Custom Glock 21: Advice on reductions and slide work

[shark31]

OK, so I want to get a custom Glock 21 and need some advise from those who have reductions or have refinished slides.



I'm trying to do a basic copy of this. I would like to know, for those of you that have refinished your slides, whether or not you had to contend with rust after refinishing. The one feature that I love above all else, that I DO NOT wish to destroy, is the weapon's ease of maintenance or non maintanence if you will. I have a XD40 compact that I have to chase rust on every time I touch it, and have never seen a spec of rust on any of my glocks. The only reason that I am looking at refinishing is that I would like to have front cocking serrations applied. If I can't get a finish that's up to snuff reapplied, then I will delete the slide work all together. Thanks for looking (and hopefully helping).

Also, any advise on reduction work would be appreciated. I need someone who will work with an OD frame, and I've looked into Arizona Response Systems, Bowie Tactical Concepts, Wendell Tactical Concepts, and Robar, am I leaving someone out that I should look at?

[SethB]

Slide serrations are pointless, but the grip reduction is nice.

The slide can't be re-Tennifered.

[David Thomas]

I am not a big fan of the akward G21 in its original configuration, but that gun looks interesting.

Looks like you have the list of folks who can do the job on the grip reduction. I would not bother with the front cocking serrations.

[shark31]

Originally Posted by SethB

Slide serrations are pointless, but the grip reduction is nice.

The slide can't be re-Tennifered.

Is there any way to replicate the tennifer? I noticed on Robar's website that they offer different types of metal treatments, and I was just wanting to hear from those who have done it.


I would ask the various custom Glock builders as to which coating would be the best but I already know that answer- "Ours is the best". Basically I wanted to hear from people that have put a different coating on their glocks that performed like the tennifer as advertised.

Another question is whether or not coating over the Tennifer is possible, Does anyone know? I realize that I am only asking about cosmetics right now instead of function, but I do like the looks of that pistol a lot. I hate all black guns.

[David Thomas]

Shark31,

The way I understand it, Tennifer is a metal treatment, not the black finish you see. You can "paint" glocks any color you want. As to which finish is best: I have no idea, but the new ceramic finishes (cera-kote?) seem promising. All finishes will wear eventually.

As far as I know, there isn't a "coating or finish" that will perform like the tennifer.

[bigbore]

Originally Posted by David Thomas

Shark31,
As far as I know, there isn't a "coating or finish" that will perform like the tennifer.

And there never will be in this country.

[M4arc]

I love the work that Wendell Tactical Concepts does. Why don't you just have him do your G21? IMO he's the best and he already told me he'll do an OD framed GLOCK.

[Rob96]

Originally Posted by bigbore

And there never will be in this country.

I thought Melonite, is another trade name for Tennifer, and it is done in this country.

[Wayne Dobbs]

Melonite is not Tenifer, although it is much better than bluing. Tenifer can not be accomplished in the US due to EPA regs.

[SuicideHz]

My 3 year old G32 looks like an oil slick. What's up with that? Is the tennifer all that remains? A buddy's G27 that is 4 years or more old, is still black with wear marks.

[Dave Berryhill]

The latest slides do look different but I'm not sure what changes Glock has made. IIRC, Glock used to phosphate or blue the slides after the Tennifer treatment, which gave them their matte black finish. The latest ones I've seen seem to be shiny although they have a textured rather than a polished finish.

They are still treated with Tennifer but it appears that the post-Tennifer finish has changed. I haven't been to Glock armorer's school in years - maybe someone who has attended recently knows.

[Wayne Dobbs]

Dave,

I went back for about the upteenth time in May and that topic didn't come up. They still do the Tenifer and as you know it's part of the slide's heat treat process and not really a finish. I don't know what kind of chemicals or processes they use to accomplish the Tenifer, but it must be nasty from a hazmat standpoint.

SuicideHZ,

If all the black is gone from your slide AND if you haven't done any cutting, milling, etc. on it, the Tenifer and its anti-corrosion properties are still there.

[Robb Jensen]

Originally Posted by Dave Berryhill

The latest slides do look different but I'm not sure what changes Glock has made. IIRC, Glock used to phosphate or blue the slides after the Tennifer treatment, which gave them their matte black finish. The latest ones I've seen seem to be shiny although they have a textured rather than a polished finish.

They are still treated with Tennifer but it appears that the post-Tennifer finish has changed. I haven't been to Glock armorer's school in years - maybe someone who has attended recently knows.

At my last Glock armorers course the instructor said that Glocks official word is that the finishes are the same. But anyone can tell the black finishes are completely different. I think the new is is a shake and bake type it's wears much faster than the older finish. It's probably easier and cheaper to apply than a phosphate finish. Glock will still refinish slides for about $50 and barrels for about $20

I've had two slides refinished by other companies. One by Tripp Research in hardchrome and one by Robar in NP3. The NP3 was awesome you could wipe the carbon off with a paper towel, the hardchrome needed a little solvent to get it really clean.

[John Fettes]

Originally Posted by David Thomas

... Tennifer is a metal treatment, not the black finish you see. You can "paint" glocks any color you want. .... All finishes will wear eventually.

This is my understanding too.

FWIW, the final finish appearance has clearly changed on the slides from my first one in 1988 and my latest ones in 2003. I was told that you cannot give a slide with the old finish the new look.

I found the thread searching for grip reduction. I'd like a 1911 style grip angle and the cutout where the trigger guard meets the front strap moved forward a little.

[Lawdawg8654]

Not trying to get too off topic here. Does anyone know what filler materiel is used to do a home grip reduction. You know the stuff you fill in the empty grip space with before you grind away on it. Is it some sort of two part epoxy? Also what grinding attachment works well with the Glock plastic?

[SuicideHz]

As far as cutting or removing material, I like the dremel bits that are either 1/8" or 5/16" diameter at the head about 3/8" long. They are machined to have sprialling flutes in them with sharp edges.

I use the larger to cut up into the triggerguard to make more room for the middle finger.

The larger sanding drums that fit over the rubber plugs are good for smoothing the area afterwards. Not quite the diameter of your finger but at that size, it's easy to get a nice rounded area removed and resanded without having to worry about contouring with a tiny narrow bit.

I think I've seen two part epoxies that when mixed are black...

[John Fettes]

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Gun...?p=0&t=1&i=381

[VA_Dinger]

Originally Posted by bigbore

And there never will be in this country.

Why is that?

I assume it has to do with some of our EPA retrictions?

[LOKNLOD]

Originally Posted by VA_Dinger

Why is that?

I assume it has to do with some of our EPA retrictions?

I believe so. The bath involved in the tennifer process uses cyanide as a component and it's my understanding that's a deal-breaker for the EPA folks?

[M4Guru]

Thanks for the link, John. That's good stuff.