Well, after the recent thread dissuading me from picking up a heavily used USP40, I tried convincing myself that I was set as far as handguns go.
Tried.
Then, after reading a *ahem* discussion on VP9s possibly being less than reliable after being filled with wet concrete and having the snot beat out of them, I began to think about what was quintessentially the most reliable autoloader out there, and (aside from the Mk23 SOCOM) one brand and model kept popping up - the venerable Glock 17, but more specifically the second generation. I thought about the 19, the 22, and the 23, but often I'd heard about unsupported chamber issues in the .40 series, and the 19 has never felt all that great to me. Lo and behold, a shop happened to have a well-loved 17 in stock... but how well?
I figured I'd take a look. After all, they had a few other interesting pieces there, too, including (of all things) a PIAT. I wandered it, glanced around, held a couple of things, and finally made it to the 17. Well-loved was a little bit of an understatement: this was a tool, plain and simple. The texturing on the sides and checkering on the front and back straps was rounded, almost smooth; slide wear was uniform for any normal, high-round-count Glock, and the night sights - which were not factory - had died. There was a sort of "gumminess" to it, and above all there was deep scoring in the frame. But not deep enough to be considered a structural concern.
(Actual image)
$350 and signing of adoption papers led me to discover it also has three magazines (one a Gen 4), original tupperware case, and yet another rear night sight (alas, also dead). Upon arriving home, I detail stripped it, gave it a solid deep cleaning with M-Pro 7 and relubed with TW-25B, and it's now the smoothest-operating 17 I've ever handled. A full set of new springs is on the list, but internal wear is negligible, and the trigger is smoother but slightly heavier than my VP9. Been reading up on suggested upgrades, and I think it could also do with a Vickers Extended Mag Release and Vickers Slide Release, but as it is, I think I came out ahead in the deal. The character marks on it are actually growing on me, as all I can really do it add to them as time goes on. It's too late to head to the range tonight, but a trip is definitely planned for tomorrow.
As far as extractors/small parts/etc. go that might seriously need replacing, where should I start? I don't want to replace the frame, as it feels boatloads better than the Gen 3 I had a couple years ago, but I've also heard about issues from ~1991 that Glock has "corrected for minimal charge" that I know I can do myself.
Edited to add: The serial number is "LR03(X)" on the barrel and slide, but "LR03(X) US" on the frame. About what year is this? And what does the "US" suffix mean?
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