A 2nd Generation Glock 19 with the original Novak replacement rear sights that were meant to be used with the stock front. Thankfully, we have come a long way.
A week ago, I asked my good friend and dyed-in-the-wool 1911 guy, Dean Caputo, if he would be interested in shooting a Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) match with me over the weekend. I try to make it a habit of inviting my buddies to shooting events as it is another excuse to turn it into a social endeavor as well as a training opportunity. Much to my surprise, Dean said, “Yes!” I was even more shocked to discover the guy who owns countless 1911s and turns his nose up to the plastic guns actually owns a Glock 19 or two. So I gave him the details of the match and planned to meet on Saturday.
Dean brought a Glock 19 from his narcotics task force days. Hilton and I joked that we were in pre-school then, and the drug of choice was a mixture of powdered dinosaur horn and dodo eggs. So when he showed up at the match I had to check out what he brought.
What I saw was a 2nd Generation Glock 19 with only a two letter S/N prefix. Most of what I am used to has three letter prefixes, and the newest US made guns have four letters. The aftermarket rear sight was an original Novak that was designed to work with the crappy factory front sight. Odd that the market at that time chose to replace the rear without addressing the horrible plastic abortion that passes for a front sight. Ken Hackathorn is absolutely correct when he says he considers the plastic factory sights to simply be temporary placeholders for real sights to go into.
One of the benefits of the GSSF matches is the presence of a fully equipped factory armorer who will service any Glock and restore it to factory specifications at NO COST. And you don’t even have to be a competitor. Just walk up with your Glock pistol in a bag and he will check it out.
After the match, Dean brought his pistol to the armorer and noted his pistol is likely older than the armorer. (2nd Generation Glocks were introduced around 1988.) Dean’s pistol was completely overhauled and the only parts that remained were the slide, frame and barrel. All other parts were upgraded! Not a bad deal.
We had a great time at the match and it was a fun jaunt down memory lane to hear of the adventures that Glock had been through with Dean back in the glory days.
Those early G19s were considered the perfect sized pistol when they first came out. I carried mine with two agencies before the bug to upgrade to calibers starting with “4” hot the better of me. In fact, that 19 was the only pistol with which I ever won a trophy at a match. I did see one pebble grip 19 at a certain LE academy back in 1996. Not sure it it was a preproduction sample acquired for testing or if Glock actually put a few on the US markete going with the Gen II grip.
Looks like the one in my bedside safe. although I have some green/orange Trijicons and a laser guide rod on mine. A BMVxxx SN doesn’t mean it doesn’t shoot straight. It’s my favorite steel match gun, and I even carry it once in a while. I shoot my G26 just as well, so often the smaller pistol gets the nod. I should get out to one of the GSSF matches in the Twin Cities and have an armorer check it out.
Matt
St Paul
@1077idaho
Wow I must be old! I do not think of a glock of any vintage “old school”!
My personal 19 looks a lot like the one in the pics but is maybe early 90’s. I am looking forward to glock season myself. When glocks first came out I was already in college! Yes I guess I am old
These are actually my favorite Glocks. Back when they were simple, reliable, and didn’t have many of the issues of later guns. I like the Gen 2.5 9mm’s (Gen 2 with the angled extractor) over any other Glock variant.
Agree with Darryl, these are my favorite Glocks. I still carry a Gen 2 19 and my Gen 2 17’s are some of the most accurate shooters I have.
Of the near 20 or so Glocks that have passed through our household the two Gen 2 G19s were my least favorite. Slippery w/o remedy and distinctly less accurate that our Gen 3s and 4s that have run just as well. I hope Dean got all his swapped out parts in a ziplock bag . . . at least the extractor. 😉 The Glock free inspect and upgrade is pretty awesome but I’d want to hang onto those old extractor parts.
“Gen 3s and 4s that have run just as well”………..except for the extraction issues, “growing pains” with the Gen 4s (which I understand seem to be getting better), and some other “glitches”, usually attributed to “limp wristing” or “ammunition” when you call Glock. I noticed that hanging on to the extractor was mentioned as being important.
I have bunches of Gen 2 and 3 Glock’s. I have been able to get some light stippling done on the Gen 2’s which helps with the grip for those who need something more tacky. One of the great things about the Gen 2’s is the lack of finger grooves. While the finger grooves on Gen 3 G-17’s fit my hand perfectly, the G-19’s do not, which is why I prefer the older Gen 2 G-19’s over the Gen 3 and later. Also, some changes in frame dimensions and rigidity has also made many of these guns run a little different. Most of all, I miss the Glock customer service and corporate attitude of the Gen 2 era.
Lest I leave the impression that my “run well” standard is a couple boxes of ammo per year; our 8 Gen 4 9mm’s have run from 2K to 10K rounds very reliably; the equal of any of our earlier Gens.
I bought a Gen 2 19 off a lady in our parking lot a few years back for 3 bills. No NCIC hits so far!
It’s bone stock; even after Alan went through it at Glock Armorer here a year or so back. Really oughta replace the mushed down plastic sights but it hits good and is easy to carry in RCS VG2 Gonzales. All day today under a snug T & jeans. Has run flawlessly.
A buddy stipples them, but have resisted urge. Every time I pack it off duty feel like a short, plump Jimmy Smits in NYPD Blue. 😉
I really like the Gen 2. I wish Glock would make it an option of finger grooves or NO finger grooves. Finger grooves ruined the Glock. Don’t the Austrians believe in options? I have a Glock 19 gen 2. It’s one of my favorite pistols.