Question about a Glock 21

[CAS700850]

I received a Glock 21 from evidence yesterday, which will be an exhibit in an upcoming trial. Being the gun nut I am, I promptly stripped the pistol to see what condition it is in. Upon stripping the slide of the frame, I notice a funny grey piece of plastic at the muzzle end of the recoil spring. I pulled tsh sring off, and the plastic piece was not on the recoil spring, but rather was between the spring and the front of the slide. It is clearly molder or machined to fit in that location, as its contours match the shape of the slide exactly.

My firsth though is that it was some type of cushion to reduce impact between the frame and slide, a shock buffer. But, it is made of a very hard plastic material. The criminalist who brought it to me also thought it was a shock buffer, but couldn't understand why it is hard plastic. He indicated that the pistol worked perfectly when he test fired it.

When I went to put the pistol back together, I tried fitting the recoil spring and guide without the plastic piece in place. It was almost as if the spring was a but short without the plastic. It fit okay, but felt a little loose until I put the plastic piece back in place.

Anyone help me out with what this is, and also if this is an aftermarket addition to the pistol or a factory item. It means nothing to the case (the gun was recovered from a male transporting a very large amount of crack cocaine, and denied knowing how the gun got under the seat of his car. Serial number trace came back with no report taht the gun was stolen.). Just my curiosity.

 

[Richard.Howe]

Interesting, I had a late-generation G21 that did not have that part.

Anyone else want to take a crack? Coudn't resist. Sometimes those jokes just slip through the cracks. Dang, did it again.

 

[Siggyboy]

Is the guide rod the factory captured-spring plastic guide rod? It sounds like somebody was just messing with the pistol and was using some type of unnecessary shock buffer. BTW, some of those buffers are pretty hard plastic.

 

[Fiero]

Is this it?


If so; this is a description of the item.

"Glock Recoil Buffer
The Buffer Technologies Recoil Buffer for the Glock pistol eliminates the metal slide from impacting the polymer frame. This repeated impact batters the frame where the two parts come into contact. Stopping this battering is accomplished by inserting the buffer between the recoil spring and the slide. Each time the action is worked or the weapon is fired the buffer comes into contact with the frame, not the metal slide. Installation of the Recoil Buffer will result in reduced felt recoil, enhanced muzzle control and a longer service life. The Recoil Buffer for Glocks will fit models 17, 17L, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 24C, 31 and 32."

The opinion on the viability of the item is not mine. I see no reason for the addtion of this item on my Glock.

 

[Onmilo]

Shok-Buffs work fairly well at keeping aftermarket stainless steel guide rods lined up properly and this prevents them from tearing up the frame and banging off the front clearance hole in the slide and buggering it.

 

[nbkky71]

That is odd...
Even if a shock-buffer isn't used the spring should have a good fit and not feel loose when assembled.

Perhaps someone chopped a few coils off the recoil spring, or it's a *REALLY* old & worn

 

[CAS700850]

And the prize goes to Fiero. That's it. But, I have to give a second prize to nbkky71, as he correctly diagnosed that someone had messed with the recoil spring. We took the Glock to the local P.D., who issues the Glock 21 to the SWAT guys. The armourer was on hand, and he ID'd the buffer, but also noticed the problem with the recoil spring with the buffer out. So, after not figuring it out, he draws and clears his 21, strips it, and pulls out teh recoil spring. It wasn't obvious until the two were side by side that someone had messed with the sring. His guess is that someone had trouble racking the slide, and snipped off a few coils to make it easier.

Thanks for the help guys. And, if it gets forfeited to teh State, I'll put a new spring in place. I mean, if I can get it issued to me.