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New Glock but serial #'s don't match . . .

29K views 104 replies 52 participants last post by  Brass3  
#1 ·
I purchased a new G3 21SF this past Friday (3/17) from local dealer. Didn't notice until I got home with it that the serial number on the barrel does not match the serial numbers for the slide and frame. I have several other Glock pistols (all purchased new) and on all of them the barrel serial number matches the slide and frame numbers. I am now worried that maybe my "new" gun isn't new after all. It looks new, but this mismatch of numbers has me upset. Any ideas as to how this could happen with a "new" weapon?
 
#3 ·
Huh? I've never owned a Glock that had more than one serial number and it was on the frame on the underside where the rail is.
Why don't you post some pictures please?
All my Glocks have serial numbers on the
1) frame (metal tab under the dust cover),
2) the slide (under the ejection port),
3) the barrel (on the chamber side- visible through the ejection port),
4) on a sticker on the plastic case handle
5) and, in the days when fired casings were provided, on the envelope with the casings.

All of them match.

Which number is on your paperwork? Which number is on the plastic case? Sounds like the store was messing around, and got them put together wrong. They might be interested in finding the other mismatch and correcting the problem. Guns with non matching number tend to be worth less as the buyer will assume, that there was a problem and you replaced a broken part.

If the store won't cooperate, tell them you'll need to report this to the ATF. Once you shoot the gun though; it's yours.

Might give Glock a call; but not sure what they can do for you.
 
#4 ·
Your new Glock should have matching numbers on the bbl, slide, and frame. If the new to you 21SF was used, and the bbl needed a replacement, it would be serial numbered different from the factory. Maybe there is another new G-21SF with your bbl and somehow they got switched, either way I would go back to the LGS and have them check it out.
 
#5 ·
Does the barrel look new? Maybe another customer or clerk stripped the gun and swapped a bad barrel for a new one. Would just take a few seconds. Many people don't check all the serial numbers when they think they are buying a new gun. There have been times I've overlooked it. Store should have checked it when the paperwork was filled out.

Shoe stores, check shoes in the box to make sure you aren't leaving with a mismatched set (which some people will do on purpose to avoid buying two pairs of shoes).
 
#18 ·
I seem to remember a similar posting before and it was revealed that units associated with the pink label were new but sold at discounted prices from normal because of the non matching bbl serial replaced at the factory.
 
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#27 ·
Although there are legitimate reasons for this. Most have been addressed in replies posted. I must say I would not be happy with this purchase. I know from a conversation with a Glock customer service rep (James) that Glock does in fact have " refurbished " parts and guns that are new. This has something to do with guns that did not make the shipping schedule. However, I must say I would be disappointed with this purchase. Hope you get this worked out.
 
#28 ·
I agree with this.

If you bought the gun on some blow out price deal, while you still should have been made aware of the non-matching numbers IMO, I might say jeez it was such a good deal it was worth it. The reason I say this is a non-matching serial gun will likely fetch a little less used, so you have taken a hit retained value wise.

I think if it were me, regardless of any explanation provided by Glock or the retailer, if I paid normal retail (for that retailer), I would demand they replace it with a matching numbers gun. If I got a deal so good I wouldn't exchange the gun for a matching numbers version at a normal retail price, I would just live with it.
 
#45 ·
I would not worry about a different serial number on a barrel. I could see it maybe reducing the value $25 or maybe even $50 or maybe not at all if I decided to sell it. My guess is the various scratches dings peening etc. would cause at least as much drop in value.

I wouldn't worry too much about a Glock that was sold as new that someone had run a few rounds through if the price was good. While it is dishonest my guess is in ten years if I went to sell it whatever ammunition I had shot in it and whatever wear I put on it would cause the value to drop far more than whatever would be the difference between a new Glock and used but pristine Glock. And if the Glock looked new, the dozen or hundred rounds someone else put through it probably would not change the life expectancy of the pistol.

And I would not spend huge amounts of time worrying about a photo of the serial number floating around on the internet as long as I had a receipt or some other proof of owning the gun./ Such as maybe the digital photo of the gun with a date stamp on it. If someone wished to claim something regarding the gun, when someone started to look at the circumstances the person claiming whatever would most likely loose huge amounts of credibility when they tried to explain how they came into possession of the gun after I already had it before and still have it.