If I had a gen1 I'd keep it well protected in a safe as it is.
Just my 2 cents.

 

G17 pistols with serials starting witb BE were imported to the USA in January 1987, so your pistol was likely made about the same time. If it's just a collectable that will NEVER be used for ANY serious purpose (especially as a weapon), then by all means keep it intact as it exists now.

However, if the G17 is to serve ANY serious purpose, upgrade the pistol. Buy the current parts and have a knowledgeable person properly install them. That ensures you can retain the original parts. Glock parts are low cost.

The age of the G17 also requires ADDITIONAL replacement of other parts to qualify it for serious service:
1. Coil Trigger Spring
2. Recoil Spring Assembly (Captive)
3. Slide Lock Spring
4. Slide Stop Lever and Spring
5. Firing Pin Spring
6. Firing Pin Spring Cups
7. Current Magazines

You can put everything you take out into a sealed pouch as a keep-sake...never to be used again.

 

I agree with Mike I’d strip the internals grease them up and put them away buy new parts and install them myself blaze away then “restore” the gun for a collector some day with the original parts.

 

EBay h

A friend of mine just got a first generation 17, BExxx s/n.

This gun is in good condition, and has not been "upgraded" as per Glock's offer of 1992 to change the firing pin safety system (firing pin, firing pin safety, the extractor, the spring loaded bearing and the trigger bar).

My friend (and me too) would like to know what could be the consequences of NOT upgrading. Could there be safety issues? Potential malfunctions?

Sending the 17 to Glock is not an option as we are not in the US. Only option would be to buy the parts and, somehow, bring them to our country. Expensive option.

So... is this "upgrade" a must, or is it a case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it?
Thanks for your help

EBay has every every part you would need, and is not expensive.

 

Keep it as is.

 

I owned one briefly. Upgraded and it still would not reset reliably. Got rid of it in favor of a Gen 3. Not interested in "collectibles" that don't work. Good luck.

SC

 

I have a Gen 1 I bought in early 1987, and it's never been upgraded. At the NRA convention's, every time i mention to a Glock Rep that i have an unmodified Gen 1, they whip out their business card and tell me that if i ever decide to sell it, to please let them know. Those unmodified Gen 1 17s are collector items.

 

I have the original internals for my Gen 1 in a little baggie in the tupperware. If you are having Glock perform the upgrade be sure they will return the stock internals. I've heard that sometimes they don't.

 

If you’re going to shoot it, buy the new parts, but keep the old ones. I have a Gen 1 17 that I had “upgraded” in 1992. I never considered it be be a collectible pistol when I bought it. As I recall the upgrade parts were to prevent corrosion rather than any design flaws or safety issues. The pistol had already been tested by several US law enforcement agencies, deemed safe, and adopted or added to lists of authorized handguns.

 

I have owned three Gen 1s; glock 19, glock 17l, and glock 17. If I was looking to buy a gen 1, I would inspect the frame near mag well, to make sure there are no fractures, all the Gen 1s I have owned had the notorious cracked frames. Imo.

 

G17 pistols with serials starting witb BE were imported to the USA in January 1987, so your pistol was likely made about the same time. If it's just a collectable that will NEVER be used for ANY serious purpose (especially as a weapon), then by all means keep it intact as it exists now.

However, if the G17 is to serve ANY serious purpose, upgrade the pistol. Buy the current parts and have a knowledgeable person properly install them. That ensures you can retain the original parts. Glock parts are low cost.

The age of the G17 also requires ADDITIONAL replacement of other parts to qualify it for serious service:
1. Coil Trigger Spring
2. Recoil Spring Assembly (Captive)
3. Slide Lock Spring
4. Slide Stop Lever and Spring
5. Firing Pin Spring
6. Firing Pin Spring Cups
7. Current Magazines

You can put everything you take out into a sealed pouch as a keep-sake...never to be used again.

My Gen1 G17 Serial AT**** has never given me any problems and as on your list of parts, does NOT have a Captive Recoil Spring Assembly. I shoot it when I want and truthfully didn't even know a recall existed. Hmmm. No notice in the mail so HOW would I know?

 

Glock is not terribly open in revealing these things...

The firing pin could corrode, and it could also collect debris causing a slam fire. The upgrade includes six parts, and impacted virtually all of the early guns. The new firing pin had an added channel, and resists corrosion.

This site has pictures of it:

http://www.glockmeister.com/GlockFactoryUpgrade.asp

To the OP:

I would want to keep all of the original parts for history's sake, but would also want the upgraded parts if I intended to fire it much.

A call to Glock stating you want the upgraded parts and seeing if they let you keep the old parts may be in order. I wouldn't let them upgrade my gun if they took the original parts, but I also wouldn't rely on the older gun for routine use with a known, problematic design. Corrosion doesn't reverse itself after 30 years!

If you know it may have a slam fire issue, if you continue to use the old parts, just be extra stringent in following safe firearm rules. Any time you rack the slide, have it pointed somewhere safe! The upgrade was a safety risk, and Glock did the sweeping upgrade for a reason, so we should not pooh-pooh it. It is real. Having said that, I wouldn't expect anyone to install three point safety belts and a third brake light in a classic Duesenberg! Original is good from a collectibility standpoint.

 

i would leave it stock and untouched.

 

My gen 1 17 has the blackish coating on the parts

 

So did my Gen 2 19.

M

 

i would leave it stock and untouched.

If your speaking to me quantico, I Plan To! Its fine & always has been and has ????? rounds through it. I just wish my G21 did not have the Bad BTF Problem! I retired it to a safe queen because of it.

 

My friend (and me too) would like to know what could be the consequences of NOT upgrading. Could there be safety issues? Potential malfunctions?

Here is what happened to my AFxxx Gen 1 17 that I acquired second hand in 1990. I knew the original purchaser very well and this 17 spent quite a bit of time in Central America and Columbia. It had all original black parts.

I was at an indoor range. I thought I heard the gun fire twice, but only remember pulling the trigger once. Then the SAME thing happened again.

Like a dumb ass, I pulled the trigger one more time. FULL AUTO mag dump. At the time I had never fired anything full auto. Before I knew it the mag was empty and the muzzle was pointed up 45 degrees. OMG.

Living in Metro Atlanta, I and my 17 made a trip to Smyrna the next morning. Glock replaced every part except the frame, barrel, and slide. It's ran fine ever since.

 

Put it in the safe and leave the parts alone. These are climbing in value.

 

Glock is not terribly open in revealing these things...

The firing pin could corrode, and it could also collect debris causing a slam fire. The upgrade includes six parts, and impacted virtually all of the early guns. The new firing pin had an added channel, and resists corrosion.

This site has pictures of it:

http://www.glockmeister.com/GlockFactoryUpgrade.asp

To the OP:

I would want to keep all of the original parts for history's sake, but would also want the upgraded parts if I intended to fire it much.

A call to Glock stating you want the upgraded parts and seeing if they let you keep the old parts may be in order. I wouldn't let them upgrade my gun if they took the original parts, but I also wouldn't rely on the older gun for routine use with a known, problematic design. Corrosion doesn't reverse itself after 30 years!

If you know it may have a slam fire issue, if you continue to use the old parts, just be extra stringent in following safe firearm rules. Any time you rack the slide, have it pointed somewhere safe! The upgrade was a safety risk, and Glock did the sweeping upgrade for a reason, so we should not pooh-pooh it. It is real. Having said that, I wouldn't expect anyone to install three point safety belts and a third brake light in a classic Duesenberg! Original is good from a collectibility standpoint.

THANK YOU !! Didn't even have any idea that there had been a recall & upgrade.