The difficulty I have removing Glock slides is just one of the reasons I have no interest in owning one, but if someone is the expert and expected to demonstrate something, they should be able to do it one way or t’other.

As for “experts,” though, I personally witnessed three ATF agents struggle to check a Colt Single Action Army to ensure it was unloaded because they didn’t know how to do it. And when I later reviewed an extensive evidence list of guns seized during the same operation, I found that many of the S&W revolvers’ descriptions didn’t reflect the serial numbers, but rather the other factory numbers that were marked under the cranes. Once the proper serial numbers were identified, it was, “Oh, yeah; those were guns we were looking for, too.”

quote:

Originally posted by sigspecops:
If the glock was hard to take apart, just imagine him disassembling that 22/45 Para mentioned.

Just imagine him trying to reassemble a Ruger MkI, II or III????????

He is an ATF agent, so no surprise there in my eyes... idiot!

I really am glad that my ATF days are behind me. I could tell so many stories, but with my litigation against them still pending, I’ll bite my tongue. Suffice to say that the only thing that ATF management cares about is making cases. The prevailing leadership theory is that the only value the agency brings to the table is the arrests that they make. This is flawed logic, and completely antithetical to our founding fathers rejection of national police forces. While I firmly believe that there is a good place in the overall picture for federal law enforcement, the value of the arrests made directly by federal law enforcement is really only a small part of their potential overall value in my opinion.

That right there is why I have an extended takedown lever on all my Glocks. The stock lever barely protrudes beyond the frame. When your hand is sweaty, it's very easy for it to slip back to the lock position.

quote:

Originally posted by Lt CHEG:
Suffice to say that the only thing that ATF management cares about is making cases. The prevailing leadership theory is that the only value the agency brings to the table is the arrests that they make.

So true, they just want to justify their existence, not untrue in other agencies and many other non LE areas for that matter.

Good luck in your suit.

I have trouble believing anyone without arthritis or hand issues has trouble removing the slide from a Glock. I also have trouble believing you can remove the slide with one hand. lol

I just pulled out a 19 to see how I could manage to disassemble with one hand. My hands are definitely not big enough or dexterous enough to do this.

I just use a C grip at rear of slide and the other hand pulls down the tabs. I have to think those with issues (other than physical impairments) just have a bad technique. Sweaty or not it's not hard to do.

That agent is a buffoon.

First time or two it was a PIA, since I keep fingernails short getting those two tabs to pull down wasn't easy.

Finally figured it out though, maybe he shoulda watched some utoob videos before the event.

You made me grab the 19 again. lol

When I pull the tabs down it is with the pads of my fingers. The fingernails aren't even in contact with the gun.

Revere C grip on back of slide with right hand. left hand pads of thumb and forefinger on the tabs. Slight squeeze and pull down.

I have to think any issues are technique related. The spring holding the tab in place has very little actual "push" to it.

Edited: I just showed my fairly non gun stuff savvy wife how to do it. She did it and stated "what is hard about that?". Maybe she should be an ATF agent lol

It's a challenge to pull both tabs down on my 17-year-old G-26, piece of cake on both my 12-year-old G-19 and 5-year-old G-43X. I do not know if the newer guns have improved tabs, but they're much easier to disassemble.

Dang. You are going to make me pull out my old gen2. Lol

I don't find there to be any noticeable difference in ease of takedown between my Gen 2s and my Gen 4s/5s.

I will note that the newest Glocks, including the Gen 5s as well as the single stacks like the G43/G48, use a different style of spring for the slide lock. The newer version is a coil spring; the older version is a flat spring. However, the design of the slide lock itself is the same across generations, and the spring weight between the two styles of springs doesn't appear to be appreciably different to me. So there doesn't appear to be any mechanical reason why newer Glocks as a whole would be any easier than older Glocks.

Besides, a 12 year old G19 and a 17 year old G26 are going to have identical springs and slide locks anyway, since neither would have the newer style Gen 5 coil spring.

Therefore, if there is any true difference present, it's going to be an individual difference between those two specific guns. For example, one gun's slide lock spring might be more worn than another, or one gun's slide lock might be on the upper end of acceptable tolerances and be introducing a bit of additional friction with the frame. It's not anything across the board like "15+ year old Glocks have stronger slide lock springs" or "newer Glocks have larger tabs" or the like.


As noted by pedropcola, if you're having problems with Glock slide removal and don't have some sort of grip strength abnormality, it's likely just a technique issue. (If you're trying to use your fingernails, you're doing it wrong. )

For feds, I thought the first step was to unload the gun by shooting yourself in the leg in a classroom.

Is there a link to the unedited video?

ETA: Nevermind, found it.

quote:

Originally posted by dsiets:
For feds, I thought the first step was to unload the gun by shooting yourself in the leg in a classroom.

A classic.

"I'm the only one in this room professional enough to carry this Glock..." *POW!*

Do you know that idiot actually sued the DEA for releasing that video? Claimed their actions caused him ridicule and humiliation, and ended his public speaking career. (Failed to mention the part he himself played in the matter, though.)

He lost, of course. Lost the appeal too.

He must have been the tobacco guy huh. Damn sure hope it’s not explosives.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
He must have been the tobacco guy huh. Damn sure hope it’s not explosives.

B.A.T.F.E. He should be busted back to Tobacco if not Alcohol. There's no way he'll get to Explosives. Yeah, I know that's not how it works, maybe. But doesn't everyone want to be in Explosives? Lots of commercial real-estate coming down soon?

quote:

Originally posted by SigSentry:
But doesn't everyone want to be in Explosives?

Only the best of the best want to be in explosives. Everyone knows that the explosives folks at ATF are the smartest, AND best looking. Says the former SABT (Special Agent Bomb Technician).

Yea I still don't know how he did that. I counted four fingers on one side of the slide and his thumb on the backstrap. How did he actuate the back side tab? His fingers never leave the frame of the video.

I will caveat my answer and say, besides that guy I have trouble believing you can do it with one hand.

Ok, I watched it a few more times. I missed the locking the slide to the rear part. I will say under the Official Rulebook of One Handed Glock Disassembly that that is cheating. lol