Glock 19 (1st Gen.) VS (3rd Gen.)

[SniperStraz]

Got a quick question for all you fellow Glock shooters out there: Which would you prefer? A G19 1st Gen. or a G19 3rd Gen. and why? I'm wondering if Glock has actually made any remarkable improvements and what those might be. As far as I can tell the 1st has no finger groves and the 3rd does. I don't think I've ever even seen a 2nd Gen. or maybe I just didn't know what I was looking at. I'm thinking that maybe the 1st Gen. might be best since I have seen people actually file down the finger groves of a 3rd Gen. Any thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

 

[briansp82593]

i dont think there was a gen 1 19
now i got a gen 2 23 and i would take that over any third... my fingers dont align with the grip so i went with the 2nd

 

[hagar]

I prefer the 3rd generation, I like the finger grooves. Some people don't, and some people are never happy! The 2nd gen did not have the rail for a light. The finish on the 1st generation (not the tennifer underneath) wore off pretty quickly, the later Glocks have a better finish. As far as reliability, who knows? All Glocks are pretty reliable.

 

[SniperStraz]

Maybe its a 2nd Gen. then. I'm just wondering what the difference is. Maybe the 3rd Gen. is more reliable or something?

 

[jlh26oo]

Interesting that you phrase the comparison in terms of the 19 specifically. Because while I really like the finger grooves in full size and on one oddball GLOCK "compact" in particular (which I won't get into here), I don't particularly like them on the 19/23/32/38 frames.

Reason: they're cramming in 3 grooves on the shorter grip (vs 17), making each groove smaller than those of their fullsize counterparts. Even vs the subcompacts (on which there are only two, but "normal/full" sized grooves). It either fits you or it does not.

Anyways, G19 is probably the best one all-round GLOCK in the lineup if it works for you.

 

[JDGray]

I dont think the grooves are more cramped on the 19, you just loose the ulta wide bottom groove. The newer 3rd gen grip frame, has a more pointed groove, and has a better feel to it. At least for me! My new 19, is as comfortable to shoot, as my Brothers older gen 3, G17

 

[Brian Williams]

I would rather have a 1st gen 19 but I have a 3rd, so I filed off the finger grooves.

 

[Vitamin G]

I'd take a 1st gen also. I despise the finger grooves, and I won't own any more 3rd gen glocks. After I found a 2nd gen and bought it, I immediately noticed the difference and practically RAN for my dremel and sand paper.

 

[.45FMJoe]

I have a first gen 17 and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I don't understand why Glock won't offer them as an option. How the hell much can they cost to make?

I think the 1st gen frame was really perfection but like the .gov, Glock decided to "fix" it until it was no longer perfect.

 

[outofbattery]

I really don't care for the finger grooves so if the time comes that I ever have to replace my dear 16 year old 19,I'll look for a lower milage 2nd generation ( I know,I know...Glock doesn't speak about their firearms with that term).Not having the rail isn't a big issue for me as I personally see no use on my CCW and IME,the 19 with a NY-1 and 3.5# connector is truly hard to beat for it.

 

[CountGlockula]

I like the 3rd generation, because it gives me the option of sanding out the finger grooves.

 

[GunNut]

Since I have no use for a light on a compact carry weapon, I really prefer the look and feel of the 2nd Gen Glock 19's.

Reliability is exactly the same between either generation, so pick the one that fits the best and go with ti.

Steve

 

[BADUNAME13]

I prefer NO fingergroves on anything, EXCEPT the Glock.

On the Glock I prefer them.

The light rail is a MAJOR improvement.

-Another thing I cannot STAND on other pistols but like on the glock is the loaded chamber indicator.

 

[cookekdjr]

I bought a 2nd generation model (no finger grooves). The finger grooves in the 3rd generation models do not fit my hand at all.

 

[briansp82593]

I have a first gen 17 and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I don't understand why Glock won't offer them as an option. How the hell much can they cost to make?

dude your my hero i need pics please!
and i just bought a glock 23 2nd gen... i have joined the dark side muahahaha

 

[ny32182]

The finger grooves fit me perfectly, so I don't know why I wouldn't want them. My lone Glock is a 3rd gen 19 (newly purchased).

 

[CWL]

I don't know if it affects the G19s, but 1st gen. G17s slide rails would break off in a manner that completely disabled the gun.

Look for DEA "Frisbee Test" held in 1992. Results were 100% of Glocks tested became disabled. Pistols were thrown forward a distance of 15' and from a 4' height. This simulated what may happen if a running Operator tripped and dropped the pistol.

Glock did not contest this test and redesigned rails and firing pin safety as a result. Gen 2 was an attempt to fix this, but was overkill. Gen 3 is the current version.

There are also a variety of other changes that Glock made in between generations which Glock does not want to openly discuss.

 

[10-Ring]

I've owned a few diff't models but the gen 3 G19 fits me just right

 

[glocker1911]

First off, there are no "1st gen" G19s. Well, let me rephrase that. There were something like twenty G19s made off of 17 frames that are considered 1st gen, very rare. Second gen Glocks added "checkering" and third gen added the finger grooves and rails. Glocks have used tennifer since day one.

 

[briansp82593]

There were something like twenty G19s made off of 17 frames that are considered 1st gen

so about a inch of the frame was sticking off the front? ive never heard of this and it just seems weird and impossible.

 

[ny32182]

I imagine he means they would have had to chop the frame somehow.

 

[glocker1911]

Of course they didn't "stick out at the front".. The original few 19s were made off of modified 17 frames. They were the same size as the current production models, but had the smooth/stippled frame like the original G17s. Only approx twenty to thirty were ever released into "public" hands. When the G19 was actually realeased as a production offering, Glock had just switched to the second gen of frames, and so the G19s were sold in this config .

 

[Steve C]

As mentioned the first release of the Glock 19 was in a 2nd generation style. I bought mine 1n 1988 the first year of release. Still have the original box with the trigger post that would set the gun off if you where foolish enough to insert a loaded pistol in the box.

 

[Glockman17366]

"I have a first gen 17 and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I don't understand why Glock won't offer them as an option. How the hell much can they cost to make? "

As the grooves are molded in, it would be quite expensive to modify the mold tools.
If GLOCK built new mold tools (up to several hundred thousand dollars per tool) and kept the original tooling, it wouldn't be too expensive.

I've got a first generation 17 and a 2nd generation 19 (with a Hogue finger grooved grip). I like the grooves, personally.

 

[DougW]

I have a standard 2nd gen G19 and a 3rd gen G19 with the finger bumps "reduced". My hand is too big for them. See the pic, the 2 G19's and a 1st gen G17. I carry the 2nd gen a lot CHL, and use the G17 in match work. The 3rd gen is the first line HD piece. I prefer the 2nd gen myself.