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Gen 1 / 1st gen / First Generation Glock 19

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glock 19
92K views 106 replies 36 participants last post by  glockhoarder 
#1 ·
gen 1 / 1st gen / first generation / first gen

Please excuse the title and any cryptic/redundant text. It was a PITA finding search terms that would find any info on first gen 19's, so I'm using every variation I can think of to help people searching in the future. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and picked up one of the "mythical" gen 1 19's (1988 production). I just have 1 picture at the moment, but I'll get more soon. It didn't have the original case and just came with one original mag unfortunately, though the gun is in fairly decent shape for the age.

The notable differences with these guns, over second generation 19's, are the grip angle and reduced arch (it's effectively like a Gen 1 17 that's been grip chopped). The gun feels great, and feels like a gen 2 19 with a heat reduction on the arch. In addition to that, the original recoil spring assembly (RSA) is uncaptured.

One notable thing is, on the right side of the slide (right side as in looking at the gun from the back) is stamped K.S. A.B.C. for Kansas State Alcoholic Beverage Control. Judging by the minimal information I was able to find out there, the very few gen 1 19's I was able to find pictures of all appeared to be stamped with these same markings for this same LE department.

Thankfully all serial numbers match on this gun, barrel, slide, frame, as well as all the proof marks.

I spent a significant amount of time researching these first gen 19's. It was difficult to find any sort of definitive info regarding the origins of these guns. The best conclusion I could come to with the minimal info available is, it appears to me that in 1988 there were a handful of these first gen 19's imported (info varies from roughly ~12-24 guns, maybe a few more but not very many). It sounds to me like it may be a possibility they were imported for testing by the ATF to determine legality and eligibility for importation, and then subsequently were purchased by or donated to the Kansas State Alcoholic Beverage Control for issue.

I had trouble finding much info on these. What I did find was minimal at best, with a total lack of pictures or good pictures. I plan on helping change that. I'll get as many pics as I can to better document these rare guns. Here's one to get started:

 
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#52 ·
I own a very early Gen 1 17 and a Very early Gen 2 19. They both originaly came with the rear sight that was adjustable and was extended past the slide. This gun does not have this. Why is that ?? Just an observation.​
Good question, my early G2 G19 has the adj sight (Nov 89)


 
#53 ·
I got a Canon T3 for Christmas, so at some point I'll be trying to get some hi-res DSLR pics of this gen 1 19.

Just curious, opinions? This gun is no safe queen. Didn't come with any of the original stuff except a gen 1 magazine, and the gun isn't spotless. I don't plan on shooting the gun a whole lot, but I don't exactly like to have safe queens that never get used either. I have a set of Ameriglo Kyle Defoor sights I've been thinking about putting on this gun. It's a tasteful improvement in sights over the crappy factory plastic ones, and it's kind of inline with what you would want for stock factory sights (steel).

For the hell of it, I'm actually planning on testing both versions of Apex Tactical's Glock G-FRE extractor in this gun. I'm primarily testing it in Gen 2, 3, and 4 19's and 17's, though I figured I'd see what it does in this gen 1 19 just for fun. I know not many people have one of these, so the least I can do is to at least do something with it to put some more content out there on the web about them.
 
#54 ·
Is there a Knick on the front of the receiver below the recoil spring?

Looks like someone dropped it on concrete lithely and folded the displaced plastic back over it to cover it up?
 
#59 ·

this pic have been going around for a long time........
I took that picture through the glass at the Glock Collectors display in the NRA annual convention in St. Louis...the time before last in St. Louis that is. :)
 
#60 ·
I've confirmed this is not my old one. Also sig fiend is NOT looking to sell.

On the plus side pictures are coming soon! Whoop!
It was great talking to you yesterday! You've sure done your homework on these uber-rare guns! If I have time this weekend, I'm going to try and get some high resolution pictures up by the end of this weekend.

To expand more on what we talked about, as I don't remember answering the question, this G19 doesn't have any ejection/extraction problems from what I have seen so far. It seems to eject fairly consistently from ~3-4:30. I have probably put between 200-300rds through it. In fact, most of that was running it in a combat pistol class after a student's gun went down and I loaned him my G17. Gun ran flawless. ;) I don't know that I want to shoot it too much, considering it is a rare piece of history. Though, like I mentioned earlier, this one isn't a safe queen and isn't in immaculate condition, did not come with the original box or any of the original stuff, so I don't see much wrong with maybe putting the occasional box of ammo through it.

In fact, although some may consider it blasphemy, I am giving some serious thought to throwing on a set of Kyle Defoor's Ameriglo sights. Those are just simple steel sights, but with a thinner front sight and wider rear notch for a bit better performance. They're what Glocks should all come factory with, as opposed to the crap plastic sights. I haven't decided yet, as I don't want to "modify" the gun per se, but I feel that would be in the spirit of how these guns should come from the factory.

On another note, I also have both versions of the extractors from Apex Tactical, for gen 3 and gen 4 Glocks. Although I will primarily be testing those in other Gen 2 through 4 guns, I am planning on testing both versions in this Gen 1 just for the hell of it.

If anyone else has any questions or would like detailed pictures of anything specific on this gun, let me know and I will be glad to take care of it. Considering how rare they are, and the fact not too many others have stepped forward, it's the least I can do. As CAGArms and I both agreed, who knows how many of these very few first generation 19's are sitting in people's closets, collecting dust, with the owner's none the wiser on what they have. ;) LOL

A friend of mine and instructor that I trained under in the past, Paul Gomez, was a fan of history and a scholar in his own right. The guy was a living, breathing, encyclopedia on the history of firearms and the training industry. A few months before he passed away last year, I had mentioned to him that I actually managed to get a hold of one of these. He was familiar with the rarity of them and was surprised. Although it didn't take much encouragement, he said I should definitely put this info on the 1st gen 19 out there and help spread the knowledge. On that note, I'd also like to help spread some of Paul's knowledge, in remembrance of him:

http://www.youtube.com/user/gomez8136
 
#61 ·
Being that someone has already swapped sights I say go for it.

I put over 3,000 RDS through mine in the short time I had it, and the owner prior had over 1,000 just in Leo qualifying so I see no problem with shooting it. I'd probably say an aftermarket barrel and no +p ammo to try and preserve what's there. But that's strictly my opinion.

Extractor swapping isn't a big deal. In my opinion its just the serial numbered parts and the mag that are the important features. I'm jus like you and FAR from being a collector (I gave away a 000 serial number g36 in a drawing). I personally get lot more enjoyment out of shooting my guns. And if this isn't your primary I see nothing wrong with shooting it.

Love it and use it for what its meant for! Maybe be a little more thorough with cleanings and inspections being that I personally had some issues with mine.

We definitely need pictures. If only someone (Sig fiend) would post a video of shooting one people would realize these are still functional firearms.
 
#63 ·
Oh I'll definitely get some video too. Video was one of the reasons I wanted to get a decent DSLR. ;)
Always makes me shake my head... DSLR for video. :crying:

So aside from rarity, is there any other reason this pistol is special - seems pretty boring to me.
 
#64 · (Edited)
For the hell of it, I'm actually planning on testing both versions of Apex Tactical's Glock G-FRE extractor in this gun. I'm primarily testing it in Gen 2, 3, and 4 19's and 17's, though I figured I'd see what it does in this gen 1 19 just for fun. I know not many people have one of these, so the least I can do is to at least do something with it to put some more content out there on the web about them.
On another note, I also have both versions of the extractors from Apex Tactical, for gen 3 and gen 4 Glocks. Although I will primarily be testing those in other Gen 2 through 4 guns, I am planning on testing both versions in this Gen 1 just for the hell of it.
I don't know if it will effect performance but Apex extractors
are for 15 degree extractor slides as compared to 90 degree of early Glocks.
 
#65 ·
Always makes me shake my head... DSLR for video. :crying:

So aside from rarity, is there any other reason this pistol is special - seems pretty boring to me.
Nope! It's just an old gun that was born out of a man's need for a smaller gun...
 
#66 ·
I took that picture through the glass at the Glock Collectors display in the NRA annual convention in St. Louis...the time before last in St. Louis that is. :)
And I was there with Butch! We had lunch after checking out the Glock Collectors Association booth. Butch is every bit as heckuva nice guy in person, as here on GT!! :wavey:
 
#69 ·
I just spoke on the phone with another GT member who owns THREE Gen1 G19's that he bought decades ago as used police trade in's. He said the shop actually had four of them, but he didn't have enough money to buy all four! :wow:

I'll let him identify himself if he wants to, but he sent me a couple pics to post. Unfortunately he only had the camera on his phone, so they're small pics, but he'll be working on getting some bigger and better one's for us.

I lightened this one up a bit and enlarged it slightly...
 
#76 ·
I bought my 19 in 1988 a friend of mine ordered it for me before they were available in the gun shops she has been well taken care of and is in like new condition i have the box and every thing that came with the gun and im trying to figure out what its value is , im seeing some crazy prices and dont know what to believe i gave it to my oldest son when he joind the force and i want him to pass it on to my youngest when he joins up and some day je can pass it on to my grand son so with all that said can i find out what its worth by the serial number or are all 19s bought in 88 worth way more than i ever thought they would go up any info would be appreciated my son asked if he could sell it to a friend of his a couple years back for $300 and i told him absolutely not that is a first-generation Glock 19 it will only go up in price
 
#77 ·
I bought my 19 in 1988 a friend of mine ordered it for me before they were available in the gun shops she has been well taken care of and is in like new condition i have the box and every thing that came with the gun and im trying to figure out what its value is , im seeing some crazy prices and dont know what to believe i gave it to my oldest son when he joind the force and i want him to pass it on to my youngest when he joins up and some day je can pass it on to my grand son so with all that said can i find out what its worth by the serial number or are all 19s bought in 88 worth way more than i ever thought they would go up any info would be appreciated my son asked if he could sell it to a friend of his a couple years back for $300 and i told him absolutely not that is a first-generation Glock 19 it will only go up in price
 
#79 ·
I bought my 19 in 1988 a friend of mine ordered it for me before they were available in the gun shops she has been well taken care of and is in like new condition i have the box and every thing that came with the gun and im trying to figure out what its value is , im seeing some crazy prices and dont know what to believe i gave it to my oldest son when he joind the force and i want him to pass it on to my youngest when he joins up and some day je can pass it on to my grand son so with all that said can i find out what its worth by the serial number or are all 19s bought in 88 worth way more than i ever thought they would go up any info would be appreciated my son asked if he could sell it to a friend of his a couple years back for $300 and i told him absolutely not that is a first-generation Glock 19 it will only go up in price
Man, if she's a gen 1, post up a pic! :bunny:
 
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#91 ·
Hello All,
New to the forum. I think I have a gen 1 19 (SN; WS9XX). I bought it in 1998-1999 from a gun shop in Oakland, CA (of all places) as surplus from the local sheriffs department. I came with original box and 2 extra 15 rounds clips. The problem is a friend shot some reloads which blew out the side of the frame which the Glock factory replaced with a gen 2 frame. Destroyed value?
 
#93 ·
Hello All,
New to the forum. I think I have a gen 1 19 (SN; WS9XX). I bought it in 1998-1999 from a gun shop in Oakland, CA (of all places) as surplus from the local sheriffs department. I came with original box and 2 extra 15 rounds clips. The problem is a friend shot some reloads which blew out the side of the frame which the Glock factory replaced with a gen 2 frame. Destroyed value?
WS: Gen 2 G19, not a Gen 1

:cool:
 
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