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The Glock pistol hardly needs an introduction. Its place in the pistol market has been firmly established over the last three decades between military, police and civilian usage. It’s been said that 65 percent of law enforcement agencies in the United States issue Glocks. I have carried three different Glocks through my career and I’ve been very satisfied with the accuracy, simplicity and ease of maintenance the Glock design provides. The aftermarket for Glock pistols is one of, if not the strongest for any one firearm. Even for the aftermarket guns that aren’t Glocks, they are still based on the simple Glock design.
Even those who aren’t Glock fans may know how to disassemble one. However, it’s possible that there is someone out there that bought a Glock for the first time without the original paperwork and has no idea how to disassemble it. This field strip process remains the same for all Glock models with the exception of the Glock 46.
BEFORE YOU FIELD STRIP ANY WEAPON, REMEMBER the four rules of gun safety:
- All guns are always loaded.
- Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
TFB FIELD STRIP: GLOCK, ALL MODELS (-1)
Step 1
As with all firearms, remove the magazine and open the action to inspect that there is no ammunition present. Too many people have been killed or injured while cleaning “unloaded” guns. While field stripping Glocks, you’ll want to double check (I’ve gone as high as triple) because you’ll need to pull the trigger to begin the takedown process.
Step 2.
Next, you’ll need to move the slide rearward, about an eighth to a quarter of an inch. While holding the slide in that position, you’ll need to pull down on the takedown tabs that are on both sides of the frame. Once the tabs are down, hold them while you move the slide forward off the frame.
Step 3.
Remove the recoil spring assembly by pressing the rear of the spring toward the muzzle, then let it down and out. The barrel comes out next by pulling it down from the slide, then out.
This is as far as the standard field strip goes. Reassemble in reverse order. You can check HERE to download the owner’s manual for general maintenance and lube points.
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