rounds through with very little cleaning during my instructor days. It was laser etched with a unit logo on the slide, and the frame was stipled by a friend who is an artist with a soldering iron. At some point a metal slide rail had broke off from the frame and went AWOL. I have no idea when, because the pistol was still functioning (so in that sense, maybe there is something "magical" going on there) When it got so filthy that it actually started to effect the felt trigger squeeze, I decided to take it apart and clean it and I found the missing rail. I sent it back to Glock (dirty) and they replaced the frame, the Trijicon sights, and cleaned it for me. Free. 10 day turn around from NC. So after that level of abuse, to include frame and slide modification, the only thing they cared about was that the gun worked. Oh, and they also replaced my aftermarket parts with stock parts, and enclosed the aftermarket parts with the repaired/cleaned pistol. So I'm not worried about the shortened frame making them upset if it needs to go back.
 
It appears the 5-2-7 and myself somehow "Forest Gumped" our way through the process without ruining these guns that routinely sell for less than $400 on the used market. Not ruined in the sense they turned out how we wanted them and they surprisingly still function as advertised.
Click to expand...

They aren't my guns, I don't own a Glock yet. Haven't had the money when I've come across a Gen 1 G17. :p
 
I own a couple of Gen 2 guns. If I ever buy another Glock the first thing I will do after a satisfactory test firing is sand off the finger grooves.

But I probably just won't buy another Glock. When they made the grooves mandatory they lost me as a customer.

It's your gun: do what you want to it. There's no such thing as a collectable Glock.
 
I would expect that some of the early Glock 17Ls and Glock 24s might have some collector value, as well.

Even the horrid Colt 2000 is collectible, and sells for more than it ought to. :(
 
mavracer said:
No but I did my CW45 Kahr and now have a CW45 Covert.
IMG-20120103-00198_zpsd49c2e70.jpg
Click to expand...
I took my relatively cheap Kahr TP45 and took it down to P45. Measure thrice, stare at it real hard, then hacksaw, files, sandpaper. I see no reason not to consider doing this to a Glock. If you want the longer barrel and shorter grip for concealment it works.
 
I know people may do what they want to their own firearms, but seriously. Let's just say they had a problem with their Glock and had to send it back to Glock. It would be within Glock's right to not service the gun as it had been modified by the end user.
Click to expand...
I thought about that all the way home from the gun store. I stared at my brand new pistol I had clamped in the vise for about 4 minutes asking myself if voiding the warranty was worth it...

By minute 5, I was sanding.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

FL-NC
  • Locked
Glock 19L with a facelift
Replies
5
Views
356
Browning
Browning
C
  • Locked
Glock SF
Replies
14
Views
2K
CountGlockula
CountGlockula
trackskippy
Combat Armory Glock 19 compatible "kit"
Replies
7
Views
552
Jimfern
J
B
  • Locked
Odd Glock I picked up. Is it safe?
Replies
13
Views
2K
GLOOB
G
1
  • Locked
Good instructions for cutting down polymer grip frame?
Replies
7
Views
2K
Hometeached1
H
Back
Top