I've read that the Gen III Glock 17 is a very sought after model, more so than the Gen IV, and my question is why. I like my Gen III G17 but cannot see much difference between it and the Gen IV. I'm not interested in selling or swapping, just curious. Can some of the experts out there help?

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I don't know. It's not like they are rare.
There are an awful lot of PD trade ins of that model now, too.
It was actually the least expensive of any Glock that I ever bought.
Oops ��... did I just say that I own a Glock ?

I had a gen 3 Glock 17 for 11 years. I put nearly 12,000 rnds through it in that time and never a problem with it or with any of my Glocks. I never handled or fired a gen 4 but as I understand it the problem with them was some kind of change they made in the recoil spring. Those that sent in their gen 4s were taken care of free of charge and I also believe that Glock eventually fixed the problem.

I have had 4 Glocks in all and all 4 of them were 3rd gen. In my experience of nearly 23,000 total 100% problem free rounds that the gen 3 models were the best.

But I'm pretty sure that all the gen 4s that had problems have been sorted out now and that you could by any Glock 4th gen and be assured of a problem free pistol.

I left Glocks after 11 years and went back to 1911 just for a change of pace but if I were buying a new Glock today I wouldn't hesitate to buy any 4th gen model.

Just my .02 worth....

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Real men love cats!

From what I read around the net the Gen 3 RTF2 models with the, "fish gill", slide serrations are, by some folks, considered more desirable.

I don't think they are particularly rare, but compared to other models, fewer were made.

I happened on to one just last weekend at a local gun show. I don't recall it having any particularly outrageous price tag on it. YMMV

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America First

The trigger.

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Death? Smile back...

I don't see anything special on my Gen 3 either but I have never owned a Gen 4. I did prefer my Gen 2 because it looked way different without the rail and finger grooves.


Maybe the Gen 3s they're talking about are the FDE or the grey framed G17s.

The Gen III was a great gun with most of the bugs worked out especially in 9m/m. The .40 not so much, I believed it had more of the dreaded Kabooms and some didn't function as well when a weapon light was attached. The Gen IV basically gave it a double recoil spring similar to the baby glocks but it had several problems at first which were later corrected and it is easily as good or better now than the Gen III.

You could be thinking of the Gen 2 mod 17. I've got a Gen 2 mod 19. The Gen 2's lack some of the 3's refinements but lack the 3 and 4's grip bumps. Glock guys think the 2's are the cats pajamas. (at least in 9mm)

The first Glock had a polymer frame sporting a plain, rounded dust cover (the part in front of the trigger guard that covers the recoil spring), with a grip that had its side panels only slightly roughened with the texture wrapping around the front and back strap, which were straight in shape.

The main recoil spring and guiding rod were separate, magazines were built completely out of plastic and the barrel had a thinner profile (also known as “pencil barrel”) compared to later models. This “First Generation” was available for a short number of years.

In 1988, the “Second Generation” Glock was introduced: the grip had slightly raised side panels with the same texture as the previous generation, the back straps sported a deeply engraved squared checkering.

The magazines now featured a metallic “skeleton” over which the polymer was molded, significantly improving feeding; the barrel wall thickness was increased, the main recoil spring and guiding rod were assembled together in a “captive” configuration and the rear slide guide length was increased. The serial number on the frame was etched on a metal plate molded in the polymer frame.

In 1996, the Third Generation Glock appeared, still in production, commonly christened “Gen 3”. The front strap of the Gen 3 pistol gains an ergonomic, ridged profile, with finger grooves; just above the grip’s side panels on the frame, ambidextrous thumb rests appear to guide the hand in a correct shooting position and the rear slide guides return to their original shorter length. The Gen 3 is the longest running Glock.

In 2010, the real Glock Gen 4 model was presented, with the Austrian manufacturer acknowledging the, up to then, unofficial Generation naming custom to the point of actually engraving it on the side of the handgun’s slide next to the model number. The outward appearance and esthetics of the handgun does not change much. On the Gen 4, the outstanding innovations are essentially two: a new recoil spring structure, and the possibility to add on the pistol’s back strap two different removable inserts to customize the grip size to the shooter’s hand. These two changes alone have caused the non-interchangeability of the main components with the previous models.

The Gen 4 also introduces a new and redesigned ambidextrous magazine release system, that is now extremely reliable; of course, backwards compatibility is also lost, and although Gen 4 magazines can be used in previous generation pistols, the opposite is impossible.

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- Change it back -

Gen3 Glocks are still in production. Why? They're grandfathered on the CA roster. Glock can't sell the Gen4 to the CA market.

The Gen4 9mm compact and full size initial release had issues. I know. I was an early adopter of both a Glock 19 Gen4 and Glock 17 Gen4. Both were afflicted with erratic ejection patterns: normal, brass to face, brass over head, etc. It was the first time Glock went to a dual RSA in their compact and full size 9mm's. Best guess is that Glock tried to use more similar spec parts between the .40 S&W chambered Gen4's and the 9mm chambered Gen4's to improve on the economy of scale and eke out even more profit margin.

Worked fine in the .40 S&W Gen4's. Not so well in the 9mm Gen4's. My experience was that every couple weeks, I'd call and get a newly issued RSA with a different spring rate, a different ejector, a couple extractors. It became more of a chore to keep up with staying current with the revision news, calling to get the parts, installing and still having issues. I sold both of those early release Gen4's. Fast forward a couple years, and problem is fixed. I own two Glock 19 Gen4's. No problems whatsoever.

Where the initial release Glock Gen4's were having issues, the Gen3's kept trucking along with no issues.

That was another difference in the Gen4 that carried over to the current production Gen3's. The trigger on current production Gen4's and Gen3's feel heavier and have a hitch in them that the older production Gen3's didn't.

The difference is in the trigger w/trigger bar assembly. On the current production Gen4's and Gen3's there is a dimple on the safety plunger disengagement nub. The dimple supposedly ensures proper contact between the safety plunger and the disengagement nub. All it does is add another 1/2 to 1 pound and a hitch to the trigger. Buy a Glock 17 Gen3 trigger w/trigger bar assembly without that dimple. Install it, and the trigger goes back to the way it should be.

I have three of the dimple-less Glock 17/22 Gen3 trigger bar assemblies in my parts box, ready to swap in.

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-John

This

Gen 3s are all over the place but gen 2s get snatched up fast. I prefer the gen 2 far more than the 3 or 4

My Gen 4 fits my hand better than the Gen 3's. Plus, the Gen 4 texture better suits my sweaty palms. I like both, but prefer the Gen 4.

Reading all the above just reaffirms my belief.
It's all a matter of preference.
Gen I,II,III, IIII....Glock or not Glock
Nobody can really answer that question for you.
The only thing that's worth a hoot is what works for you.
If you're concerned about the value or collectabilty, you're probably concerned with the wrong manufacturer.
I remember thinking that an original Glock 17, that started it all, may one day be worth something.
It will be, about $300-$350 if not shot out

I have yet to read of a kaboom that didn't involve reloaded ammo

Gen4 had issues when they first came out.

Gen3 is love it or hate it due to the finger grooves. They either fit your fingers or dont

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Got a Gen2 17 and Gen3 19.
I think the Gen3 19 is the pinnacle of Glocking.

I have several Glocks. I have no Gen 4s. That is unless you count a 43 as a 4. I have 7 G3s and 2 G1s. The G1 model 17 is the one they built their rep on and I prefer it to all others. I like the Cooper theory that a handgun should feel like a well used bar of soap. G1s do. As always YOU are free to like whatever you wish. Handguns are too personal to me to try to ever sway anybody's buying options.

Our agency transitioned to the Glock 23 Gen II (.40) and while I was able to shoot it very well it felt too blocky for my XL hands and f/u shots were slower. Looking over the Gen III & IV models I found the III to be the best fit and the 9MM handles better. Since I no longer go in harm's way I don't feel under gunned. Great range, LEOSA qualification and house/car gun IMHO.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

My 19 is a truck glovebox and motel nightstand gun.

I don't have that many gen4. G23, 22 and if 43 counts. All others are gen 3 and 2.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

That's it! I now have a reason for my next purchase- A motel Nightstand gun. Not to be confused with my standard nightstand gun. Thank you Chattanooga Phil!

Now, what to get...?

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Because of the metric system?

I actually prefer Gen 4 over Gen 3. I'd like my Gen 4 Glock 19 even better if they made it without the finger grooves.